Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1918. THE SMALL NATIONALITIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 November 1918, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1918. THE SMALL NATIONALITIES

The Mittel Europa scheme upon which the Kaiser iiad set his heart and to accomplish which he plunged the. world into the vortex of the most awful war. that the world has ever seen, promises to have a far different constitution than that which William intended. The races that occupy Central Europe have seized the opportunity to emancipate themselves from. Austro-German control. A great .gathering' is being held in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, at which are representatives of the various races that occupy Central Europe. The leader of the Czech movement, Professor Mazaryck, is presiding, but events in Europe seem to be moving too* quickly for the gathering to come to any definite arrangements before the war is ended. The Austrian Government recognises that it is impossible to stem the tide of emancipation that is at present flowing so strongly through the Dual Monarchy. The Czecho-Slovaks and Pole's have been given all that they ask, and it is quite clear that Austria and Hungary will separate. What form of government the various races will adopt it is

very difficult to say, but the majority are squired of tne tyranny that lias prevailed, under the Mohenzollerns and flapsburgs that they will in all probability go to the other extreme and declare for a republic established on Socialist lines. President Wilson acted with shrewd diplomacy when he caused America to recognise the Czecho-Slovaks as a separate nationality. This was good for ihe Czecho-Slovaks. It enabled them to raise loans for the carrying on of the war, and it raised 400,000 Czecho-Slovaks from the status of alien enemies to that of Allies. The Czechs have played a most important part in the history of Europe. For a thousand years they have been the victims of Teutonic oppression, which they have at all times stoutly opposed. At the present time they occupy Silesia, Moravia and Bohemia, and their number is not quite 7,000,-' 000. They speak the same language as the Slovaks, who occupy the north-eastern portion of Hungary. Their inveterate enemies are the Magyars. Both races united are no match for their foes, and in order to strengthen their

forces tliey have allied themselves with the Jugo-Slavs and Poles. The history of their struggle for freedom is a varied one. In 1866 Prussia made overtures to the Czechs, who declined to accept the offer, as they were too well aware of the Prussian designs. In 1870, when al]. the Austrian Slavs favoured the cause of France and were prepared actively to assist her, the two all-powerful races, the Magyars and the Germans, put in their veto and nothing was done. It was a golden opportunity neglected. The present war placed the Czecho-Slovaks in a most unenviable position, for they were forced to fight on the side of those whom they bitterly hated. They knew from long and bitter experience that the Central Powers were the avowed enemies of small nations, and they know also that victory for Germany and Austria spelt oppression and bondage for the subject races. The Czechs and Slovaks stand high among civilised nations for their standard of education. There are practically no illiterates amongst Jthem, and in this respect_they

.surpass the Germans. Every man therefore thoroughly understood Tue position in which he was placed, and that hy fighting against the Entente Powers he was assisting to forge strong fet ters around him. The Czechs were roused to the danger that confronted them, and on November 4th, 1915, the Czech Foreign Committee issued at Paris a manifesto, which contained the following emphatic declaration: "Aus-tria-Hungary, as a dualistic monster, has become the oppressor of

all who are not Germans or Magyars. It is a standing- threat to the peace of Europe, a mere tool of Germany seeking* conquest in \ the East, a State having* no destiny of its own, unable to construct an organic State composed of a number of equal, free, progressive races. The dynasty, living* in its tradition of Absolutism, manages to.maintain tlie semblance of the former world-power through the undemocratic cooperation of a sterile nobility, a bureaucracy that belongs to no race, and, a body of Army officers that is against every race." To these oppressed people came President Wilson's message of hope when ho declared that "the peoples of Austria-Hungary should be accorded the fullest opportunity of autonomous development." The Czecho-Slovak divisions that have been formed for service against the Central Powers have done magnificent service in Russia, in Italy and in France. They knew the risks that they were taking, for capture by the enemy meant death. The Jugoslavs have thrown in their lot with the Czecho-Slovaks, and to these must also be added the Poles, making in all a total of fully 60,000,000 people, all demanding freedom from the AustroGerman yoke. The Allies have declared that the peace terms must include a provision for the freedom of all branches of the Slav ' race, and this promise must be ful- ' filled faithfully. The goal of vie- , tory is now in sight, and a few months at most must see the end

of the fearful struggle. The peace that will follow should bring with jit joy and thanksgiving amongst the small nations of Europe, who will no longer live in terror of the fearful menace of Austro-German oppression. In future they will be able to devote the whole of their energies to the development of their country. -

