THE WAR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9896, 11 September 1914, Page 6

THE WAR.

THE FIRST MONTH.

A WONDERFUL RECORD. BRITAIN SUPREME ON THE SEVEN SEAS. SLEVEN OPPOSING WARSHIPS ACCOUNTED FOR. TEN DREADNOUGHTS AND FIFTEEN CRUISERS.

TO BE ADDED TO BRITISH FLEET IN NEXT TWELVE MONTHS.

•CO.OOO TROOPS CROSS THE WATER WITHOUT MISHAP.

AUSTRIA DECISIVELY DEFEATED.

POSITION IN FRANCE GOOD.

(Pn Pbms Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. His Excellency the Governor has received ihe following cable from the Secretary of 3 tate, dated London, September 9, 7.10 j^.m.: — "After one month of war the command of the sea has been left unchallenged in the hands of Great Britain and her Alliee. The •nain German and Austrian fleets remain in harbour under the shelter of mines end batteries. "Four German cruisers, one auxiliary eruiser, two destroyers and one submarine, and one Austrian cruiser have been sunk, and a German Dreadnought and a cruiser fled without fighting to the Dardanelles. The loss of British ships has been insignificant. "In consequence of her naval supremacy over 300,000 troops have crossed the sea in '.liferent parts of the world without losing «. man. A British Expeditionary Force has -een carried to France, expeditions have .'■sen 6ent to attack the German colonies in Mrica and the Pacific, and French troops, ■otected by the Anglo-French fleet, have eon escorted from Algiers to France. 'The armies in Europe will be reinforced without ceasing by troops from Canada, i ;-f ralia. New Zealand, Africa and India. "The German mercantile marine has dis'»;;eared from the scas > which are open r> j oiy to British commerce. Everywhere •■- the Pacific and the Atlantic German ships avoided action with British cruisers, and their depredations have been small. "The British Navy will be increased withn the next twelve months by not lee than 10 first-class capital ships, 15 cruisers end 20 destroyers, and during the same period Germany will not add more than one-third .: this number to her fleet. "In the meantime in answer to the call ■-" the Government a large number of fresh .-Tfcruita have voluntarily joined the British .Army, and the eagerness to enlist has gr wn markedly since the British troops • ve actually engaged the enemy. During <)-r week in London alone the number of recruits averaged 4000 daily, and on Mon- < y last the number exceeded 4300. Enthusiasm for recruiting is increasing everyfhere. "The position in France has been dealt nth in previous messages. The Russian mmies have invaded Prussia and the Aus'..is have been decisively beaten by the ■? vians and the Russians. "Outside Europe the Japanese Fleet and ijv-opa have blockaded Tsingtao. Togoland ('Atat Africa) has surrendered to an Anglos' -ueh force, and Samoa to the force from «• Zealand. (Signed) HARCOURT."

MAORI VOLUNTEERS.

(By Txlxqraph.l (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. An enquiry as to whether the Gov- - -nment could make a definite statement in regard to the offers of Maoris -• ; go to the front during the war was ade in the House to-night by the lion. A. T. Ngata. The Prime Minis- • x stated that the matter had not been ! - st sight of. He had been in commutation on the subject with the Imperil authorities through the Governor nd had received an answer, but he was not yet in a- position to make a •lefinite statement to Parliament. He thought that a definite statement would • e made although not to-night.

AIRMEN IN WARFARE. AMERICAN EXPERT'S OPINION "ENGLAND WO LD FIGURE FIRS f."

Probably no man in America (says the Now York World) is better informed concerning the relative strength and weakness of the aerial navies of the big European Powers than George E. A. Haliett, who is ar present engineer and assistant of Lieutenant John Cyril Porte. R.N., and onehalf ef the crew of the trans-Atlantic aver America. Mr Hallett was for a time instructor in the Imperial Russian flying school at Sevastopol, and later on was a student and aeronautical observer in Fiance, England, and Germany.

In the course of an interview recently. Mr Hallett expressed an opinion—somewhat at variance with the popular notion—that in quality, at least, and in fighting efficiency, England is the European leader in the air. English may not have as many dirigibles and aeroplanes as the Continental countries," said Mr Hallett, "but when it comes to fine equipment in perfect condition, and skill in handling it, Britain is my choice in an air fight."

