GERMANY'S LATEST "VICTORIES."

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10114, 23 October 1917, Page 4

GERMANY'S LATEST "VICTORIES."

From the British standpoint yesterday's war news was decidedly unsatisfactory. The Germans, in pursuance of their "cut. and run" policy, scored in both their aerial and-naval operations, so far as Britain was concerned, although their airships came to griet in France, to the. admitted "consternation" of Germany. While their High Seas Fleet, or that portion of ii that could penetrate through the somewhat .shallow seas up to the Gulf of Riga, was pounding; away at a numerically inferior Russian Heel, which appears to have also had the odds against it in both armaments and gun-power, two "heavily armed raiders," spoken of by the Admiral commanding at Christiania as "two large German warships," were engaged in the congenial and very safe pastime —one the Huns have made peculiarly their own in this war—of sinking nine merchant vessels belonging to neutral Powers—Sweden, Norway and Denmark—that were under convoy by two British destroyers. The latter, we arc told, put up a' gallant light, engaging the enemy and continuing an unequal struggle until they were sunk by the heavier German gunfire. And then the Germans turned their fire upon the defenceless merchantmen, sinking each of the nine vessels, one after the other, and, with their usual, forethought and kindly consideration for the subjects of neutral Powers, actually firing upon the boats in which they took refuge. The story told by the captain of the Norwegian steamer Kirstine is otic that should set the world aflame with j indignation against the callous fiends who so wantonly, and inexcusably, murdered in cold blood, people with whom they were not at war, and from whom they have, indeed, been receiving supplies and no small amount of consideration. "When a shell hit one boat and killed nine of the crew," the captain says, "the others returned to their sinking steamer and signalled 'stop tiring' resultlessly." "Terrible scenes," we are further told, were enacted on the decks of the defenceless merchantmen, and many sailors were killed, whereat the German press "sounds a chorus of exultant praise," seeing in this glorious victory "proof of a bold, offensive spirit lon'the part oi the German fleet." The Lone bright feature of .this terrible tra- ' "-edy, .standing out in vivid relief to the callous brutality of the German's, is-the gallantry of the British sailors, who. by sticking to their guns bravely to the last, enabled three of the merchantmen -to make good their escape, and inflicted, we may be sure,' some little damage upon the enemy. The German claim that the- attack was made upon the convoy while it was within British territorial waters (that is, within the three-mile limit) is entirely untenable. Germany 'has' ito scruples of conscience, and, to cover up her misdeeds and ill-doing, she has again resorted to the refuge of lies. Had the action taken place, as she alleges, the sound of the firing would have brought rciinforcements to the British destroyers in double-quick time, fold the survivors of this tetrrible tragedy would certainly not have made their way across 300 miles of the North Sea to Bergen, when their vessels wore within three miles of the Shetlands. But the lie se/ves Germany's purpose, in that it at least exonerates her brave sailors from the suspicion of cowardice in the eyes of their fellow-countrymen, who were possibly beginning to doubt the valour of their canal-bound fleet. The moral of the incident to the British must be to enforce, the necessity of providing a stronger escort for future convoys The other disappointing feature is'that of the air raid. That seven Zeppelins should have been able to raid the South Coast of England and even fret within striking distance of London, and then make good their escape, is not at all comforting. In happy contrast, we have the French bag of seven out of the eleven Zeppelins that crossed France ft is possible our own airmen were too busily engaged in the Frankfurt raid to be able to take part against the enemy airships visiting England, and that would go to prove the truth of the contention that the air forces at the disposal of the authorities are inadequate for other than military and defence purposes;

