NOTES ON THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2221, 6 August 1914, Page 4

NOTES ON THE WAR

News of the actual fighting is very scrappy and uncertain. A somewhat startling item from the point of view of Britain is the. statement by persons employed on vessels which have just arrived at the Tyne that a sea'battle was in progress off Flamborough'/.Head'.on . the '" East Coast of -'England'/ The report states that the vessels engaged belonged to the French ana German Fleets.' It is extremely doubtful that.the fleets named would have got' so far up the English coast without the British Fleet beini* in touch with them, and if any fighting has been taking place l at all British vessels are likely to be in it. It is possible, of course, that if there has been any gating at all, the vessels engaged are merely small cruisers, scout vessels, or vessels harrying British commerce. ' A belated message informs us that the German Fleet left the Kiel Canal, and sailed westward' on last—the day that the British Foreign _ Minister issued his warning against Germany attacking French ports. Sailing to the westward meant sailing; out into the North Sea, in the direction of England, and this would seem to give some support to the story of a naval battle off Flamborough Head. Still, it is unlikely that the German Fleet would venture out into the North Sea-at the present juncture, and probably'it will be found that the seafarers who have set the story in circulation at the Tyne are mistaken, or that it was quite a minor affair.. At any rate, no confirmatory news has come to, hand. The report of the engagement between the German and Russian Fleets in the Baltic is contradicted fo-day. A few shots were exchanged between the fleets; but apparently little damage was done.- The statement that a Russian battleship was lost in the encounter is officially denied. • The fact that .New Zealanders are to-day in a. position-to take methodical measures for the safety and welfare of their country ana the assistance of the Empire is in no small degree due to the capable manner in which His Excellency the Governor and his Advisers have discharged the immensely responsible duties devolving upon .them in this time of emergency and crisis. The part that New Zealand is appointed to play in the momentous conflict now raging is a humble one, but it is nevertheless true.that any failure on the part of her rulers at this critical _ time might vory- easily have serious consequences.' Happily there has been no such, failure, and the Governor and the members of the Cabinet have laboured with untiring industry and clear foresight in taking all necessary "precautionary measures, whether of a military nature or such as are calculated to preserve' the commercial and industrial stability ofthe Dominion under the severe disabilities imposed by a state of war. Upon the Prime Minister_ a very .heavy burden of responsibility rests, and the cheery spirit of optimism which he is able to display without pretence or affec- ■ tation is an objecWesson to every citizen in the country. The Hon. Jas. Allen, . too,. carries well the heavy burden of work which falls to his .lot in his_ dual' •capacity of Minister of Finance and Defence. To-day, while he is directly reßpon-' sible for what is being done in the way of military organisation and preparation, he is _ to present to Parliament his Financial t Statement, which in itself 'represents a task that under normal circumstances might very well earn some respito from other labours. The Leacfer of the Opposition, Sir Joseph Ward, also has shown an admirable spirit' in seconding the efforts of Ministers.

The people of Hollaucl, in spite of their 1 desire to remain neutral, are in serious danger of finding themselves embroiled through the action of Germany.. If the German

Army can gain anything by the violation of Dutch territory, it is not likely to be held back by any regard for rights or declarations of neutrality. Holland's little army could do nothing to bar the way, but it is stated that the Dutch may stop the invader bj; opening the sluice gates of their protecting embankments, and inundating the land. The country lies so low that it has been necessary to construct dykes and embankments to keep .the sea in check, and to prevent the canals and rivers from overflowing. Tho people have a saying that "God made the sea, but the Hollander makes the land." They have turned marshes into arable latfd, ■ and reclaimed large areas. The canals run like a network .all over the country. By opening the sluioe gates the'march of the invader would certainly be checked, but the Hollanders themselves would suffer enormous, losses. _ This desperate course was taken in the year 1672 when the dykes were opened and the land flooded in order to prevent Holland from being occupied by a French Army. The desperate expedient of 1672 may possibly be resorted to in 1914. . . •

Belgium's resolute stand ' against the overbearing attempt by Germany to force her to open her territory to the passage of the Kaiser's troops in their operations against Northern France may be . expected to result in Britain sending troops to assist the Belgians. Belgium, is a quite insignificant enemy for, Germany to deal with under ordinary conditions,' but with France, Russia, and England to dispose , of as well the hostility of Belgium is a factor of considerable importance. The Belgian Army has . been recently reorganised and strengthened, and she can probably place in the field something like 150,000 trained men. ■- In addition she possesses fortresses which bar the way to German invasion intended to turn the- French left. With the assistance of an expeditionary, force of British troops, such'as could bedispatched at short notice, and for which plans have no doubt been in existence for years in anticipation of an" emergency of this nature, the Belgians could greatly embarrass their arrogant invaders in-the movement against Northern B ranee. The First Fleet of Britain which is now somewhere in the North Sea on the watch for the German Fleet is, according to expert opinion, the strongest fleet that nas ever left any port with hostile intent. It is more than _ twice the size of the great' American Fleet' which visited these waters some six years ago, and the oldest ship' in it is slightly stronger than the newest ship in the American Fleet referred to. A writer in the Sydney Morning Herald recently pointed out, that it is under nine admirals, not counting the commanders of its'four cruiser squadrons. It is under the supreme command of Admiral Sir George Callaqhan, who flies his flag in a battleship specially allotted to the fleet commanaer, and not in one of the squadron flagships. There are no fewer than 33 ships in the battle-line of this fleet. Only one' squadron, the third battlesquadron, contains ships of preDreadnougjht age; and. the squadron consists oi the eight magnifioent ships of the King Edward VII class,' each of which is certainly as strong as some ships which count in foreign navies as Dreadnoughts. The first battle-squadron has lately been put under tne-command of an admiral universally recognised as one of the ablest men in tho Navy-rActing-' Vice-Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly—and the newest ship in the fleet—the Marlborough—has just been'commissioned as-his flagship. The fourth battle-squadron consists only of four ships, two of which—the Agamemnon and Lord Nelson—are not actually Dreadnoughts, although stronger than some foreign Dreadnoughts. The First Battle Cruiser Squadron is really a fast battle-squadron. The Second Battle Cruiser, Squadron, to which the New Zealand has just been sent, forms • the backbone of the Mediterranean Fleet. :

