NOTES.

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 62, 14 March 1916, Page 5

NOTES.

Lieutenant Alexander Hugh Grierson, of Auckland, an officer _m .the Tenth Reinforcements, stayed behind to take legal action against certain persons who hadl suggested'" that hewas of German extraction and haa 'German leanings. An inquiry will be held into the charges, probably by Royal Commission. This inquiry will not prejudice any legal action taken by Lieutenant Grierson. A Press Association cable message from London published last Wednesday stated that Brigadier-General Richardson—referring to an artillery officer well known in New Zealand, as a former officer of its Permanent Forcel—had arrived in London to take up the post of military adviser to Sir Thomas." Mackenzie and to control the members of the New Zealand forces in Britain. When, asked at Auckland- as to Brigadier-GeiieraT lijchardson'.s- actual status, the Hon. J. Allen, Minister tor Defence, expressed .surprise at the Press 'Asisocia^tion announcement, Neeing " that he had received no advice From, either the War Office or the High Commissioner a*s to the appoiritraeinTL, though he had been expecting to hear from, them. '"Since the matter bias been made public," said Mr Allen, .'"I m«y :>.s well state that the real facts are these: We came to the conclusion that a military advisor on behaif of New Zealand to i;he War Office—not to Sir Thomas Mackenzie—rwas required.. Is »;omeo-ne was- also required to command the New Zealand troops that are in England, we jisked the War Office that it should release Brigadier-General .Richard-son. from, the command he then held, in order that he might lake up the position wo desired to fill. I have had no reply from the War Office to my communication to them, nor from the High Commissioner, - although I have cabled for a- .Ktoond time, quite recently, asinng for a reply." We have come to mistrust most of the stories we hear of Germany's sad pliajat m the way of economic pressure and financial straits. But we are. never less than interested in reading tbem, o.i; of speculating upon the effect of war strain ua it Invrdeiis th? Germans at, home (writes1 Sir Heiiry Lucy in the Sydney Morning Herald)". The' letters recentiy taken by the French from prison ersat .ITarniannsweilerkopf, where so many battles have been .fought, may IM?t be genuine, but if 'not, the stories; they embody aa-e uncommonly well invented. A "wife writing to her trenchbound husband, J'or instance: "We are so sorry that you. have all the hard work to <\o'•, and only dry bread to ea,t, but I"can't- send you anything. There are- the children. They are always hungry.''; And this, from a di-u-y: "After service the pastor camel back and told ,us joyfully tliut peace wquld.be declared in February or March. Everyone in the church began to cry. Many 1 here have been killed. An able bodied man is beconiing a rarity." . Ami this: "Berlin, Nov. 6.—The discotntent caused- by."tl«>- deiirness of living.:' is-; increasing, Add to that, the want of work. Tlie nipraio of the people is vei-y low. It will need very little for'their anger to break out." And —"Berlin, December 6. We hope that the war will soon finish. People are beginning tpj be restless and provisions are short. On Saturday we had our first riot "'' The abseaice of any attempt to elaborate these i>lam tales wojiild seem to suggest them as genuine enough..