PEACE DISCUSSIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 16335, 30 January 1917, Page 3

PEACE DISCUSSIONS.

. ZURICH, January 28. Prince Alexander of Hohenlohe, who has bec-n residing in Switzerland since the war in an article in the ‘Nom-ellc Gazetted -says that the Germans arc cherishing dangerous illusions concerning the effects produced on neutral countries hv their peace offers. Neutrals refuse to accept the Gorman theory that the Entente is responsible for the continuation of the war. They reproach Germany for proposing peace in an unacceptable form anerwith'hokhng- their terms. COPENHAGEN, January 28. o'U Coen lias invited TTollnn-ri to & conf-GT-cnee of neutrals to discuss their interests dm mg the war and their attitude duriii" peace negotiations. LONDON', Ja nuavy 29. oil J. G. AVard, addressing a Brotherhood meeting at the Browning Hall said tho only way the peace of the world"could be perpetuated after the war was by the right-thinking people of the I front Powers binding themselves together and saving to jnj Power attempting to enter upon a destructive course that they would combine and fight them, to the death. WAR ORGANISATION,, ACTION IN CHRISTCHURCH, DEPUTATION TO WAIT ON GOVERNMENT. [Pee United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH. January 29. Vie Christchurch City Council appointed a deputation last night to wait on'the Government and place before them the fJ lowing resolutions: 1 nat as there is a considerable disproportion in the equity of sacrifice, mid as the burden of sacrifice is failing so heavily on the general body of Hie coni . mnnity, who have sent tlieir sons, am! who also have to bear the economic burden of the high prices of commodities, wo ask that the Government logically step out, and, having conscripted men. thev also appropriate extra profits made during tho war period. That in tho opinion of this combined meeting the taxation of incomes (other than incomes derived from war profits) is at the present time inadequate. lhat as it is .absolutely necessary to conserve and concentrate the energv of the people of New Zealand to win' the wax, u e requisition tne Government to organise the mi a and woman power either through the nationalisation of in- ‘ dustnes or Hie organisation of private interests to carry on the industries of ; the country, .and thus free men who ara ' physically fit to prosecute the war 1 That the Government be requisitioned ' in use every means in their power con- • sistent with equity and justice, to win and finish the war ’ NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS. CONDITIONS IN FRANCE AND i ENGLAND. ; A letter to tho Minister of Defence from < Colonel AV. H. Parker, Deputy Director of i -'iGclicn.-I SoivicGcv, contains sonic intGrcstincr information as to the manner in i which the soldiers are being treated at tho 1 front and as to the hospital arrangements, i Av riling from the Headquarters of the ] New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Lon- 1 don in December, Colonel Parkes makes 1 the following remarks:— , ‘ Air last visit to France was very interesting. I spent some time with* the medical unite, and was particularly inter- ( ested in the arrangements to provide hot 1

baths for the whole division, for washing, sterilising, and, tho distributing of clean underlinen, also ovens for the drying of boots. The men return from the trenches to the rest house in their gumbools, which they wash and hand over to bo dried, receiving a clean pair of socks and dried boots in exchange Tho canteens are weil conducted. The men can purchase almost, anything at a trifle over cost. The places Where so many of the men spend their evenings arc not satisfactory, and I am . pleased to know that a Xcw' Zealand social club is to bo established in the division, whore the men can enjoy themselves amid more wholesome surroundings. “It is gratifying to note that the reinforcements are now arriving with a. dean bill of health as regards ' cercbro-spinnl As to the inquiry about massage, this form of treatment becomes more and more necessary, and is a special feature of the electro-massage department "of the Convalescent Hospital. Hornchurch. To meet the demand?, which are steadily increasing, tho medical organisation is extending, and we have recently taken over, through the War Otlico. as an auxiliary of Xo. 2 Xew Zealand Ocncral Hospital Chtkancls Park Hotel. It elands in a, pa--)- of about 50 acres, within a. mile of Waltm, Hospital, and will. accommodate over 500 patients of the lighter type, severe cases especially surgical, remaining at the main hospital. I.ho policy of aggregating our patients in the New Zealand Hospitals as much ao possible is proving quite f inmd and amply justifies the amount of accommodation pro vide. I.' 1 ATHLETES AND THE WAR. [From Our Lo.-dox Gop.respoxdent.] Dec-mibcr 11, 1916. . A T ln,:fe at any of the northern sporting papers on Mondays indicates that a large number of active men are evaditm their 1 rom Urn returns it is c!e;ii’ t.iat more running Imndieims tuy tiei/ii: decided now then in'pcaco time, wnilst rabbit coursing matches, krinr and spell matches, and other pastimes peculiar to the Xorth are fhui: i-liing. As a wd]. known London critic puts it ; "If ilm pr”,. fcssiona! runm r were in the trendies, h e could nor Iv, entering for handicaps in Manchester." This is very true, and it applies to other than professional iminers. Curiously enough, the .-ame critic advorated that amateur sports should be promoted i.i the 'ntero'-t of slackers. This is how he puts it: ” I daresay that ere the spring quite a number of ’those who have sheltered nndc- the munition worker's umbrella will have come out in the opm Meanwhile, i* is th? right pdic v ” to provide these chaps with an opportunity ,-,f keeping fit."This is indeed a strange policy to advocate, and equally so with the Manchester professional runners, the shirkers in munitions and elsewhere would want no ederi"g for if th y were in th-> liencncs or in tr.oiling, as the military events would meet all requir •menls. It does no t need much intelligence to recognise that if a man is jit enough to compete ;a niev, boxing matches, jootball matches. and other robust pa-time,- and games he is id enough to dun the tighter? uniform, wome people argue that a, man is udpiim too groat cause just as much if he v.orking m in ;j. mum. in proetuemg food, mid so on. This is l!ot . 0au we mod every man tit enough to light iur that task, and must " carry on’' C in all other directions by those under and over military age and the help of women. . Apropos of the large number of profitssionai running handicaps in the .Manchester district at. the [resent time, coupled withtho professional football going on. all t.uis must tend to harm professional sport in the lutuio. It. is only stating an established fact to say that the response of the professional has been very mi.-alu-factory in_ comparison to that of’the imateur, whilst the. latter, the universiiv men, show up so well.

