THE WESTERN THEATRE.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15453, 4 December 1915, Page 11

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT. I SUCCESSFUL BRITISH BOMBARDMENTS. GERMAN TRENCHES DAMAGED. The High Commissioner reports: — LONDON. Dec. 2nd ( ( J.5 p.m.). Sir John French reports that during the last four days thero has been a successful bombardment of tho enemy's trenches. Strong points and gun positions wero carried away, and tho damage to the enemy was considerable. His artillery reply was weak. On Tuesday twenty British aeroplanes bombed an important German supply depot at Miraumont, causing considerable damage to the 6tores, buildings, and tho railway. Two aeroplanes which were reconnoitring yesterday and to-day did not return. (By Cabio.—Preso Association. —Copyright.) (Received December 3rd, 8.5 pm.) LONDON, December 2. A despatch from tho British Headquarters in France says that during the last four days British artillery successfully bombarded tho German trenches, causing considerable damage. Tho enemy's reply was weak. Our airmen brought down two German aeroplanes and a "flight" of aviators bombed a German supply depot at Miraumont, damaging stores, buildings, and tho railway lino. Two of our aeroplanes engaged in reconnaissanco work have not returned.

UNHAPPY: BELGIUM. GERMAN EXACTIONS GROWING. (Received December 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. December 2. Tho Amsterdam correspondent of "Tho Times'' says that postal connexion with Belgium is difficult owing to delays. The Germans aro restricting traffic between Belgium and Holland on tho ground that communications arc reaching tho enemy. Tho frontier passenger traffic is diminishing daily. Passes are sparingly granted. The. tension in Belgium is increasing, .and tho German exactions aro growing. THE PEACE CRUSADE. 3IR FORD'S AMUSING MISTAKE. ("Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services.) (Received December 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 2. Tlie New York correspondent of "The Times" says that Mr Henry Ford has published with tho utmost solemnity the best joke about his pcaco mission. It consists of a long telegram to tho Popp asking for his goodwill and cooperation, and was addressed to Benedict VII. Later on Mr Ford learned that Pope Benedict VII. died in tho year 093, A.D.

Mr Ford has decided to ignore the jesters who arc pointing out that unless the belligerents have a senso'of humour, ho and his party run a grave risk of being ccurt-martiallcd and shot if they attempt a direct* appeal to tho troops in tho trenches to strike. The Universities liavo decided to allow representative students to accompany Mr Ford. They condcmn his plan as grotesque and say that it will accomplish nothing, but will bring ridiculo on the country. (By Cablo.—Press Association.—Copyright.) WASHINGTON. December 2. Mr R. Lansing, Secretary of State, has refused to give passports to Mr Henry Ford's peace party except to the neutral countries of Europe. The following remarks are made by the New York '"Life, ' concerning Mr Ford's pacifist campaign:— '•Henry Ford says ho lias 10,000,000 dollars to spend if necessary to persuade this country that peace is always tho best plan. . . . Ho thinks poople have a false idea of war that ought to bo educated out of them. 110 imagines that they aro fooled by the glory and glamour of it. .He wants the people to be persuaded that preparedness for war creates war.

"Henry does not seem to realise that several times 10,000,000 dollars is bein<r spent every day, and has been spent every dnv for 11 months to.porsuado mankind that peace is the best plan, and that excess in preparation for war is about as dangerous ;is no preparation at all. Our newspapers and movie shows are telling the truth a Wit war nowadays in so far as thev can get it. They represent it as a terrible job. The glory and glamour of it go for nothing. It is al! tragedy, tho purge of the uassions; tragodv. destruction, and waste. Henry's ten millions would bo a mere scratch on tho .slate compared with tho daily picture of war that wo havo been getting this last year. "Have patience. Henry. This is a war against war. Folks who survive it uro going to be gun shy for son:e time. You havo done a great deal to make life attractive. That is your great servicc to '.->eace, because the pleasanter life i.; tho less people want to die. Butwar, Henry, brings a much greater lesson than that—the lesson of selfsacrifice. Nobody is much good who has not in him some idea, some ideal, that he cares more, for than lie do:-s his life, even though it is life alleviated by tho Ford.motor. You help to make life pleasant, but war, Henry, helps to irake it noble, and if it is not noble it does not matter a damn, Henry, whether it is pleasant or not. That is the oi l lesson of Calvary repeated at Mons and Yprcs and Liege and Namur. Whether tilery aro more people in the

world or loss, whether there aro fat of lean, whether there are Fords or oxen, makes no vital difference: hut whether men shall be willing to die for wiint they believe in makes all the difference between a pigsty and Paradise. Not by bread alone, Henry. shall men live. "As for military preparedness, enough i-> good an:! salutniy; too much is militarism, and that i> bad. bad, bad. as the (Germans arc teaching us. Thevars the great teachers of wacc and. bo sure, Henry, they shall learn that lesson themselves down to the last line. Leave pcaco propaganda to them : but. on, if von have i*'n millions to spare, nut it into Fen! ambulances i'or France.''