The Military. .Sgiryiice, Board sit at Grey-; mouth on i2th October. , v i : A thanksgiving service in connection with the surretide^r.of Turkey wijl; be held in the Anglican Church t6;ltioWo* moni' Considerable,, remark has been pawed lately by residents' and visitors as to 'the disgraceful state of the growth ,of scnib, blackberries, etc., towards the , -top |Jw Chapel Street several, bhains Aboye the Church Hill. This, home of noxious. plajiW is within three minutes walk from the Post Office, and it seems high time that the Borough Council put their resolutoh,. a few meetings ago, ■ concerning she growth of blackberries, etc., into';working order. v , i t< .;.'... i ■■ ■■; How to save 40 per cent, on hi« tobabeo outlay is something that should intent every smoker these times. It is simple enough too. All that is necessary to'do is to discard the imported brands and substitute the New Zealand grown article. Gold Pouch and Three Diamonds, owe their popularity not merely to the fact that they are considerably cheaper t|an the imported brands, but became they are .so much purer and contain less Nicotine. An excess of Nicotine is poison to thesystem. Quite recently a new .process has been applied in the manufacture of, these tobaccos. They are now toasted arid *he result is astonishing. Smoker* v/ho tried this new toasted tobacco proclaim it to be superior'in flavour to anything; they have smoked before. And no increase in pricer2ozs for 1/. "t . ~'."■•* : ; ' : 4£2

A Is 3d packet of the famous "No Rubbing" Laundry Helpiis sufficient for seven weekly family washing. Truly a wonderful boon to every housewife. Kettle Bros,, Greymouth.—Aidvt. Speaking of war the Rey. 'J. K .Archer, of Wellington,' 'president oi the Baptist Union, said i "They are outrageous. Not ! a' farthing of ■ them is justifiable. In 'England they tfre estimated to total' anything- up ' |tb' £750,G00,000 a year.'" In New' Zealand they seem to be proportionately as greit. Some New Zealand farmers are anticipat-. ing still bigger profits after the ' war.' They are gloating oyer the thought ; °pf 4s a pound for wool and 2s 6d for butfc&rl No wonder the Minister for Agriculture,, himself a farmer,/speaks of bur sordid commercialism.'' In its presence we have little right to throw stones of criticism /at Germany's self-seeking. Fundamentally, competitive commercialism is the same the world over. It knows no natibnalttyV no patriotism, no brotherhood, no pity, no sacrifice. It is; the most un T thing on the fac© : of the earth. Before the ' war it was discredited. Now it is irre-' vocably disgraced." . • *" Ladies' Jap. Silk Blouses, with large cape and collar, in Tuscan Shell, Rose and Cherry, with cape collar, -18/6. , New Check Blouses > square front, large collar, Pink, Saxe. Brown and Helio, 7/6. White Voile Blouses, nicely trimmed, 10/9;? to 32/6. Blouses jfor Evening Wear > 50/ to 65/ each. ..At' McGruer and Co*. % the

Spot Cash Drapers, Greymouth.—Advt. An unusuallcomplaint was preferred* against a young woman in the Duneain. Police Court /recently, when she was charged with causing to be delivered to the publisher of the "Otago Daily Tunes'* an untrue notice of,the death of another young woman, a relative by marriage. It appears that accused was absent from her . employers' house one. night, and.': on being asked the following morning to explain th reason she said she had been sitting up with a relative_ who had died in the hospital during the night. Her employer was suspicious, and on making > enquiries found that no such person hatf . died in the institution. The next morn-

ing, however, the death notice, the subject of the , charge, appeared in the ' "Times." The young woman then left • her employment # and a number of articles being missed from the house the matter was placed inithe hands of the detecElVes. Accused was remanded ior. the probation officer's report* Waterman's Ideal Self-Fillet Fountain Pens 21/, Ohotd 20/, Capital 14/6, Gillette Safety Razors 27/6, Dressing Cases from 25/ to 70/ each:' Writing Cases 15/ to 30>. Work Baskets,'. 9/6, 10/6 to 15/. 32'6 each. Pocket Wallets from 6/6 to Gramaphones, 50/, ,105/ to 250/. Obtainable from A. E. 'itilgour, Wholesale and Retail Providers, the Shop for Value.— Advt. ' ' : A startling thunderstorm was experienced in this district a few evening'* ago (says the "Lake .Wflkatipu Mail"). Throughout the afterhoori. there was warning of atmospheric disturbance .brewr ing, but at 5 o'clock the neayens lowered, and the first dull peal of thunder was heard. The storm, however, did not set in properly till about 8 o'clock when it speedily increased in violence. Its height was reached half an hour later, when :ft • great flash of lightning was followed by'! the most terrific peal of thunder over" remembered in'the district. Residents were naturally filled with conflfcefnation, and some people became quite unnerved..'. Immediately afterwards it was '.". noticed K that the phenomenon had caused, a firenear the summit of Bowen Peak. \ Quite a number of young men have; since" scaled the mountain for the purpose of making investigations, and there- has been ample evidence of the occurrence, in the rock displacement, though, strangely enough, no, trace of burnt - shrubbery could be found. It, may be said that the concussion caused by.the monster peal of thunder wag so great that a portion of the railing of K a, on one >,building im the town, which seemed to catch* the whole violence <v the storm, was thrown down,, and the structure generally badly shaken.