Untitled

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VII, Issue 292, 4 October 1917, Page 4

E.'irly in the -.var the German press agencies busied themselves verv extensively in an endeavour to create dissension and distrust between the British and the French peoples. One story that was sedulously circulated among the French was’to the effect that Britain was coming ostensibly to their help merely for the purpose of securing a footing for herself on the French coast, with a view to the ultimate retention of a substantial portion, of it. One would imagine that long since this lie would have died a natural death, and that its revival would at this stage be deemed even by the persistent German tu be of but little avail. This, however, seems to be by no means the ease, the following sample of the poisonous rubbish disseminated among the less well-informed French people embodying it in a slightly modified form. ' The extract is from the Berlin “Lokalanzeiger,” in which it takes the form of a telegram dated from Geneva, though doubtless concocted in Berlin. It runs as follows : • The long anticipated conquest in France appears to be confirmed by news from a trustworthy source, according to which high French officers and officials, partly with extreme indignation and partly with deep dejection, secretly agreed that from barelv three weeks ago Calais should be leased to England for 99 years. Patriots who are aware of it have expressed the utmost fear lest this fact shall become known to the French people. As this is certain to happen, people are naturallv in the utmost state of suspense, h ithout, for our part, considering the rumour already as an incontrovertible fact, we venture confidently to affirm that no more probable event is conceivable as a result of France’s friendship with Albion.” Suggestions such as these are more especially designed for the people of Alsace-Lorraine and

of Eastern France, where, until recently but little was really known of the part Britain was playing in the war, Of late, however, the French press has set itself diligently to the task of disabusing the popular mind of any misconceptions on the subject.

Russia, too, has been sown broadcast with lying stories with regard to Britain’s aims and motives. A recent visitor to Petrograd, writing in an English paper, gives a depressing account of the state of mind of the Russian masses. He speaks of “the undisciplined., chaotic mob of Russian industrialism.” “Of Britain’s scattered Empire , and its administration and defensive, difficulties they have no conception, but they regard England with virtuous and unsophisticated repulsion as a greedy spider gorging on .helpless little nationalities caught in its widespread web.” The writer goes on to make some striking quotations from popular prints circulating among the working classes, of which the following examples may be repeated “Horror fills the hearts of those preparing to go to the front. They know they are sold to the King of England and to French capitalists. The false Socialist Ministers have lost their reason. Destroy the power of the capitalists, give the workers control of industries, return the land to the peasants, ‘ and then we shall have a powerful army Democrat,” Moscow. “While the Ministers of the bourgeoisie cackle about the democratic aims of the war the generals laugh at the duped people and execute the secret orders of capitalistic Governments.” —“Russia’s Dawn,” Moscow. “If the war brings a decisive victory over Germany we shall make desperate efforts to prevent- English capitalists from crushing Germany.”—“Workers’ Gazette,” Petrograd. It is possible that the forces of patriotism and intelligence may triumph in Russia, but one cannot help feeling grateful, all the same, that the position ou the Western front is now fairly independent of what may happen in the East.

We hear, but only very occasionally, through the cables of specific instances by which evidence is afiorded of Japan’s naval co-operation, the latest of these being mostly placed in the Mediterranean. The naval correspondent of the London “Times,” however, says that it is impossible for the general public to realize the full value of Japanese naval assistance when, for military reasons, little can be made known until long after the, events have taken place. While very important services have been rendered to the Allied cause by the Japanese Navy, it must be borne in mind that a large proportion of naval work in modern warfqce does not lend itself to publicity, being of an unexciting and humdrum nature. For instance, patrolling vast tracts of ocean in search of an elusive enemy may be faithfully carried out for an mdefipite' period by one ship, and yet the luck may eventually favour some sister ship. A great deal of this patrol work has been performed by Japanese ships in the Eastern seas since the beginning of hostilities. Japan declared war on Germany upon August 23, 1914, and before the end of the month the British Admiralty telegraphed to the Commander-in-Chief, China- Station “You may leave whole protection of British trade north of Hong-kong to Japan ese.” The sphere of Japanese protection was gradually extended until Great Britain had been relieved of all anxiety about the Pacific trade routes. The consequences were important. Instead of being obliged to detail vessels for the patrol of these routes, the British Admiralty was able to arrange for the escort of troops from Australia and New Zealand, while maintaining the search for the German cruiser Emden and the enemy’s Eastern Fleet. Without Japanese co-operation this would have been a very difficult and dangerous undertaking.

