The Evening Star MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1918.

Evening Star, Issue 16852, 30 September 1918, Page 4

The Evening Star MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1918.

Cchrectia- speaking, Bulgaria is not actu

ally "out of the war." The Advance She may be so, both' for Of th 3 Allies, her own advantage and that of humanity, at any hotir; only that hour is not yet. The present situation, particularly as it affects Bulgaria and her action, has been clearly set forth by that able and far-seeing statesman Lord Robert Cecil, Assistant Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. "Bulgaria," says Mr Balfour's colleague, " has addressed to all the allied (.rovernmezits a formal and definite request for an armistice preparatory to peace. There is no confirmation of the German statement, that M. Mgjinoff (the Bulgarian Premier) made the offer without the confirmation of his Cabinet. I do not believe the offer is a trick, and if it is we will not be caught." That Bulgaria has had far more than enough of the cruel game of slaughter into which she entered deliberately and in cold blood more than three years ago there is every reason to believe; that she is, as a nation, more than anxious to be free of the sinister and malign character who has so long exercised his baneful influence upon the life and progress of that young kingdom there is no reason to doubt: and that trickery and cunning of the cheapest and most detestable order of infamy may be at work in the interest of Fc-rdinand and his "great and august ally " i 3 always probable. But it is too late in the day for either Bulgaria or Germany to hope to work them with success. The day for the diplomacy of the Wilhelrnstrasse and Ballplata order has passed. Whether Bulgaria bids farewell to her monarch with or without the shedding of blood is a matter for the Bulgarians themselves. That which chiefly concerns the outside world in these great days is that Bulgaria—the treachery of -'hose rulers proved so formidable an opponent to the swift, coming of that ]>eace and_ liberty which the Allies sought to confer upon too smaller nationalities of Southern Europe—has now publicly confessed the failure of her rulers' attempt, and is feverishly anxious to find a way out.

Righteously indignant as we may well icel against Ferdinand, his advisers, aiders, and abators, there can hardly be anv other feeling than that of profound and sincere sympathy with, the great majority ot tne hclpbss hundreds of thousands of Bulgarians who have long been the victims and the sufferers of their monarch's policy. _ There never was a moro shameless or cynical betrayal of national honor and national gratitude than that involved in tiw abandonment of the Allies by Bulgaria m August, 1915. Russia was the author and champion of Bulgaria. Russian arms and Ru ?s ian blood and Russian diplomacy alone made a State of Bulgaria possiole. Forty years and a few weeks ago there was no such State. Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha owes his kingdom and his existence as a European monarch to Russian arms ; vet, when the hour ot decision came, he basely deserted tiose to whom he owed so much, and without shame or remorse threw his armies and interest upon the side of those Powers whose ultimate object was the enslavement of mankind. In an addendum to the Manifesto issued by the Bulgarian Government at. that time the then Premier, M Radoslavcff, was quite frank in his con* feasion of motives. Bulgaria claimed no high 'deals as the inspiring sourre of her iatetitl decision. £h o regarded the whole sanguinary struggle quite apart from its humanitarian and moral aspects. To Bulgaria, the war presented itself simply' as a qucn-wii of profit and loss. "She had waited." -aid her Premier, "until she was convinced that Gernwny would win, and had then accepted the German offer w> relieve Edgaria of )i» r supplies of grain at nigh pnVo.v an <] to give her a permanent trade route westward along the Danube. Germany." continued this long-dfsgraced M-■:ister, "has always fulfilled its treatv obligations. ; .. r .d is fighting the whole world merely in order to live up to its treaty obligations tc. the Austro-Hungarian monarchy." We prefer the Satanic avowal of Ferdinand himself to such a vulgar concoctum of falsehood and history as this. Ferdinand \-:- on record as saying: "When I wont to Bulgaria I resolved that if there wore to be any assassinations I would be upon the side of the sssassinu," and he has kept his word.

