Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 16628, 10 January 1918, Page 4

The definite world peace programme outlined by President Wilson President . in an address to the United Wilson States’ Congress is as solid on Peace, and (in parts) a® steep as his own Rocky Mountains. But there is no mountain mist about it. The President’s declaration of the peace aims of the mighty American. Republic is clear, purposeful, and emphatic. It is stronger in regard to insistence on essential points than it is in respect to recommendation on idealistic alms ; and it goes tlhe whole way to permanent peace. It is exactly the sort of declaration that was to bo expected firm a stronghold of settled and sane Democracy that has pledged itself, after long deliberation and humiliating aggravation, “to carry on to a successful conclusion this new war for the independence of America, and for the preservation of democratic institutions and tho vindication of the basic principles of humanity." Moreover, the declaration is a heartening demonstration of the spirited unity of Democracy in North AmericaAs the ‘ New York Tribune ’ • says with justifiable pride: “ Tho President’s Message is beyond praise. It is a second Emancipation Declaration, and represents the aims of a hundred million people. Today, os- never before, the nation marches with the President.” By far the most satisfactory of the President’s historic statements is the solemn declaration that America will continue tho fight till a just and stable peace is assured. A united nation of a hundred million people are determined to defend Democracy against an autocratic Power that aims at mastering the world “with high explosives and low intrigue.” Their determination, and their enormous capacity for giving practical expression to that determination, surely justify the solid and (as we have already said) tho steep ■peace terms laid down by President Wilson on behalf of a democratic nation that suffered beyond ordinary endurance before deciding to wage war against war. Undoubtedly there ore included in Mr Wilson’s world peace programme several terms in which there are scope and reason for a friendly difference <4 opinion among the Allies; but there will be no diversity of opinion concerning tho wisdom of tho President’s purpose, which goes far beyond the immediate objects of the Allies. The President’s declaration endorses without quaiicatdon or reservation the British war aims ais outlined recently by Mr Lloyd George. Indeed-, the President is more specific and more emphatic *.W-n the Prime .Minister in respect to questions vitally affecting the fundamental aims of the Allies. Mr Wilson gives .more solid encouragement to France, Italy, and blighted Russia. He insists on the evacuation and restoration of Belgium, Rumania, Serbia, and France; the evacuation of all Russian territory now under Teuton pc-

cupntion; and a readjustment of the frontiers of Italy on the lines of nationality. As to the crux of the war policy of France, the President .is acceptably emphatic t “ The -wrong done to Alsace-Lorraine must be righted.” This will strengthen the spirit of France and add power to her. blows for justice and freedom, but it will also quicken madness in Germany. In October last the German Foreign Secretary (Dr Von Kuhlmarm) declared that there was but 'one answer to the- question “ Can Germany in any farm make concessions with regard to Alsace-Lorraine?” “That answer is No. So long as one German band can hold a gun the integrity of the territory handed down to us as,a glorious inheritance by our forefathers can never be the object of negotiations or concessions.” As far back as August, 1888, the Kaiser declared: “We should rather sacrifice on the battlefield our 18 army corps and our 42,000,000 inhabitants than give up a single stone of what we have won.” If that still be the determination of the German despots, there is nothing else id sight than inflexible unity on the part of the Allies until Prussian militarism has been sacrificed on the battlefield. The ■Allies have stated l their war aims and peace terms in simple language, and with a candor not yet practised by the Central Powers; and it is for the enemy of freedom to show dearly that the lessons and. penalties of the war • they deliberately thrust upon a peace-loving world have brought about a change in the savage heart of Pmssdanism. Meanwhile the Allies, and also the sane thinkers in Russia, can endorse with wore and' deed Mr Wilson’s declaration, and his demand that the world must be made fit and safe to live in.

The Otago Military Service Board will sit here next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Adjourned cases will be taken on the Wednesday, and fresh appeals on the following days. A. charge of sly grog-selling against a man and his wife living in the north end will be heard in the Police Court tomorrow.

