THE WEAKENING OF GERMANY

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 6, 7 January 1916, Page 4

THE WEAKENING OF GERMANY

(By REV. W. G. MOXCKTOK.)

Not only along the Russian front, but also in the West, and even in the Balkansi, signs arc not wanting that Germany is visibly weakening. Tho recent advance into Serbia showed that taa enemy relied entirely on heavy artillery, and the infantry attacks following the bombardments must have been comparatively weak since along the valley of the Morava and the flat, easy country whicii lies immediately south of the Danube, the Austro-German forces were not able to advance more than an average of two miles a day over a great part of the front. If we compare this with the rapid advance against the Russian line along the Donajec last May, it ■will be apparent that the quality of the German infantry must have been very inferior to that of the men who forced the Russians back from their strong positions on the right flank of the Carpathians. Had it not been for the rapid advance of the Bulgarians, the Servians would in all probability have been abl-2 to check the forces sent against them by Germany and Austria.

But in the operations against Russia since the Rusian retreat was stayed, the Germans have shown a singular inability to push home their attacks. They have tried after their manner to place the blame for their failure on their Austrian allies, but- the greatest defeat they have experienced, .was on. _a_ front where _German troops only were employed. In front of Tarnopol two entire German divisions were completely routed, half of the men and officers surrendering as iin wounded prisoners, and nearly all the heavy guns being lost. In five days the Russians took 40,000 prisoners. Xor were the Germans any more successful in their operations near Riga and '.n front of Dvinsk. Russian successes south of the Pripet marshes were said by the enemy to be due in part to the massing of German troops in the North, and undoubtedly the capture of Riga was regarded as being of prime importance, but though every effort was made to gain possession of the valley of the Dwina and the important railway connecting Riga and Dwinsk, and though the desperate expedient was tried of advancing between the Aa and the sea, the Russians have not only been able to repulse all attacks, but they have pushed the enemy back at several points. After the great advance of last September, along the front running from Tarnopol to the Dniester, the Russian armies were held up by strong reinforcements sent from others parts of the line to protect the line of the River Strypa, and Mackensen attached such importance to the holding of the bridge-heads across this river that he made a most vigorous counter-attack north of this line, in the course of which many thousands of prisoners fell into Russian hands. It is worthy of note that in all the recent fighting along the Rusiian front a large number of unwounded German prisoners have been captured, as well as many heavy guns, showing that the morale of ! the troops must be weakening, and that the Russians have been able to take the Germans by surprise, and rush their positions, since otherwise the enemy would never have abandoned any of the heavy artillery on which he so much depends. The Russians are now continuing the advance they made in September, and if they gain possession of the line along the upper Strypa, they will effectually safeguard the important junction of Tarnopol and the main line running from Lemberg to Odessa. The capture of Gzernowitz ought to have important bearings on the action of Rumania since the Rumanians regard the possession of this ancient university town as the goal of their political ambitions.

Along the Western front we note the same weakening of the morale and quality of the German troops as has been evidenced in Russia and the Balkans. In the French advance south of Lens over 1,500 unwounded prisoners were captured, while at Launois over 2,000 unwounded Germans fell into our hands. If we except a doubtful success in the Vosges, all the enemy counter attacks along this front have failed with very heavy losses to themselves. Whenever the 'British or French have struck the German lines have given way, while whenever the enemy has struck the Allied line has held firm. At'Massiges and Tahure the French gained possession of most important strategical points, and not only did they completely foil every effort of the Germans to regain them, but while the Germans were launching the most vigorous counter-offensives the French while holding them at both ends of the line made another big advance in the centre and gained possession of the high ground south of Ripont. Enemy attacks also have often failed to develop owing to the efficiency of our artillery fire. All recent evidence goes to show that the enemy is visibly weakening while the Allied forces are gaining strength every day, and rapidly gaining a complete mastery over the fo?

Following is Mr D. C. Bates' weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day: "The indications are for moderate to strong southerly winds, backing by south to east. Epeet dull weather, with much mist and fog in parts. Rain probable, following the fall in barometer soon. Tides good. Seas, increasing swell on coast."

