WAR TOPICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 50, 27 February 1915, Page 10

WAR TOPICS.

VIEWS OF CORRESPONDENT*. PROTECTION. "tXXX" writes:—"l would suggest s that on each transport conveying, say, a ! thousand British troops to the coast of France, one hundred interned Germans t be placed on board. This might have a t 'salutary effect in warding off torpedo i and other attacks. In the future it will -I be found more convenient to ration our troops via the Suez Canal and Marseilles t'>an by way of the Cape or tho * Horn." » THE SUBMARINE SCOURGE. "H.J." writes: —"As regards the sub- ' marine scourge, why not rig up some tramp steamers of ancient date with torpedo tubes and a quick-firer? Such old tanks might decoy the submerged cyclops to destruction. Let the Home ' Government offer .toO.OOO for each de- ' vastator proved to have been wipcu ' out, and. unless speculation and enterprise is dead in England, a hundred old coffin ships will take the warpath." H CAN WE REPAY THEM? » "II..1." writes: —"Acting on the as- T sumption that the Belgians did hold the German hordes from straightway invading the North of France, investing Paris v and occupyig Calais, Boulogne, and r Havre, allowing, indeed, time for the i British Army to mobilise, cross the Channel, and thus eive that additional stiflVning to our gnllant Allies that \vn« r necessary to save a grave collupae. then one may reckon that the action of Belgium saved l'rnnce from n debacle, Russia from a possible defeat, and the British Empire from great peril. Such ( argument being granted, it behoves the , various Government* of the British de- t pendencies to show their gratitude for t such salvation by subscribing the sum of f money that may be required monthly to keep from starvation the plucky peoplo who saved the situation. A tax of 2d r per head on the 15.0(10.000 oversea whites |j would bring in Cll2..'>nO: a toll of Id 1 per head on our .'500.000.000 Indian sub- I jects would produce £ 1.2.10.000." PRESENTS FOtt POI,DIE-E5. "Parent" writes: — "The burning question just now among those who have friends or relatives in the Expeditionary Force in ICjrypt is how the moneys presented to the Patriotic Fund nnd the goods donated for the benefit of troops have been disposed of? Mr. Masscv n says the canteen was. and is being run |, for the good of tho regiment, but which r part of the regiment gets the good? Evidence is arriving by every mail that the rank and iile arc receiving little or nothing of the goods presented, or the . luxuries which were to bo purchased with the money suWribed. A* discipline ties r the hands nnd shuts tie mouths of the men themselves, we. their parent.-, or relatives. must take up the | matter in their behalf nnd «cc that the | matter be rectified. In the mime, thereUfrr. of the parents and frirmls of the ' New Zealand members of the Expeditionary Force. I cal| upon the Government to make such inquiries as shall result in tracing the amounts received: nnd then to see that the men receive . those comforts provided for them by the genercdity of the New Zealand people." TYFIIOID IN MAORI CAMP. Robt. J. Allely writce:— "Your correspondent William Trimblett writes that I am reported to have stated that enteric in Avondale was due to the presence of thy M.n>ri camp. I made no ouch Rtatem< nt, nor was it reported so. My mtatcnivnt was that enteric wius in the camp, mc patients having been sont to the hospital, and that it would he unwise to hold a further camp on the samv ground. , [The Defence Department evidently afjre?. art. the Easter camp is not to be located here. 'W.T. dors not keep to tire point. He has informed mc that lie wart chief cook; also that he is a good cook, but ! I have made no statement to the con- . trarv. He «ay« the sanitary arrangrrunts were excellent. Tdo not doubt his frt.-.tement, although others question it very serioiir.lv. and there remains the • cai-vs of entprk" in the camp. 'W.T. goee ,on to s.iy that, in in hie opinion, 'the ( outbreak would have taken place even . if the camp had not been in existence' Where is 'VV.T.'s logic? How could five, ■ ca*pß of entvric be sent to hospital from , ;\ camp that never existed? Enteric is I f-ndemie in Avondalo. in common with all . ntltfr liuburbi without drainage, but that doet not make an epidemic."