There was a good and representative attendance on Tuesday night at the Trinity Methodist circuit quarterly meeting, the Rev. W. A. Hay presiding. Beyond routine business the pnly matters of public interest were certain appointments. After occupying the position of senior circuit steward for four years with considerable efficiency, Mr S. Lawn retired from that office, and was accorded a hearty tribute of appreciation for his services. His colleague, Mr W. H. Duke, continues in office, and with him is associated Mr E. Kosevear, by vote of the meeting. The members chosen as representatives to conference were Messrs J. Miller and W. H. I eiens. A committee was appointed to go into the question of the policy and staffing of Trinity Sunday School, which is in need of a superintendent.

Ihxee members of the Cooper family had an exciting experience recently near Eketahuna (states the ‘ Wairarapa Daily News’). They were driving down a hill by kli- Thomas Moss’s homestead, when they were overtaken by a tornado. They heard a great explosion, and, becoming alarmed, got opt of the vehicle and lay flat on the ground. By this means they saved their lives. The wind struck the barn and cowshed of Nix Elsinore, removing the roofs of both buildings and carrying them high into the air. It also uprooted trees and scattered debris fox a considerable distance.

Measurements have now been made of the portions of the timber that remained on the scow Moa after the German prisoners were recaptured. They show that of the total cargo of 80,000 ft of sawn timber no less than 47,000 ft were jettisoned, leaving some 33,000 ft, which was brought to Auckland. As stated previously (says the Auckland ‘Star’), the portion that was thrown overboard comprised the most valuable timber in the cargo, and. the loss to the Leyland-O’Brien Timber Company is therefore considerable.

A pronounced increase has been shown in the number of shops registered in Victoria, as compared with the number registered in 1916. The. apparent increase in the number of shops opened is probably attributable to the prosperity of the community, in spite of the war, and to the bounteous and the circulation of loan money. In 1917 the number of shops registered in the State was 25,913, as compared with 25,735 for 1916, showing an increase of 278. Presumably, as a r unfit of enlistments, and the extension of employment for women workers, the increase in the number of employees of shops mainly comprises women. The total number ox males employed in these registered shops during 1916 was 17,168, and of females 8,575, while last year’ the number of males was 17,178 and of females 9,617. The American Y.M.C.A. War Council set out to raise £7,000.000 .to carry on their work among soldiers until June, 1918. The assistance of Mr J. J. Virgo, British general field secretary, was sought in connection with the huge contihentwide campaign, and hundreds of other able speakers gave their services. The result was that no less a sum than £10,000,000 was raised, exceeding by £3,000,000 the amount aimed at. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, who has been visiting Christchurch, was taken for a long flight yesterday afternoon by Mr C. M- Hill, instructor at the Sockburn Aviation School. The aeroplane circled over the centre of the city, and also crossed the estuary. A height of over 3,000 ft was reached, Mr Mac Donald was unable to leave for Wellington last night owing to matters connected with the Government control of wheat claiming his attention longer than was expected.

The quinnat salmon fishing season opens on the 14th of this month, the authorities having agreed to issue licenses. But much surprise has been occasioned among anglers by a rumor in the Oamaru and Timam districts that the Government have arranged to put on a&rawler at the month of the Waitaki on the 14th or the 16th insfc. to trawl salmon. It is thought that the Government should have announced their intention to compete on a big scale before arranging for the issue of licenses to sportsmen. Latest advices from the Pacific Coast indicate a further heavy rise in the price of • American timber. Two months ago the Bruoo Railway and Goal Company ordered, for delivery at Lyttelton, a shipment of Oregon, and within the same month a smaller shipment for Timaru. From advices now to hand it is apparent that to duplicate these parcels at thepresent time would mean the payment of at least 8s per 100 ft super, beyond the purchased price of the shipments landing. -E or Australian ports the increase is even more striking. * Freight space formerly available for timber is now otherwise re* quired. Two large motor ships which nad been chartered for oregon for Australia have been requisitioned by the United States Government, and it is believed that all motor ships will be diverted from the lumber trade, leaving the business to sailers exclusively. With practiwhole of the normal supplies of timber from Europe and Asiatic Russia cut off, the world’s demand has fallen upon America; -and there, with the building of wooden vessels and supplying war demands, and with increase of wages and costs of supplies and the shortage of labor, every tendency is towards increase of tunber prices. Oregon and other imported timbers will shortly be procurable only at greatly enhanced values. Our Special ’ at Christchurch telegraphs ;—Thetis is at present a surplus of labor available for the harvesting of cocksfoot on the Peninsula. It appears that a large number of men have given up bushfalhng and flax-milling in the North Island for the purpose of coming down to harvest the cocksfoot. The farmers hope that this labor surplus will be diverted on to the farms for the purpose of getting the wheat harvest in. ' ' Tbe Minister of Defence (Hon. Janies Alien) stated on Saturday that only two of the German escapees (Count Von Luckner and another) were being sent to R ipa Island. The remainder would be sent to Motuihi.

