SYDNEY SUN MESSAGES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 16 October 1914, Page 5

SYDNEY SUN MESSAGES

AN ARRANGEMENT THAT FELL THROUGH.

THE WORLD'S BEST FIGHTING

MAN

BAD NEIGHBORS IN AFRICA

ATTEMPTS AT CORRUPTIC; N T IN

THE UNION

GERMAN CREW ON THE GOEBEN

■' UNHAPPY BELGIUM

BECOMING A SKELETON COUNTRY

. PARIS, Oct. 15. - It transpires that arrangements were made with a leading German kinematograph firm to take a gigantic film recording the Kaiser's entry into Paris. The retreat from the Marne disorganised the scheme. LONDON, Oct. 15. The British crops are well above the average. Replies from farmers indicate no great increase in acreage under sowing; Hundreds of wounded Belgians have arrived at Folkestone and have been distributed among the hospitals. Many of the refugees have been despatched to the provincial cities, and others drafted into private homes, of which 20,000 were offered for their accommodation. An officer in the veterinary corps writes: "The British soldier is a most curious creature. When he goes to war !he gives away most of his badges and all distinguishing marks to his dearest girl. He loses his hat, and replaces it with a chauffeur's cap. By not washing1 and not shaving for a week, he makes himself 'look like a tramp. Then, without the slightest warning, he proceeds to show that he is the best fighting man in the world." The Times, in a leader, says: "Readers of Bernhardt and other German writers of his kidney- know that they have built high hopes of fomenting rebellions in various parts of the Empire whenever Germany went to war with England, and South Africa has always been the region where these hopes were strongest. There has been intriguing there for years, and Germany, of course, redoubled her efforts since the outbreak of war.' The treason of Colonel Maritz shows that her corruption has been practised not wholly in vain." The Times' military- correspondent writes:—' 'There might have been a lin 7 -gering doubt before whether it was wise to*, clear the Germans, bag and- baggage, out of Africa. There can be.none now. These aspiring and intriguing people are not good neighbors' forces in Africa. "Colonel Maritz's crime has 'led to a remarkable outburst of South African patriotism, and there is no sign yet that his treacherous example will be followed. It is not difficult to break up the gathering, which Colonel Maritz places his foolish confidence. There are feelings of pity for a' good fighter who has fallen a victim to German wiles. . • • • ■ •■■■.; ' A proclamation issued at Capetown says: "There are grave reasons to think that the Government of German SouthWest Africa has, through numerous spies and agents, corrupted other citizens of the Union under the false and treacherous pretext of favoring the establishing of a republic in. South Africa." It is stated that 85 per cent, of the officers and -.crew of the Goeben and Breslau are Germans, most of them retaining their German uniforms. More German artificers and gunners arrived aboard on Monday. A correspondent who escaped from Antwerp, says:-— "The defences, especially the arrangement of the outer forts, was not planned to cope with the artillery the Germans used, but' were defended with conspicuous gallantry. With anything like approximately equivalent artillery the Belgians might, have held out indefinitely. ~' .-'''' '''••'' : ''Neither the. Belgians nor the British need have any feeling but pride at the courage with which they clung to a desperate, forlorn hope. .Both failed, but only because-the task was beyond human capacity, and both deserve nothing but honor and admiration." Another correspondent states that the 'Germans entered Ghent unopposed, tlie ' Allies ...retiring' in order to prevent the bomba.rdment of the city. He adds: "Belgium is becoming a skeleton country/a land of empty .towns and villages, and fields of ruins." ■ The German commander at Antwerp ■informed a Dutch journalist that the 42-centimetre guns were not -used in the bombardment, and that they were only to have been employed if the city had not surrendered. The journalist accompanied the commander through the streets, andjsaw no sign of Belgian life. The city was little damaged.