The ladies in charge of ths show catering would be grateful for the loan of urns, bread cutters, and knife cleaners, also tin trunks for the storing of food, and if anyone desirous of lending any of these articles will ring up Mrs Penny, secretary to the committee, it will be. called for. Router has been informed that the latest returns show that in July 700,000 women munition workers were employed in Britain, compared with 140,000 in July, 1915. Inis meant an increase of 400 per cent. The men munition workers increased in the same period by 66- per cent. The Linton Rifle Club held tho fourth competition in the new series on the King street jange last night. The following are the scores; Rffm: Sruillie 25, W. Ball 25, Freeman 23, Henderson 23, A- D. Markland 23, Munro 23, Thompson 23, J. Marshall 23, C. J. Page 15, J. Hopwood 15, President 11. Akers 15. A local resident who recently returned from England informed a "Standard" reporter that there was a much brighter outlook in England this winter in regard to the food question. Never before in the history of the land had s o great an area been planted with potatoes and grain, and a good late spring and summer had given an augury of successful crops. From one end of England to another, agriculturalists had taken up the slogan of the authorities, "Wo must have food, and planted all the land it was possible to put under cultivation. In Sootland, also, large areas were under cultivation. During the late summer months vegetables were very plentiful, a striking contrast, to the winter, which, owing to its severity, occasioned a good deal of suffering. A Carterton Press Association message states that at a meeting representative of the married farmers of South Feathgrston, addressed by the Rev. Catherwood, Messrs A. C, Holmes and llornsby, M.P.. the following motion was carried: "That this meeting of married men representative of the Featherston district, enters its emphatic protest against the inadequate provision made for soldiers' dependents, and calls upon the Ministry and Parliament to either favourably reconsider the proposals or to be logical and place all section.- of the community on the same economic basis ' as the country's defender;, being in some measure an equality of sacrifice. Further, this meeting also unanimously affirms the Ministerial statement as to second division league not playing the game is unwarranted." It is not too late to be smartly gowned for tho Show. A smart Shantung Silk Costume, perfect in every detail, can be procured from the C. M Ross Co., Ltd. Prices 69s 6d, 79s 6d, 84s to 9 guineas—Advt. Always useful! One of our Thermos and Icy-Hot Flasks can be put to all kinds of uses, and will always bo found reliable ' and valuable in the home. Watson Bros., c Ltd.-Advt.

As conditions have improved Here is a possibility .oLfailing*. Uing £ cumed between New; Zealand and Australia. A cable message received last night states that tlio Distinguished Conduct Medal ■ has been awarded to nine New Zcalanders. The Mayoress'■ acknowledges with thanks the sum of, £1 from Mrs J. R. V> £**'« a donation towards the £M**-0* Liverpool's apppeal for, clothing for French refugees. > Statistics just published, show that prior to the war Australasia imported not lesa than £147,000 worth of w.re-nettmg, gauze; and iron wire from Germany, the argesc ~,n\]\ZU on the lisfci the next biggest n'ulcr Icing The Xetirland, with £23,800. "Ho snentso much money in drink that tho men'in Featheistoil Camp called, fcim he«Sih"er King/ " stated a evidence in . tli.> ■ Wellington M»«P*'W Court, against an ex-boa.uer, who. she alleged, owed her money. - M Piinleve's Cabinet is said, by a cable message received from Paris lust evening, rehearing collapse Despite fidence expressed in the Government ty ho Chamber of Deputies it is recognised that its policy is incoherent and without energy. The.-Australian- Consul-Generai for Greece has received a mobilisation order. «dhng Greeks of military age to the colours. Ihe fact that it was cabled suggests that tho On el; Government is anxious that all eligible men. whcreveYthey may be, should join the colours without delay. • -Some idea of the scarcity of farm" labour and the high wages prevailing- was given in a case heard in the Pahiatua, Magistrate -J Court on Wednesday-. A strapping youth of 17 years of age, although he looks older stated" that he was at present receiving £3 a week and found on a farm at Mangataincka. ' " ' ..'-..-. A Japatiese newspaper publishes tho following analysis of the newly-elected Diet, consisting of 381 members:— Lawyers 55 journalists (or persons connected with newspapers as proprietors, etc.) 43, industrial and commercial men B§, tgn* cultural 35, landowners 31, mincownera 14, physicians 13, bankers 15. educationists 9, connected, with shipping and fisheries 9, in public office 6, unclassified 68 (mostly professional politicians):' •