At this auspicious moment the whole civilised world may well thank God and tales courage that the destinies of mankind are in the diracting hands and sura keeping of srch leaders as President Wilson and the Allies.' We may rest content that no false move will be made, for they are not t lis mon to mar the great work that yet awaits them, or to be cajoled and fooled eii-hor by the lying- snd knavery of German diplomacy or the futile beseechings of their own fanatical pacifists. "We are all agreed that peace cannot' ha obtained bv any kind of bargain or compromise with the Central Empires." We rejoice to'hear it There are among us those who hav? not been so definitely assured upon this point as they would like to be, and there are falsa Britons who would take the German at his word and negotiate with him to-morrow. These and their kind alike disappear before the clarion pronounce ment of the representative and mouthpiece of all free peoples.' "The world is not looking for terms or seeking for bargains," says the President, " but for justice and fair dealing," which Germany, Austria. Bulgaria, and Turkey can obtain the instant they are prepared to listen to and accept them. Meantime tb/» great battle must and will go on, >,

Tho R.M.B. Mafcirca arrived at Auckland at noon to-«iay from Vancouver via ports. The vessel brought a- large quantity of European and American mail matter, and the local portion will arrive here on Wednesday night by tho express from the north. At a meeting of the local coal companies held at Dunedin to-day, tho question of the increased price of stores, material, and explosives used in the mines, and tho increased war bonus of 10 per cent, and per cent, to all mine workers was considered, and it was decided that the price of Kaitangata, Waronui, and Green Island coals should be advanced try one shilling per ton as from the Ist October. The price of Taratn coal was raised by one Shilling and sixpence per ton in August in anticipation of these increases. Thank goodness the warmer weather is coming. Tho Chancellor of the Otago University (the Rev. A. Cameron) has received a oheque for £!8,0C0 in aid of the funds of tho "Medical School, and tho generous donor is hopeful that her example will 'bo followed by others who are in fairly good circumstances and are mindful of the interests of higher education in Otago.

There were no arrivals at or departures from the port of Dunedin from noon on Saturday up to 4 p.m. to-day, and only a limited number of waterside workers found employment today on the one large" cargo steamer in port. The Monowai, ! which sailed on Saturday morning for east coast rjorts and Auckland, carried away a large shipment of genoral cargo, and a largo number of watersiders were employed for three days last week in discharging and loading operations on the vessel. There is little prospect of a busy waterfront this week, as tho only vessels expected are the collier Poherua, with a part cargo of coal from Westport, and several vessels comprising the " mosquito " fleet. The shortage' of shipping is still Bomewhat acute, and local merchants' are finding it difficult to secure space to got their goods away to the north. It is understood that there are thousands of tone of general merchandise awaiting shipment at this port for Wellington alone, and any space available for .that port, no matter whether the vessel happens to be a email coaster, scow, or schooner, is .eagerly taken up. The Kotare was originally fixed to load here tomorrow for Bluff and InvarcaTgill, but as a full cargo was offering for Wellington the owners decided to send the vessel north. The whole of the Kotaro's space has been booked, and she will be despatched on Wednesday for Wellington direct. The steamer Stella and the auxiliary schooner Houto. which are both due here this week with scrap iron cargoes,' will afterwards load general cargo for Wellington. Every inch of space on these vessels was booked, several weeks ago. The Poherna will also be despatched from here about Thursday with over 1,000 tons of genoral cargo for Wellington. Mr Mack, the Independent Labor candidate for the Wellington Central seat, made a mistake with a retort made by him to a man in his audience at his meeting at Wellington on Tuesday night. A young man sitting near the front of the hall had been making interjections repeatedly, and to one of them Mr Mack replied : "If I were a-s voung and healthy as you are I should no"t bo sitting in this hall to-night." Tho man stood up, and it was at once apparent that he was a returned soldier. He was wearing a badge, and he had an empty sleeve, ""hero were howls from the hostile section of the audience, and demands for apologies. As soon as he was allowed to do so, Mr Mack apologised. He said that when he had made the retort he had not been able to see that the man had a badge or that he had lost an arm. And he apologised. Later there was a demand that ho should make an apology to the Returned Soldiers' Association, but this Mr Mack declined to do. He said that he had apologised to the man concerned, and he owed no apology to anyone else. A week ago, whom by the. temperature we were still in tho grip of winter, surfbathing at St. Glair seemed to be months away ; but tho sun Iras begun to make lis lively; and the pastime has in fact started this year rather earlier than usual. Some men "went into the water yesterday, and this morning a party of ladies belonging to the St. Clair.Surfing Club took their first, duck of the season. They .say that the water was not uncommonly cold, but the beach was a little unpleasant, the sand now malclng np after a denudation, and being therefore somewhat steep and soft.