Discussing the departure of Britain's First Fleet for an unknown destination in the North Sea, a writer in the Australian Press made some interesting comments on modern naval warfare. In these days of submarines, torpedo'flotillas, aad aeroplanes, he remarked, it is suicide for the main fleet to idle away: its time at any position known to the enemy. The only safety for the main battle fleet is to concentrate at sea in'some position unknown to the enemy'B intelligence department, and to wait'for orders there. It can then be directed against the enemy's main fleet the' moment he ventures to sea. But if its whereabouts are known it will attract, to itself such a swarm of submarines and torpedo craft that some sdrt of disaster is certain. The first days of a naval war, nowadays, are devoted to the submarines and destroyers ; swarms of them would be let loose'in the first hour of it—and until the sea was moderately cleared of this pest; the battle-fleet could not venture to have its whereabouts known for many hours together. Once the sea is cleared of all but the debris of this mosquito ; fleetr—so many naval officers think—the issue of the war will be simply in the hands of the battle fleets. But clearly the battle fleet cannot wait for the outbreak of war before it puts out into the unknown.' It must disappear from sight before a watch is set on it. . That is why tho first battle fleet, put to sea: from this time out it may be expected that th\ movements of the British Fleet will be kept as far as possible secret.

I The efforts of the German Government to persuade Italy that she ought, as a member of the Triple Allianoe, to range herself alongside Germany and Austria in the present struggle have so" far failed. • The intention of Germany in drawing attention to France s "hostile acts" seems to be to create the impression that the Germans arc waging a defensive war, in which case it would be Italy's duty to come to their assistance: In the light of known facts this contention will not bear a moment's examination,' and thi> Italian Government refuses to accept such a flagrant misrepresentation of the situation. The incident'is recorded by the Giurnale d,'ltalia, which also states definitely that Italy will adhere to her neutrality. ' Some people were inclined to think that Italy was only holding .aloof in "order to give Britain an excuse for adopting a similar policy, and it now remains to be seen whether Britain's participation in the war will cause Italy to abandon her neutral attitude.

New Zealand's position as the result of thoi Empire being at waij should be clearly understood by tho public. The chief effect for the moment must be on our overseas trade. Shipping will, be demoralised and merchants and traders will ex-

perienco difficulty in ' making their financial _ arrangements in order to meet their obligations in London. The refusal by the Telegraphs Department to accept messages m code, or cipher embarrasses both the financial institutions and the merchants, . but this may be overcome. In addition to these, troublesthere will be, of course, the interference with manufacturing industries in Britain,- France, and Germany, and the complete cutting off of all supplies from the last-named country. This will open tho door. to American enterprise, and no doubt our trade, both outward and inward, with the United States will be materially increased if the war is ,at all prolonged. An effort will, be certainly made to maintain'a portion at least of our export trade, and on this much depends. A decisive -naval engagement would clear the air and'make the position plainer, but the risks to shipping from hostile cruisers and armed merchantmen. will in any case' mean costly transport and heavy insurance rates. The dislocation of our trade and commerce must inevitably react on the whole community, and the situation will not be improved by the effects of the war on the money markets of the world and consequent intorfereiice with the borrowing operations of the Government. Economies will require to be practised, and sacrifices made, but these are a small thing compared with the magnitude' of the issues at stake. The greatest nations are those whose people in the hour of trial have been prepared to mako the greatest sacrifices for their national existence.

. The decision of the Government to proceed without further delay with the formation and equipment of the Volunteer Expeditionary Force received the unanimous' approval oi Parliament yesterday afternoon, and there is not a shadow of doubt that .the proposal will have the unhesitating support of the whole Dominion.- The Prime Minister states that scores of applications have already been received, and it is quite certain that there will bo no trouble in finding the number of men required. They will be asked to volunteer for service-either in New Zealand or abroad.' This means that they will be expected to place themselves unreservedly in' the hands of the Imperial authorities, and be ready to go wherever their services -may be required. Probably they will be asked to take the place of Begulars who are now doing duty in India or Egypt. They may possihly _ be required to serve on. the Continent of Europe, although it is unlikely that they would bs sent to the front against the highly-trained

troops of Germany and Austria. In .short, they'will be used when and where the Empire needs them most. They will become a- portion of a great military machine, and its efficiency as a whole will largely depend upon.,.- tho reliability and Bmooth working of itsi various parts. " ~ — ~. /

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