British miners have raised about £200,000 in tho building, equipment, and upkeep of motor ambulances at the fronr. The Red Cross Society, savs that the ambulances ha re rendered most valuable service to the British and Allied armies. In tho Champagne district and at, Verdun they carried 300,000 French wounded from the fighting line to hospitals: ■••■ : "-. \ family which has made many sacriuoea in'the war is the Barleys, of Cardiff (Taranaki). Mr C. Carle? lias received tho sad news of the death in action of his fourth son, Private C. E. ("Sid") Carley, of tha 20th Reinforcements. Private Carley waa killed on the 4tli inst. Two days later ha would have reached his 23rd birthday. Mr Carley's eldest, son was in the Main Body, and was at the front about 18 months when he was killed in action, at the age of 26 years. There are two other sons on active service at the present time.—Stratford Post. According to tho Feilding Star male adults travelling by train to the races in Wellington on Saturday were given a surprise when they were accosted by civilian police and .requested to produce their enrolment certificates. Not all of them could do so, for people an; apt to forget such thinks unless,' reminded. Where the certificate; was not produced the name and address. <>f ;th« men were taken and'his explanation .yaa recorded. Ai .the racecourse .ga^esr'a similar task of examination was undertaken'by'Uia military police- - . ■ < • • ~~- ~'/ The vi ly firm friendship between Eugla'jid and France,received ,proof • during' tho visit of one- of New Zealand's-hospital Ships to a French, colony qui to "recently. Just before its arrival there one-.of.the patients died. ■ The following -day he. wast accorded a military funeral, at which-tho French colonial troops', formed tho;firijig partv, and the graveside was''thronged Vita local residents, who' sent many beautiful wreaths. Subsequently it was . announced on behalf the Governor ofuthe.Colony, who was indisposed, that the people of jthe island would, keep the "grave green''"ami erect a tombstone aj. ..their own expense. A meeting of master drapers,.held at: Dunedin.-.at which-all the large'houses w£re represented, agreed to.close the shops-daily between; the hou.rs-.of I -and: 2/o'clock for lunch, and on Fridays between" 6 and . 7 o'clock for tea. This course has ; beeu adopted as a "war- measure," being Tendered necessary by the shortage of ' mala assistants. The object is to carry on -with as small a staff as possible in the The resolution will take effect as from November 5. At the same meeting it was decided to reaffirm the principle of declining to make donations to bazaars, sports, picnics, etc.. or to advertise on programmes connected with same. ' That the burden of taxation must ba spread, as far as possible, over the-whole community, so as to cause each individual to share' the sacrifice according to his ability to pav, was an argument adt-anced by Mr W. 11. Hemingway in a lecture delivered before the Accountants' Society at Auckland last week. This principle was, of course, very similar to tho canon o£ equality, lie said, but it was one not infrequently infringed in practice, as was tha ease with the notorious excess profits dutie-s in force in New Zealand last year. "You cannot treat a taxable community as a commander may treat an army," said Mr Herningday. "The latter may, in case of necessity, sacrifice a whole regiment, or even an entire army corps, for the common ■good, but a Stato cannot so sacrifice a section of its citizens for fiscal purposes." Tho soldiers of the Kaiser are very superstitious, from the men in the ranks to tha Crown Prince. The chief Hun's, oldest son carries'a horseshoe with'him on'ail his motor trips. Tho horseshoe is attached to ouo of the doors of the ear. 'The soldiers ot Wurtemburg pin, their faith upon a'little bag containing the dry pollen of flowers, which, they believe, has the power;of warding oil tho bullets. The Saxonssew into tha lining of their waistcoats the wings of a bat, and think themselves to be invincible; while the Bavarians hold on tenaciously _to a still more bizarre custom. Before going into battle each soldier finds a birch tree, cut 9 his skin, and Jets a few drop s of blood fall upon the tree. This ceremony, they assert, assures recovery, no matter wna.t the nature of the wounds, when the leaves "begin to grow again. * . . . ; -