Mr Hallett had exceptional opportunities «<nr studying the Russian airmen at work, id he is quite convinced that the Rus- • an fails in that very necessary depart- *; ' n t—the mechanical "side of aviation. 'ihe trouble is that the Russian is no i echanic. He hates mechanical drudg*.••y most sinfully. I have seen a naval i >utenant go jip with a machine equipped "with a fine new motor. About ten minutes later .the engine would begin to miss. .Down he would come. - - 'Would he take that engine apart and Ivy to find out what was the matter? He vould not. Once it skipped in one cylin- < .- lie was done with it. The natural v suits of that policy are shown in the i'v t that at one time, at Sebastopol, the ''issians had 120 aeroplanes in the sheds, an-J just 20 of them were fit for duty." Of the German airmen, Mr Hallett says i' . t in mechanics and discipline they are wonderful, but in the air the German is ii t an impressive proposition. "I tried for about a week to teach a Herman flyer to operate a system of oonc Is," said Mr Hallett. "It's a simple wtnugh system—at least, we think so over bo—but that German, who had learned < tiywith one system of controls, and only < - . just couldn t gq£ it through his head. Your typical German flyer, if you tell b;n\ that with a certain machine, its elevat«>r set at a certain angle, he can get off l: •-•• ground and climb—why, he will get <<t:. set his planes at that angle, and let 5- • go. If the air conditions don't happen r- be just so, and he comes tumbling tailf-! r.. why, he followed the rules, and it »~~ri't his fault if she didn't fly. "'The Germans don't seem to recognise that there is any such thing as airmanship.' They haven't the instinct of flying. The Carman m not an air-sailor." The Frenchman is referred to as having ; at: abundance of skill, daring, and enthu- , ?,fwa in the air, but being given overmuch l to the spectacular of the effective in war- ' fare. . < <>f itie English airman, Mr Hallett holds ( * high opinion. He says:—"l can't help ] tinntang it is because the Englishman is 1 a t*ilorman by birth, accustomed to feel fc;u"» weather and the wind by instinct, that yhe takes naturally to the air, while the j German doesn't—perhaps it's a case of lack } of imagination on the German's part. But I whatever it is, it is the most important fac- 1 It in;..an airman's equipment, and theGer- *] m inn I have seen haven't, possessed it. 1 When it comes to real fighting, I think the £aghsh aviation corps is first. In a pinch, the I*** - f & -*s°ra' will be proved to be Of b*t .mtimS - i

THE REINFORCEMENTS;

TO BE TRAINED AT TRENTHAM

The Deienoe authorities have issued the following particulars relating to the reinforcements of the Expeditionary JForce: Immediately after *J»e departure of the Expeditionary Force steps will be taken to prepare periodical reinforcement .drafts which will be required from unite at follows:—Twenty, per cent, six weeks after the sailing of the Expeditionary Force; five per cent monthly thereafter. Numbers are calculated for each unit, or portion of unit provided from the district for the Expeditionary Force, exclusive of first reinforcements. Each individual unit in the district must provide the officers and men required for the squadron, company, etc., with the Force originally found from the unit. Actual numbers required will be indicated later. Officers and men will be selected from the volunteers for oversea service taken from the territorial force, rifle clubs, ex-volunteers and civilians. Ail men selected must be enrolled forthwith in the territorial force. Officers should be drawn from ihe Unattached List** "A" and "B," as well as from the territorial force; applications to serve as officers to be forwarded by units to District Headquarters. Officers commanding units will make their remarks and recommendations on each application when forwarding same. Any application received direct at Headquarters will bo referred back to officer commanding units for report. To be eligible for selection, officers and men must fulfil the following conditions: —(a) Must have been trained (at least as provided for below); (b) Be between the ages of 20 and 35; (c) Be above sft 4in in! height; (d) Be less than 12 stone in weight; (e) Be passed as medically fit for active ser vice. Preference should be given to un-1 married men, and in the case of mounted 1 men to those who bring horses and suitable saddlery with them to enable training to be carried out at camp. The saddlery may be purchased by the Government or returned to men's homes if not further required. The horses will be purchased by the Government. Officers and men selected for the reinforcement drafts will be trained at a concentration camp to be formed at Trentham, under the orders of; the Defence Department Headquarters, Wellington. The course of training will last for 36 working days (6 weeks). A permanent camp staff will be appointed by the Defence Department Headquarters. Wellington. The duties of the camp staff will bo:—(a) To assist in training the officers and men of the reinforcement drafts; (b; To equip and prepare the drafts for embarkation; (c) To deal with the organisation, discipline, and routine of tlio camp. Major C. R. McDonald, Imperial General Staff (Auckland), will be detailed to attend for 10 days, at the commencement of the course of instruction of each reinforcement draft in order to instruct the officers.