Mr Paulin telephoned at 2 p.m.:— S.B. to N.E. winds, and electrical rain showers. \ To enable Dunedin people to attend Mr C. Parata’s funeral to-morrow the second express will stop at Poketeraki. The first express down, which arrives at Puketeraki about 3.40 p.m., will also stop, in order to provide an opportunity of visitors returning to Dunedin. The primary school at Makarewa was totally destroyed by fire at about 1.45 on Sunday morning (says the 1 Southland Times ’). _ The headmaster, Mr Soar, whose residence is distant only three or four chains from the school ate. passed the latter building about 11 o’clock the previous night, when all was well. A young man, a friend of the Soar family, was staying there for the night. He placed his motor cycle and side-car under the verandah of the school, which was erected in the early days. Then all retired. At L 45 Mr Soar was awakened by the sound of a motor cycle engine in motion. The school was then in flames. Going out to investigate, the owner of the motor cycle found that his machine had been run into the paddock to a safe distance from the burning building. No person was seen about. The 'building was a very old one, the rider part liaving been standing for 50 years. It was badly infested with the borer. Agitation for a new school has been pronounced in the district for three or four years, but without success. Following on the present disaster, the usual departmental inquiry into matters of this kind will probably be held.

A quaint story comes from the front (says an exchange). An officer in France had to adjudicate on the grievance' of a deputation of peasants living in the vicinity of his camp. Rabbits in that district, it seems, are as scarce and precious as venison, and the peasants’ complaint was they had discovered the Australian soldiers had been enjoying rabbit stews. Where, then, did they get the , rabbits from? And the simple peasant nunds concluded that the soldiers had been poaching. The officer listened gravely to their complaint, then patiently explained to them that the rabbits eaten by the soldiers were tinned, and were a present from Australia, where, he also told them, rabbits abounded in millions. They were finally convinced by a present of a tin apiece, and went away thoroughly satisfied, exclaiming loudly at the extravagance of Australians who made presents of anything so valuable as rabbits. During the month of December the censor of films, Mr W. JollifEe, examined 421,850 feet of picture films, making 4,368,370 feet for the pa-st nine months. This works out at approximately 800 miles. During the four weeks just ended approval was refused in the case of three pictures, and thirteen were approved subject to excisions. Mr Jolliffe’s attention was drawn to a remit in the agenda paper of the Teachers’ Conference m Wellington calling attention to the desirableness in the _ interests of children of greater restrictions being exercised in censoring films which may be thought by some to glorify crime. This world is still a small place, as the Paton brothers, of Dannevirke, recently discovered (says the Dannevirke ‘News’). It adds : “ They were returning from the front, one from_ France, the other from Mesopotamia. Neither had any knowledge of the other’s whereabouts. ” One was walking along the street at a. port of call v?ith some soldier friends when he espied .another soldier in the distance, and remarked that he was very much like his brother. Such turned out to be the case. And though travelling by different steamers they arrived in New Zealand within three hours of each other.” As showing the work that is being done at the Auckland Hospital, it is of interest to mention (says the Auckland ‘ Stax ’) that during the past year there were no fewer than 3,015 operations, as compared with 2,790 for the previous year. The admissions to the hospitals during the year totalled 4,528, as compared with 5,218 for the previous year, the large number for the last-mentioned year being due to an epidemic of measles which occurred during that year. Alluding to the question of ballots, the Minister of Defence (Six James Allen) stated on Saturday that no ballot of the Second Division Class A men would be taken this month. A ballot would, however, be taken next month, but the residue of Class A might last for both February and March, in which case the first ballot of Class B men wonld not be taken till April.