The local office of the New Zealand Shipping Company advise as folio we: — The mail boats leaving New Zealand for Home during the months of January, February, March, April, and May, will call at Rio de Janeiro in addition to the usual ports of call en route to London. The first vessel this season to call at Rio under this usual arrangement, will be the steamer Ruahine, which is exr pected to leave Wellington on about 29th January.

Under the by-laws of nearly every city and borough where there is a picture theatre it is necessary for a member of one of the local fire brigades to be in attendance, primarily to see that patrons are not subjected to any unnecesary risk from danger of fire through the carelessness of the management or of patrons themselves, and also to regulate the admittance of patrons and prevent overcrowding, so that in the event of any emergency everybody would 'have a fair chance of gaining cxit —and safety. A gentleman seated in the dress circle of a Napier theatre dropped a coin and struck a match to look for it. Ihis immediately drew upon him the wrath ot [ the fireman on duty, who, coming up to him politely inquired, "Haven't you been in a picture show before?" He that was interrogated admitted that he had. "Well, you ought to know better than to strike matches," replied the fireman, who thereupon delivered an impromptu lecture upon the dangers attending the practice. The match-striker admitted the truth of the fireman's remark, and there the incident ended. The fireman in question otated that it was beginning to be the custom of some people to smoke in the theatre. They were on the look-out to catch an offender, when an example would be made of him.

In our report of the case against Thomas Tanner, arising out of the police raid on a house of ill-fame in Upper Symonde Street, it was stated that Tan ncr kept a small bookseller's shop in a building in Karangahape Koad near Grafton Bridge, and that a sign wa6 exhibited there relating to "a lady's registry." The association of the two places in the report might create an impression that they were connected. This is wholly contrary to fact. Tanner's was a lock-up chop in a building where there are other business premises. One of these offices is a well-known lady's registry, kept by a lady who possesses the highest credentials. Tanner's connection with the building in K&ranaahape Road was confined absolutely ~to the lock-up bookseller's shop which he occupied. ,

During a visit to the Soldiers' Club before returning to Wellington, the Minister of Defence was asked if the payment of the special mess allowance of 2/ per day could not be made retrospective with respect to eoHieTS who returned to New Zealand prior to January. This allowance is made to invalided soldiers who are not receiving treatment at hospitals or convalescent stations, and it came into operation as from January 1. lien who returned during last yeir consider that they feave "been placed under a disadvantage as compared with who returned by the Haheno, Tahiti, and Ruahine. They come into line now,. of course, but; they contend that their payments should include the special allowance as from the date of their return. Mr Allen did not commit the Department, .but promised to look into the matter on his return to Wellington.

The liveliest part of the proceedings at a recent open-air recruiting meeting in Dunedin was the informal finish which came after the speakers were supposed to have concluded, the band had played, and part of the crowd had dispersed. The Rev. E. S. Gray went forward to supplement his previous appeal by a direct invitation to young men present to "step inside and interview the recruiting sergeant." The rev. gentleman ifound 'himself unexpectedly up against an outand-out Socialist, who'had till then "sung dumb." The speaker was repeating his argument that we should not have conscription of men without ditto of money, and telling how he knew for a fact that in country districts there never was a bigger traffic in pianos ana motor-cars, when the Socialist shouted out that the money came from the working classes. "Tsp, no, not at all," said Mr Gray. "Oh,'but it does," said the Socialist. "Tut, tut; why, we're all workers; I'm a working man, and i don't speak like that!" "You don't work." "What, I don't work! I work for all I get, and I hope you do." (Laughter.) 'The money comes from the working classes,"- repeated the man in the crowd. "What, all of it?" "Yes." "Oh, I see, I ccc. Well, you look a worker, and I feel a worker, so we're all right." This finished the argument on that point, 'but when Mr Gray proceeded to express his disappointment beause the Government had not imposed "a stiff tax on war profits," there were shouts of "all profits." In this connection he told of a " scandalous " remark which he had overheard.' It was made by a ■woman who, when the hope was " expressed that the war would soon 'be over, replied: "Well, I hope it won't finish till John has paid for his"farm at '-." There was considerable laughter at this', but repeating the words in a tone of scathing contempt, Mr. Gray said: "To be brutally frank with you, I am almost ashamed of you for laughing" at that. 1 didn't laugh when I heard it. Why, that woman is unworthy of the name of a Britisher."