A wonderfully effective shell has been invented by a watchmaker in a village in Buckiiighamshiro (England). It is so well thought of that it was used extensively oy the French in Marshall Foch's recent offensive, states a cable message to the Australian papers. The weekly entertainments at the Bed Cross Home at Montecillo are much appreciated by the patients and tthe «rai'f. That given on Saturday evening was no exception to the rule. A well-arranged programme of musical and elocutionary items and a little play (two characters) was presented. Among those who helped during the evening was Mr Frank Wright (advance representative for Mr A!<v<aader Watson) who delighted the audience with a, number of amusing elecutionary sketches. Mr Perry Robinson (London ' Times's' correspondent), recounting recent air exploits, says that a two-seater attacked 20 enemy planes, and shot down two, but was itself almost shot to ribbons. Tt hid in the clouds, and then limped home, its tanks were pierced, its engines damaged, and its instruments smashed, and the observer had 10 wounds. Several instances have occurred of airmen climbing out of their planes and plugging ho lea in the tanks. One stayed on the wing and plugged a leak with his handkerchief till the machine landed. Another, machine had both planes shot off. The observer hung out perilously over the side, suspending the Lewis gun so as to preserve the balance till the machine landed. A biplane that was flying at a great height dived and attacked 30 enemy machines. It shot down three before being attacked, and got three more, when it reascended and escaped in the clouds by clever dodging and spinning.

The ' Clutha Free Press' says that a good many sheep are being taken from that district to replenish the flocks which were lost in the high countrv of Xorth Otago during the severe winter snowstorms. On Tuesday a flock of 200 passed through Balclutha from Clydevale bound for 20 miles beyond Qamaru. Some weeks ago a "gentleman" of military bearing arrived m Masterton (says the 'Age'), and introduced himself as a "major," who had returned from the front, after rendering service on Gallipoli aVid at the Somme. He had, he said, been wounded in the chest. His story was accepted without the slightest suspicion. He made himself a jolly good fellow, and succeeded in raising loans hero and t ore. Ha was taken to the home 3 of serMe-g, where he recounted thrilling stories of hhoxploits, and was entertained to wine er. d cigars in a regal fashion. At '"ngth be announced that he was to return to the front as a lieutenant-colonel. But, somehow or another, he overdid the 'msmsss, and inquiries were set on foot. I'he.-ie revealed the fact that he was a reservist who had never been out of tho .).>nioion. and was on the list of men ' wanted.'' rte suddenly disappeared, and "s still at large. It is not safe to refer fo the "major" in certain quarters.

When a number of fathers of families of two in this town (says the >Te\v Fh - mouth ' Herald') had been examined by the Medical Board one day rccontly and were banded the papers which showed that they, being classed C2, were granted indefinite lea-e without pay, they thought that another remarkable example of military carelessness had come to light. P.'anh Bapor boro a description of its bol'kr. ne man, aged 43, saw himself described as 50; another, aged. 38, was told by the paper that he was 44; another muti" who had always calculated his age ks being 46, wondered who had slipped when he taw himself described as less than dp. A deputation, headed by the portly unn "aged 3t),'' filed back to put the position bofcio the attesting officer. As the ofmw explained, his hearers grexv more and more admiring. A policeman might stop ili6»: to ascertain that they had not Hcse itd or failed to register; he would compare the description on the paper with the appearance of the man before him. Therefore the age on the papers jvas not the aotual age of the reservists; it was tho age which, they looked.

Mr Paulin's forecast:—N.W. to S.W. winds and fine.

A lad 17 years of age, who is earning £1 por day as wages in timber-getting at Catlins, appeared before tho. Magistrate's Court at Clinton on Saturday, on a charge that, boing a cadet, he failed to attend a drill on a certain oocasion. It was not only as an amazing wage-earner that this lad attracted notdce. Evidence showed that he is maintaining liis father, his mother, and 10 brothers ami sisters, the youngest nine months old. He has ahouldeivcl a man's job very early in life, and it is pleasing to know that His Worship saw his way to merely convict and discharge a defendant who had such stuff in him.

Charles Woods-, agod 29, son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Woods, of Puketeraki, died in the Dimedin Hospital on Thursday last, and was burled at Puketeraki yesterday, Archdeacon Fitchott reading tne burial service. The deceased volunteered for the main tody, and was turned down by the doctors. Ho then worked his. way Home as a trimmer, and was accepted for the Imperial Army. He returned to Dunedin invalided, a little less than a year ego.