THE RIGHT SORT. The sportsman we can admire it the one who makes rise of his strong:rr to do great things on the batticiicid, aim mi-Ti a *mc as Lieutenant-colonel Bernard C. l-T-ev-bc-rg, of Xcw Zealand, fills the hill entirely. This gallant officer gained renown in the Gallipoli landing I v swimming to the shore, and then ligating hares at'Viiiferent points. Not only did this assist the landing party, but it also deceived lire enemy by leading him to tnnik jandii.to had been made on certain points, with the result that his tiro was drrw.t. The gallant New Zealander was wei. served 1-v his swiinining ability, as he was in tile water for several hours, wnitn indicate* thatTre might be able to attain his amlnition of swimming the E.igii-n Channel. Following ids Gallipoli exploits, Lieu-tenant-colonel Froybcrg went on to, France, and iio has gained , or ‘ laurels by showing great leadership with tire Naval Division at Beaucourt. Tins hue sportsman is just one of a iviv, aid the efforts of those small-minded people who even now try to belittle spurts ran only bring discredit on themselves. Another line sportsman in Set or.d L’eiitenant F. K. Cram, Gordon li.ghiai tiers, is reported wounded. He ranks js oe of Che, best a 11-round athl;t?s in Scotland, and his contest with VC. R. Knox, of Canada, in 1914. made a big stir. Ho managed to win tbs- high jump and throwing the hammer, bid the Olympic trainer was too good for the Boot in the discus throw, the long jump, shot put, pole vault, sprint, and hurdles. One also notices the. name of brad ! Ampthili as having been appointed to !l:e ' cor-; inand of the Leicester Regiment. Ho i made a great name as an oarsn an and | rowed for O.xf'ud in 1890 and 1831, hot It I winning years. fie also assist"! Guy! Nickails to win the silver goblets at Hen- | ley in 1890 and 1391, and at too .-ame j regatta figured in the Beamier eight, which | won the Gland. Followers of football \ will also be interested to kea, that J. H. ! Galt, the old ScoU'rh intnuat on.il soccer | player, and at one time tae capiam of ! the Everton team, and slid Hie Fulham : captain, lias passed the ru-es.-suy examination for a commission. He wiil shouly ' be gazetted to one of tlm .Scmt'sh iogimems. where he will have a tv id or held ! for his ability tiian Ire footba.; licnd | offers. There are few names beaer known in Army boxing circles than that of Sergeant Jack Miller, winner o' r.n u-.roiis i ;ny and finvicc boxing , T.impm.i-mp.' He Iras had his share of aghti. g since he went to Flanders with t',e original Expcd.tionary Force, and has twice been wounded. This has not cared him of the love of lighting, and when home, on leave recently he was around his old haunts, and expressing the desire to enter the ring again as a principal at tho lirst opportunity. LIEUTENANT J. C, GRIFFITH. The Rev. S. Griffith, of Dundas (Street Methodist Church, has just received word from his son. Flight Sub-lieutenant J. CGriffith, of the Koval Flying Corps, that he Iras graduated as a fully-qualified airman, and. is proceeding to Franco. Lieutenant Griffith entered Exeter College, Oxford, in September, and passed the theoretical course in five weeks. This course was a comprehensive, one, including rotary and stationary engines, mechanism of aeroplanes, theory of flight, photography, meteorology and astronomy, map-reading, and cross-eountiy hying, signalling. Lewis machine gun, wireless, aerial and artillery observation, and various inshurnents, such as altometer, inclinometer, and velomster. Having passed this course, Lieutenant Griffith next went to the flying, school r.t Netheravon, Wilts, where, alter living with an instructor, in all three hours and 20 minutes, he was ready lor his “ solo " i.e., the first flight alone. To pass the test a man must fly successfully for three hours and make 10 landings/ This was accomplished in one morning without accident, and he was thou promoted to Tjnavon, Wilts, for higher instruction, where ho has secured his “wings,'’ and is nowordered to France. His brother. Private W. S. C. Griffith, of the 14th Reinforcements, who has been seriously ill with pneumonia in Franco, was recently sent to the New Zealand General Hospital. Brocken hurst, where lie is now convalescent. Private advice has been received in Christchurch to the effect that Sublieutenant St. Lawrence Bell, eldest son of

mu f"- T ' ■ of Rangiona, has been killed in action in the recent naval engagement off the Dutch coast. He was 22 years of age. and was educated at the Rangiora High School. Ho left New Zealand as a private in the 3rd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. News of his transfer to the Royal Navy, with promotion to the rank of sub-lieutenant, was received early m the month. Before Icaviim he was apprenticed to the Union Steam Ship Company, and received a course of training on die company s training ship, and became third officer on the sk Waipori. Ho was invalided from Gallipoli to London, suffering from dysentery. Subsequently lie returned to Egvnt,* and afterwardc to France. While on 'furlough from franco he cat for his mate’s certiflcat" and being successful, offered his services’ t'°. W'A Admiralty, and obtained his commission m the Naw. Material tor service bags will be "iven out at the Mornington Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. All who are williim to help are requested to attend, as the bags are urgently need id—6,COO ar" required monthly for the Dominion cdft par m , a - lltlcm to those required'"' for the soldieis xits. Service bags arc quite simple to make. A dozen can be made in one hour.