RANDOM SHOTS BY "ZAMIEL"

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 137, 9 June 1917, Page 14

RANDOM SHOTS BY "ZAMIEL"

I used to notice before the war that for nearly every English complaint ol the inferiority of some English method: or institution to the German method or institution, there was a corresponding complaint in Germany of German inferiority. Educational reformers bade j Englishmen look to Germany for example; Germans pointed to English public schools as giving something that jooukl not be got in Germany. English publicists declared that British diplomacy was no match for German; Geiman 'publicists said German diplomacy was no I mutch for British; axud co on. This I interchange of co__plmients has continued during the war, and here is the latest example. Says the " Times," '"The soundness of the German principles'as regard, the importance of publicity abroad and at home is as indisputable as the soundness of the German recognition ut the outset of the importance of superior artillery." Says the " Weser _>eitung": "On land and water we may be ever so brilliantly euocessful, but in that no less important campaign of journalistic propaganda England is far ahead of ua." This reminds mc ol algebra exercises in my school days, when after working at an equation for some time I arrived at the interesting conclusion that x — x.

The hravest man in America is tho editor of the "New York Herald." Under the influence of war enthusiasm, he has invited verse-writers to send him war songs, from which can be chosen "march songs" and "patriotic songs" for oho army and the nation. When I think of the number of verses that come into a New Zealand newspaper office, I am appalled at tlie thought of the avalanche that must be rolling on the "New York Herald." I have seen one page of responses to the invitation, and they are not impressive. To my mind, the most suifca-le song is one that has no pretensions. It is called "Spirit of the West," and here are two verses:—

We're a-hurrln' In to jine 'cm —Just a lot of awakened mutts, But we're full of jump an' ginger an' we'll soon git ln the ruts; For we've got to git this Kaiser that's a-bullyln' with a gun! For we've got to git this Kaiser an' his gun —son-of-a-gnn! That down-rite ornery Kaiser And bis son!

Gee, I bate to leave the ol' folks an' the home an' Mary Lee, Jlst when spring's a-sprlng with rose-time an' she's uiukln' eyes at mc; But who's goln' to do the blzncsa If we lag back—any one? An' that dog-gone German Kaiser still a-playin' with his gun— Still a-totln' of his gun? Son-of-a-gun I This isn't poetry, hut it's sentiments are good, and it has a swing.

But Pegasus under the whip is apt to bo a sulky animal. The Anglo-Saxon (and roughly the American may still be regarded as Anglo-Saxon) docs not uccept marching or national songs made to order. He takes to his heart "Tip perary," or "The Bells of Hell." Even now the American people are not united on the Bubjcct of a national anthem. "The Star Spangled Banner" is appar entry the official one, but it has several rivals in the affection of the people, and its unattractive tune may prevent it ever becoming universally used. But for a song that is poetry, contains moral fervour, and is well known, what could be better than "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"? All the poets in America might try for a year without producing anything so good as this immortal product of inspiration. "As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free" —there in one line is the justification for fighting this war to a finißh.

Perhaps even before the Irish question is settled, the Germans will force the most bitterly anti-British of the Sinn Feiners on to the British side. It is a little way they have—to turn weakness in the ranks of their enemies into strength. German submarines have been winning glorious victories among Irish fishing boats, and it is reported, that Ln one instance the Germans refused to allow Irish fishermen whose vessels had been sunk to take oars into their punts. A fisherman, nddrcssing the submarino commander, said:—"l thought the Germans would not do anything to Irishmen, and that they liked tis." The ■commander replied:—"My dear fellow, you don't know tho Ger■mions yet." Other reports state that the Germans declared they would sink every Irish fishing boat within a month, and also shell the coast villages. German methods have always been good recruiting agents for John Bull.

For the benefit of those who may have felt annoyed by that message during the tho week giving the opinion of the "New York American" on conscription in the British Empire, it should he explained that the "American" is one of the string of papers owned by W. R. Hearst, and no one in a British com•nrunity need feel hurt at anj'thing coming from that quarter. Before America took her coat off Hearst was one of the most venomous anti-Ally, and particularly anti-British, forces in America, though he was not above making money out of pro-Ally sentiment. In one paper he published a picture representing Germans chasing British soldiers; in another the same picture appeared representing British chasing Germnns. He was deprived of the use of British cable and mail services because he "faked" English war news in New York. No one who knows anything about the American Press takes Mr. Hearst's papers seriously savo as a power for evil among the ignorant. But they have done their country at least one service. In the first days of America's war the San Francisco "Examiner" published an editorial appeal for recruitß for the Californian National Guard, but on the front page of the paper appeared the following advertisement:—

j "TO YOU MEN OVER TWENTY-THREE." "The Jobs left vacant by the young fellows who hove answered Uncle Sam's 'call' have got to be filled. If you need one of theße jobs, go after It. And do It now. The simplest way ls to Insert your advertisement ln the 'Situations Wnnted' columns of the Cla-Blfled Section of the 'Examiner'—today." Here was direct, though unconsciously giveri, pToof of the viciousness of the voluntary system. The patriot volunI teers, and the "slacker" gets hie job.