The Wellington tramway dispute has not yet developed into anything very serious (says the 'Post'). Noioiy n-ems to be greatly inconvenienced cithor by the union's refusal to work overtime or the men's unofficial decision to 'go skw." Perhaps "going slow" is not the toni which should apply. The noto-man Eie showing how really conscientious they aro by adhering strictly to their rule hooks, which say, for instance, that the speed through the narrow and busy streets of the city proper shall not exceed eight miles per hour. There are other similar restrictions which have nover been- strictly enforced, and perhaps the management intonded that they never should. However, the men appear to have decided among themselves that the time has arrived when they should be put into full operation. Hence tho idea that they are "going alow." Mesdames Blues, Johnston, Cook, and S. G. Smith had charge of the Red Cross shop on Saturday. 'The result was satisfactory, the receipts amounting to £73.

It is good to know that the Dunedin Choral Society are recognising and encouraging local talent. In thoir programme of their concert to be given on the 26th of October will be included a four-part sketch for unaccompanied voices, entitled 'Autumn Winds,' by Miss Winifred Haweridge, of Ravensbourne, and 'New Zealand, My Country,' a part song by Mr Charles A. Martin, the accomplished accompanist of the Dunedin Male Choir. Mr Martin is in the trenches somewhere in France. He composed this piece on the Sommo.

A list has been published in Australia of members of the. Australian Imperial Force w'ho have been found guilty by court-martial tins year of the crime of desertion. Seven men have been sentenced to penal servitude for life, one to 15 years' penal servitude, 16 to 10 years' penal ssrvitnde, one to eight years' penal servitude, four to Seven years' penal servitude, one to six years' penal servitude, 15 to five years' penal servitude, and 25 to shorter terms of imprisonment (these including several whose punishment has been commuted from longer terms). A well-known company of clothiers has discovered another clever method of cargo pilfering (says tho Auckland 'Star'). Last week certain cases of clothing were landed upon the Auckland wharves, consigned to them by a coastal steamer from Dunedin. The cases were all passed without question as being sound and their contents intact. But when one of them was broached a small cardboard box right in the bottom of tho case was found to be empty, though it was to hold one dozen singlets. There -was_ one small knot-hole in the case, and this was found to coincide exactly with a small hole -in the corner of the bos. It was evident that whatever had been taken from the box was worked out carefully through tho knife-hole, and then through the knot-hole, with never a trace left behind to show that the singlets had been stolen. Evidently the rifling of goods carried on on the steamers is an everyday occurrence, for numerous methods have been detected. This ono is more or less new. One shipping company have paid out from their Auckland- office within the past few weeks something like £l5O on account of goods pilfered while on the steamers.

It is understood, -wires our Christchureh correspondent, that Bishop Julius has completely exonerated the Rev. 0. E. Perry, vicar of St. Michael's Church, on the charges recently heard of indulging in ritualistic practices.

It pays to remember some things. Ladies, when you need a good costume" remember the name Ansell, Octagon.—[Ad vt.] New jeaion's photographic jfobds; oiosl,'ent stock now arriving. Cameras from 6s fend your order early to H. J. GiU, 11 and 13 fredr-rick street, Dunedin. 'Phone 1144 —[Advt.j

The Ladies' Guild of St. Mary's Church, Mornhiglon, will hold their animal sale of work in the church schoolroom on Wednesday and Thursday nest. The ladies are very busy making preparations, and there is every indication that the sale will be highly successful. The operetta ' Will o' the Wisp ' will be staged each evening, and should prove a biff attraction. About 30 performers will take part, and the production will be under the direction of Mrs R, H. Bligh.

Not surprised 3'ou like Watson's No. 10, Why, man, it's best whisky sold.—[Advt.]

Ex-nwanbcs of the Drraedin Highland Rifles are invited to attend the funeral of ex-Sergeant Robert Harper to-morrow afternoon.

" No Rubbing " Laundry Help is printed in large red letters on every packet of the genuine. Is 3d largo packet. Wardoil Bros. and Co.—[Advfc.] The first general meeting of the Womeu's Citizens' Association will be held in the Council Chambers, Town Hall, to-morrow evening, at 8. As ? the education of the child is of paramount importance to the State, it was considered that the most fitting subject of the opening discussion would bo schools, treated from the three standpoints of the parent, the teacher, and the medical inspector. It is hoped that every woman interested in the subject will endeavor to bo present.

Watson's No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money.— |Advt,l Caledonian bowlers are asked to attend the funeral of tho late Mr Robert Harper. Narcissi show at Moncrieff and Stuart's, Princes street south.