As the war progressed Japanese co-operation became of growing importance. Its development may be briefly summarized thus. After her declaration of war, Japan’s First Fleet- was sent to operate between the Yellow’ Sea and the northern part- of the Eastern Sea, while the Second Fleet was occupied outside Tsingtau. As already mentioned, Japan patrolled the Pacific, and acted in co-operation with the British in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. She also dispatched a special detachment of cruisers and destroyers to the Straits Settlements early in 1916, and ever since she has been helping the British Navy to guard the Indian Ocean east of Colombo. Important missions have been undertaken by Japanese cruisers in the Northern Pacific on several occasions, at the request of the British Government. More recently the two Allied Governments deemed it desirable that the operations of the Japanese Navy should be still further extended. Accordingly, the Japanese Government dispatched a considerable force of light craft to the Mediterranean. Finally, several detachments of powerful and fast cruisers have been sent to assist the British Navy in the protection of the coasts of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and transport routes over practically the w’hole expanse of the South Seas and Indian Ocean. The results of this co-operation have been far-reaching and cumulative. The work of escort and patrol, although not “showy,” is as much a part of naval warfare as the fighting of big engagements. The consequences of sea pressure, continually applied, are not so immediate or obvious as the effects of many operations by land, but they are more inevitable. Thus, the naval co-opera-tion of our Far Eastern Ally has contributed largely to that tightening of the strangle-hold which is slowly crushing the Central Powers. Japan's naval work will help in no small measure to win the war in Europe, just as the activities of the Japanese Navy, in conjunction with the British Navy, culminated in the extermination'of German naval power in the Pacific,

The Germans arc still battering with blind fury against the new British line eastward of Ypres, but without gaining anything but the most trifling and transient advantage, while suffering severe losses. Wave after wave of the attacking forces are driven forward only to break under the terrible, fire of the British artillery, or, in the last resort, to recede under the deadly fire of the British rifles, whose ultimate value has been so well proved during the recent fighting. Mr. Philip Gffibs again refers to the concentrated intensity of the artillery battle that goes on so incessantly. Matters seem to be relatively quiescent on other parts of the British front, our airmen, however, giving no respite to the enemy communications and military establishments. The French report the dispersal of enemy forces massed for attack north'-west of Rheims—probably in

the neighbourhood of Berry-au-Bac, where a like attempt was frustrated a day or two ago. On both sides of the Meuse artillery has been again busy, and on the eastern bank an infantry attack developed by the enemy failed signally. The quick succession of air raids over southeastern England appears to have at length aroused the authorities . to the need of wreaking appropriate reprisals as the most likely antidote for this bane ,and something like official approval for sucu measures would appear to have been given. It is a hateful alternative, but the world will most assuredly decide that it is much more than justified by the callously bloodthirsty actions of the enemy. In the meantime, the French are already inflicting retributive aerial visitations upon several German towns.

There is no word of any other el a mile on a fairly substantial section of the Riga front, but against what kind of opposition has not been mentioned. The efforts to form a fully representative coalition Government at Petrograd seems doomed to failure owing to the attitude of the Democratic Congress which has declined participation. There is no wold from any other part of the Eastern Front, Rumania still remaining silent as if activity th< re had been suspended for the time being. Unless the figures given in the official report to-day have been mutilated, the tally of Tuikish prisoners taken on the Euphrates has dwindled sadly, the 13,000 previously announced being reduced to little more than a fourth of that number. The Swedish King is evidently anxious that the pro German Conservative party, which has suffered defeat at the polls,, should stall have some say in the Government of the country. To this end he is endeavouring to form a Cabinet representative of all parties, rather than permit control to fall into the hands of the Liberal; Socialist combination which was threatening. The communication sent, by the British Trade Unionist to the so-called International Convention at Berne appears to have been expressed with particular vigour and to have proved highly unpalatable to the German delegates. As if, however, to justify the British strictures on Hunnish savagry, the German press urges stil’ greater ruthlessness, and the German airmen continue to bombard the Allies’ hospitals.