Afc No. — Hospital, in France, -when a man is to go home three pieces of tape are tied to the foot of the bed," said Miss Mary Booth, the daughter of General Booth, -who has recently re turned from a visit to the troops in Prance. "From the moment those pieces of tape appear the occupant can think of nothing else; no groans or moans escape him when he is lifted into the stretcher; 'home, sweet home,' lies at the end of the journey—he can bear anything." Lieut-Colonel Tracy-Inglis will lecture this evening at 7.30 in the Manukau Water Supply BoardV office, on his experience on the hospital ship Maheno. Anyone interested in ambulance and medical .work is welcome to attend. After the long vacation business is to •be reTCommenced at the Supreme Court on February 7th by the holding of the Civil sittings. The Criminal sittings •will be commenced on Monday: February 14th. "■■ ' Adjutant Davies, manager of the Prison Gate Home, desires to thank all who helped to cheer the inmates of the Home during the holidays. It is understood that there is quite a number of disputes to be heard before the Conciliation Council at Wangaiui during the present month.

" imon' the illustrations in the "Star' Supplement this week is a str picture of the enormous landslide which has been' blocking the Panama Canal for months past, and delaying the steamers between New York and tne colonies. All the articles are uncommonly interesting this week. Jiouaay Cruises" is the title of a breezy article that revives many delightful memories of the Hauraki Gulf and its countless bays and islands. There is an dhimma-. tin"- article called "Stubborn Russia, which is doubly interesting just now in view of the fresh developments on tne eastern battlefront. A Danish traveller gives come instructive details of the changes that are coming over the Uerman "people. There is also a thoughtful article by Sir Robert Stout concern;ng the progress of the human race and the [possibilities of the future.

Christmas Eve saw a recruiting boom in Gisbome, for no fewer than 50 men handed in their names at the recriutmj, office. This was far in excess of "us previous heaviest days enlistment, which was 26. The recruiting office was kept open till midnight, but the grf- te ** rush was between 8 p.m. and 11 P-m-Special efforts were made to draw m Youn» men, and numerous assistant, worked hard in the office dealing with the cards. Piper Simpson, m full Upland dress, played stirring tunes on the bagpipes, whilst Sergeant-Major Oman, a returned wounded soldier, did a great deal to induce recruits to .sign on, 1. was expected that the numbers enUstm o would increase as soon as the holidays were secure to the men, but xt was not anticipated that such a large number would give in their names on Chn=tma s Eve. Air A. C. Benson, in an article in the "Church Family Newspaper," ™J *£ this is not a time of panic or encv " I believe that circumstaice o point ndUpuibly to the fact that German* is not making any ™al progress but ~ struggling like a great fish caught, m . net, and making desperate efforts to escape The real danger is that anxiety andTaint-heartedness may lead Europe to desire at any cost a cessation of the hideous carnage and loss, and this, I believe, is the game which' Germany is now playing. She has no longer hopes to dictate her terms to Europe. TH| most she hopes for is to get terms whica may allow her to recuperate her shattered fortunes, and to begin preparing for a like strujrgie in the future. it cannot be in the near future, for her population and her wealth alike have suffered too heavily for that."

: Sir Francis Palgrave asserts that within memory, at the trial of a case at Merir oneth (North Wales), when the jury were asked for their verdict, the foreman answered:. "My lord, we do not knc/w who is plaintiff, or who is der fendant, but we find for whoever is Mr. Jones' man!" It turned out that Mr. Jones had been the successful candidate at a recent election,- and the jury had been working in his interest. Another version of a similar story is-this. There is a tradition current on the Welsh emit of the great influence and ability of Mr. John Jones, one of the leading counsel. On one occasion, after one of Mr. Jones' felicitous speeches on behalf of his client in a criminal case, the jury, as Boon as the judge had summed up, without waiting for the officer to take their verdict, called out: "My lord, we are all for John Jones, with costs!"