The following instructions regarding the preparation of the drafts should ,be adhered

Infantry end Mounted Riflee.—The drafts must include the proper proportions «f| training specialists, e.g., machine gunners, j signallers, etc. Officers and non-commis-sioned officers should be instructed in semaphore. Artillery.—Aa far as possible every man should be trained as a driver, whether he is intended for a gunner or a driver. Engineers.—Signallers will be trained in u>?ual work and filling up of messages only. There is not sufficient equipment left to train men in cable waggon or telephone work. Ambulances. —Men should be trained in general duties. Specialist training will be carried out during the voyage. (8) Each man proceeding to Trentham camp will bring with him rifle, cap, working suit, kit bale, and sea kit bag, to be provided under arrangements made by Dietrict Headquarters. With this exception, men will be fully equipped by the permanent camp staff. Officers proceeding to the camp should be fully equipped for active service, as laid down in the Field Service Pocket Book, 1913. Units will call for names of volunteers and be prepared to send their quotas to the concentration camp on receipt of orders to do eo. Every territorial unit should maintain a list of volunteers, so that when drafts have to be provided thore will be no delay in calling for names. Pay will be granted at laid down for the expeditionary force, and' will commence on the day of arrival in the camp at Trentham. Units will isuie railway and steamer warrants from place of enlistment to Trentham, notifying District Headquarters and Camp Commandant by telegram of the probable time of arrival of all drafts. Horses to replace wastage will bo furnished by a centraf remount depot camp, to be formed under instructions to be issued later. The horses required for training the mounted men of the concentration camp will be obtained from the remount depot camp. All arrangements regarding the placing of ammunition on board the transports will be made by Defence Department Headquarters, Wellington. Nothing contained in this order applies to the advance party of the expeditionary force, under Colonel Logan. Volunteers should be warned that applications must be made to their squadron Volunteers should be warned that applications must be made to their squadron and company officers, or the nearest defence office, and that applications made through anv other channel will not be received. Officers volunteering must do 60 through their commanding officer, and in cases of unattached list "B"' through their group officer, I

FARMERS' GENEROUS RESPONSE.

900 TONS OF HORSE FEED

(Pib Pbibs Association.)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. So generous has been the response of the farmers throughout the Wellington district to the request for forage for horses for the expeditionary force that 900 tons of chaff, hay, and other supplies were sent in. After fully equipping four troopships, the surplus of 250 tons remains, and will be gold by auction for the war fund.

"STANDARD" RELIEF RUND. In view of the distress that is certain to be a result of the war, the "Manawatu Standard" has opened a relief fund, the proceeds from which will be devoted to alleviating, so far as possible, tha* distress. The money subscribed to this fund will be devoted (1) to the assistance of those going from this district who, on their return, may require it, and their dependents; (2) to provide for the relief of members of the expeditionary force going from other parts of New Zealand who, on their return, may require assistance, and their dependents ; and (3) the relief, so far as possible, of distress in Great Britain. The amounts subscribed to date are:—

£ s. d "Manawatu Standard"25 0 ( Wm. Davison 10 0 c Mrs P. Laroomb 1 1 c L. A. Sharland 1 1 c C. W. Batson 2 2 C H. L. Young, Ltd 5' 5 0 H. L. Young, Ltd., Employees (Palmerston branch) 5 7 C W. H. Hankins 1 1 0 Viggo, Guy, and Frida Monrad (first instalment) , 5 6 Mm G. C. Keeble 2 0 0 Millar and Giorgi 5 5 8 Employees of Means Manson and Barr. Ltd 9 5 Miss Gaustad 10 0 St. Andrew's Ladies Social Guild 518 0 Awahuri Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd. 50 0 0 B. A. Porritt ... 5 0 Morris and Watts (first instalment) 3 5 0 MoEwen 14 6 High School Old Girls' Asm. ... 10 0 0 Kairanga School Children 2 10 6 F. J. SheDDard 5 0 0 J. W. Boothman 1 1 0 Employees at Abattoirs 2 2 0 W. Pegden 10 0 0 One who is indebted to the Empire 3 0 C. S. Wood (Overseas Club) ... 10 10 0 Manawatu Hockey Association ... 2 2 0 W. Norman (proportion of charge for cfcaning 25 chimneys during week) 6 6 A. E. Anderson 2 0 0 W. H. Hankins „. 110 Miss N. Grant ... 1 15 0 Tiratu Sawmilling Co.'s employees 6 4 6| T.A. ... 2 ... 2 6 Mesdames Irivine, Speedy, Pack1 er, Byers. Misses Wighton and Sly: Surplus from- tedies ball 1" Id at Whakaronga, amounting tQ m~-" <m 'U m 1 6 Q