The Registration of Aliens Act passed last session affects the Auckland police district more than any other district in New Zealand (says the ‘Herald’), on account of the large number of aliens in the North ? more particularly on the gum lands. Aliens were called upon to register themselves at the nearest police station or Customs office by the ,end of November, bnt owing to the short notice given a little latitude was allowed. Up to the present tme_ 1,500 registration cards have been received at Auckland police headquarters, but there are_ a few more yet to come in. All alien nationalities are represented on tne cards received, but the number of Jugoslavs exceeds the aggregate of all other alien residents. . The extreme usefulness of the dentist m the military service, with his technical skill and knowledge, added to that of the physician and surgeon, has been amply proved during the present war (says the Melbourne ‘ Age ’). It was acknowledged many months ago hy the Defence a.uthoriiies, when, after some pressing, they decided to appoint dentists as commissioxiea officers in tte -A..X.F.—a decision, which they have never found canse to reOTet. The Royal Australian Navy is following suit by deciding to appoint a surgeon dentist for service afloat, where his stall may bo expected to be found equally valuable to the men- and in the ‘Commonwealth Gazette last week it was announced that applications from persons, qualified for appointment were desired The active and deferred pay attaching to the position begins at £365 per annum, with a uniform allowance of Is per day and rations, or allowance in lieu of them amounting to Is 5d to Is 8d per day. ' St. Clair residents fee! it a duty to i m . press upon the many visitors the fact that the present state of the beach, is abnormal Never before has there been , a scour to so low a level. The sand has gone to a depth of about 10{t, uncovering the bed stones and a layer of broken shells. The beach is therefore not nice for walking on, and surfers find a heavy backwash when the tide is kiph. A .spell of north-easterly weather wilt probably restore the beach.

The toothbrush drill introduced in a number of the South Australian State schools last year by Dr Gertrude Halley” particularly among the infant classes, is being gradually extended (says the Adelaide ‘Advertiser*). Dr Ha-lley is hopeful of having it adopted in all the schools she recently visited in the Port Pirie district, and haa also suggested that it should be started in the schools recently taken over by the Government from Lutheran control. Toothbrush drill is firmly established in somS of the large infant schools in the metropolitan area, and there is said to be already a marked improvement m the teeth of the children. Teachers have informed Dr Halley that there are not so many complaints about toothache, and that many tiny boys and girls seem to take quite a pride in the appearance of their teeth. The methods adopted for keeping the brushes differ among the schools. At some each child carries a brush in a little linen bag, and at others racks are provided, with no two brushes touching, and care is taken to see that each little one always gets? his or hdr own brush. The aim is'to prolong the -life of the first teeth, to give the second teeth the opportunity to grow in a dean mouth, and at the same time to inculcate the habit of caring for the teeth, in view of their great importance in relation to general physical fitness. Thermal activity at Whakarewarewa during the past three or four weeks has been very pronounced {says the Auckland ‘Herald’), and has beeii enjoyed by visitors during; the holidays. Polmtu geyser gave 102 displays in December, the "eruptions in each case being very impressive. Since last August this geyser has been in eruption on no fewer than 398 occasions. Waikorohihi geyser has also given some fine displays, and the Papakura' geyser has been as active as ever.

l®dy spectator present at the landing of the last returned , soldiers, hoping to near some particulars 6f the death of her son, of which she had been advised,* received a shook when her son appeared before her. “My boy, she exclaimed, “ they told meyon were dead f” The mistake evidently occurred from the fact that two boys bore the same initial and surname. Despite restrictions, the famous Watson's No. 10 whisky still sold.- Ask.for it,-H[Advt.] u For washing mechanics’ overalls alwavs use No Rubbing ” Laundry Help with “ Golden Rule •’ Soap. Warded Bros, and Co.— [AdvtJ No lady should be without Martin’s Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all chemists and stores throughout Australasia.—(Advt.l Watson’s No. 10 Is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money.— [Advt,]