At a recruiting meeting in Newcastle, New South Wales, the Mayorsaid he was not in favour of conscription. '~TKe"re was, however, he said, a number of young fellows, who, he was prepared, to say, ought to be "shanghaied," because they were no use here. Fellows who would not work should be made to go and fight for their country. (Applause.) Only the other day he was travelling m a tram, when one of those shirkers got in and sat opposite a " pal." The latter remarked, "Where are you working now?" The other said nothing for a while, but grinned, and then said, "Working! I don't work while the old man's got his job." "That's the sort of fellcw," said the Mayor, amidst applause, "who should be drummed out and made to fight." " '

Further word has been received in Gisborne from Auckland regarding the offer of £50,000 as a loan to the Borough of Gisborne. A few days ago it was announced that the negotiations had fallen through, but they were renewed, and the offerer of the loan, a private Auckland gentleman, has now agreed to v advance the money at 51-8 per cent. The Minister of Finance has already given consent to this rate of interest, although at first the Council was refused power to borrow at more than 5 per cent. The money will be raised as part of the borough loan of £93,000 recently authorised by the ratepayers, and it will enable" an early start to be made on the augmentation of the water supply, and the completion of the sewerage system.

On Boxing Day at Te Kuiti a domestic in * *an named William X^ v -' n S a cut on the head. The! injured man's wife, Emily Barton, was the aggressor and a. bread J ,l6 ™* Weapon - At was thought the wound was of a serin,** nature, and the man fxoni ?Se lo? ot blood. The woman was bought before the Court and remanded b custody for eight days. The injured m kn Te C9 vered xn the interim, and the woman was brought up on remand yesterday and charged with assault. A fine of 40/ and ccete £7 17/ was inflicted, and a accuse? 011 *** kSUei agamst

The Wellington Harbour Board is eaid to be having difficulty in getting men for the permanent labouring staff. The •Board, has imposed an age limit of 40 which is considered unreasonable in view of the fact that men μp to 45 are tiken for. active service. The pay offered 8/6 a day, is another handicap, not bein<* considered attractive enough. ° TT lt x?f,"^ owanoffenceto sho °t hawks. Up M December 31st the man who shot a hawk was often regarded as' a pub'lio benefactor, but recent legislation has made it unlawful to destroy : the birds.A notice to this effect has "been" received from the Government.by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. A Masterton resident received the fol-lowing-from a member of the Trentham" regiment, was written almost im-. mediately onthe arrival of the. troops:— "It is highly probable that we will move' out of camp here at Heliopolis to-day, although we only arrived last night. I! hear the powers that be are very sur-: prised at our high standard of training. and say we should never have come here at aIL May be we have not put in solid work at Bangiotu for nothing." A cousin of Mr. T. J. Rathbone, of Carterton, South Wairarapa, in a recent letter, mentions a food incident on a transport. They were having mutton' for dinner, and finding it the> best meat of the kind, inquired where it came from. It was found that it was from the Waingawa meat works, aetyr Masterton.

In making preparation for . tion of the '-contacts" which: Mrtre-fft the hospital ship Maheno some very rapid equipment wag <i]3j out for the Auckland Hospital Bmm by Captain Thomas and the staff pf hospital. At 8 a.m. on ; was received that it would be necissir! to establish an isolation hospital I buildings in the Domain. By 8 o'cJtaV on Friday night everything UaT'fc completed. In the 12 hours 174 for the sick had been made up, and the» ■was provision for the accommodation fo all of 225. In addition to the pJa'pkjf. tion of beds a comprehensive Bcien4jj' sanitary equipment was uria&iBaths with hot and cold water'andj zinc-lined room with six showers^« e got- ready and details for stej-ililatjoa -were attended to. by the mediial a e . thorities. The result has been tiat while the men have found deteittjjj irksome they are well satisfied -*ithti e ' arrangements for their accommodation-:

Many good stories s.re told of nu a over age keen to join the Force, but the story concerning known Rangitikei settler will take. 1 jot ! of heating. His real ape ie ' J33 S ' hut". ! anxious to do his little bit for pire, he registered at the local Beieitte office, giving his age as 39. He "w« passed by the doctor, who was apjj. rently satisfied with his statement a|'to age. In course of time the o&ygugg §o\dier arrived at Suez with Mg.' com-pany-TT-the -fittest man of them aIL : lifoardent patriot has a eon in camp whoseage is 38 years. In another case a mat. ried soldier who looked as young as he said he was, and who, of course, give his correct age when he enlisted, ysu applying for separation allowance for his wife. He was naturally a copy of hie marriage license, and the adjutant comparing notes suddenly remarked : "Why, man, you must hjw been married very early; accprdmg to these dates you must have been, manic? when you were three years old!" .:,

The Zeppelin raids are nerve-racking ordeals for certain locomotive drivers is the expressed opinion of'a man frsta London. It seems that the method adopted by recent raiding Zeppelins.; to find London at night time was to make land at a certain watering place and follcw the night"train to the capital.'''All the train lights were out, but in the darkness it was impossible to prevent stags glow being visible from the Ipcomotiye. The great Zeppelins swept down and flew along a' short distance, above t|e train, guided by the faint illuminatioit from the engine. So close were .the Zeppelins that a hastily-opened furnace doo; threw a reflection on the Zeppelin. It a strain on the driver to find that his greatest speed did not serve to shake off the, repxilsive presence of the gliding bomb The Zep. pelTns overshadowed the trains with repulsive tenacity. ■On more than one occasion a train' had to puU up. for the purpose of replacing drivers 'whqse nerves had collapsed under the trying strain.. Such is said to be one 'of'tie weird methods by which Zeppelins find their destination at night time. *

The remains of the late Hon. Wi Pere were laid to rest on Monday in the Waerengararhika cemetery, Gisborne, and there was a large gathering of native and European friends present. A large concrete vault, with dome 10ft by 12ft, has been erected' in the cemetery, and into this the coffin'was lowered throngl two removal slides. , A concrete wall'and an ornamental iron fence 22ft squire surrounds the vault* lie coffin containing the body was made of polished paselled English oak, with heavy silver mountings, while a plateglass lid is" lei •into the casket. The-body had been embalmed for four weeks, with the boffin open the whole time, and was Sua'perfeet state of preservation.

A commendable- example, of. &c test spirit in which to accept-thehonparstf a carnival lottery win was given *by Mr. P. A. Shaw, of Mornington, Dunedin. Mr. Shaw received word that he had drawn, the fourth prize in the Wangaiui Patriotic Committee's art union,, section of land valued at £1000. Mr.' &a\T promptly replied instructing the Wan°anui Committee to retak;"half'the proceeds of the sale of the section, and to . forward the other' half to the Mayor, "of Dunedin for the Otago Patriotic Committee. . ; ■-- ■ •

'"I've- iheen through three campaigns, and r-m going backTagain. nest montfi," remarked a returned "soldier .in 'the course of conversation with a newspaper man at the Soldiers'' Club.' '\ujLore than I a™?" chimed in a man of younger years, as he proceeded to complain of the nvaner- in which- returned are treated, in New Zealand... The teteraa— an Indian pensioner, obviously near tin age limit—reiterated his intention "of going on with the game. Tor old tunes' sake," said he, persuasively, "let us see it through together." "Men like ihis would make excellent recruiting '■■':] A splendid record has been put ap by a little girl named Nellie Farmer, a pupil of the Oroua Downs^siehoot,'between Palmerston and FoxtqnV ivlb ju the past nine public school life of a pupit-ias not missedl single roll call' The -record was.' "brought under the notice of the Education^Board at.Wanganui. One of the members'sigffssted' a "shilling in," with' the rSn'.t that the members subscribed' amoSs themselves a sufficient amount to purchase a silver medal for the pupil. | In response to many inquiries from tie Auckland district, the Southland Carnival executive announces that the mail art union closed' on' December ~T. c draw will be undertaken by Messrs. Tattersall, pf Tasmania, under the'supervision of the ' Minister of Internal Affairs for that State, and it is expected that the result will reach the committee in a few days, when steps will be taken to notify it throughout the "Dominifln-At-1,0.57 oWoek.last night the city fire brigade received a call to the Lytic Buildings, Upper Symonds Street: A quantity of .papers in the corner of * detached shop; on the ground floor of the block,- were found to be ablaze. Tbe fije 'was extinguished before any. appreciable damage had resulted.