A 'New Zealander, writing to friends from . England; says: "'On arrival at our port of destination ,'. wo. wore tie-d up alongside a, munition ship, owing to a scarcity of berthage space, and the operations we saw in progress were sufficient to give us a good insight into the vast output of munitions from England to various theatres of the ; \Var. Into this ship were being loaded thousands of shells of all sizes, the work going on all the while quietly and expedb tiously. What sober-minded workmen wera engaged, too; so different from the East, where blacks utter the weirdest sound 6 while coaling a ship, and-Bedlam Teigns until the, work is finished. Case after case of shells was hoisted into the-holds; guns and gun» carriages, all painted to deceive enemy aviators, these ranging from the giant howitzer to the smaller standard field piece, while on> land we could see tanks and' catorpiLlap traction machines being tried out across art. area of ground specially adapted for thai purpose. It was a. scene of adyS vity never to be forgotten. und yet, before the war, this was j a small, undeveloped port. Now ships )Cn« gaged in every branch of war service quietly come in, load, and leave again, at regular intervals. Repair work, too, is carnied out here to ships damaged by enemy nujnea and rorrvedoers, and we saw two ships whjcli' had suffered severe damage being restored to seaworthiness." ; { The Manchester section of Messrs Ooliju, son and Cunninghame advises of exception, ally good values just now in pillow/,caa. M> These are of superior quality, with J t| wo . inch scalloped and hemstitched rc .. tailing to-day at only 2s 3d each, 2d a pair, war rebate price, for cash", is an optxirtuno value for showtime «4 105 ,h rooms.—Advt. Watson Bros., Ltd.,.recommend jj,. ting" Laundry Help, and "Golden t Ru i t ,.< <oapTor washing clothes clean with&u| : |] lo rubbing slavery. Always in t "Fresh craim," are two strong appeal to all, but to the Devon particularly, This is an ioS&fpti • „ on Devon-made motto ware at 'CoUinf and Son's. The ware comprises-Wltfsq . of useful articles made in Devon',;!; fri '' Devon's red clay, arid bedecked inf Aval, °" colourings of the primary type. j'J see '.his little iisplav—it is quaint.—jjfdj*'/ "*

The estate of the late James Leslie Darcy, the Australian boxer, is valued at £1760 15s. No le«s than five ex-pupils of the Palmertddn North High School have been killed in action during the past week. A petition, signed by a majority of the ratepayers in the Palmei.ston-Kair.niga River B°ard's district, has been forwarded to Mr D. Buick, M.P., for presentation to Parliament asking for the abolition of the Board. . Recently the Whakaronga Patriotic Gift Society promoted a social in aid of the Sick and Wounded Fund of the Manawatu Patriotic) Societv, tho function also taking the form of a Send-Off to Private Jellyman, of th.it district. The social was a. most successful one. and Messrs Shepherd and HasloQk have now;' handed in £lB to the Patriotic Society, which is.acknowledged with thanks. 1 hiring the visit of a New Zealand Hospital ship.at a wayside port one of the personnel was showing an American lady over the vessel. At the conclusion the New Z.ealander was astounded to hear the visitor inform him that he would soon be home when he "reached Australia." The lady was quite surprised when shown a map, to find Australia a thousand miles from New Zealand. Officially there is nothing new to report respecting the local strike of seamen on the small steamers trading .put of Wellington. It was rumoured about the waterfront yesterday Isays .(in- Dominion) that tho wen were .contemplating returning to duty this week, but authoritative endorsement of such action was not obtainable, as the day was observed as a close holiday. •' Mr T. J. Fleming, in a speech delivered a* Whakatane. Bay of Plenty, lately, said ho felt certain that the town was going to he tho capital of the Bay of Plenty. They had every advantage. There were 69,000 acres of tho richest land in New Zealand on the Rangitikei, 6000 more in Opouriao, 700,000 acres of magnificent, grazing land in tho Urewera. and another 20,000 acres in Waimanii For all this fertile area Whakatane would be the outlet. An old trainer, whose son was just starting to ride, in races-, thought it well to give the budding champion some hints. "Never talk," he said, with a wise waggle of his old head. ' "Never talk. 1 had to learn that. I was out clear of the field with another chap one day and I said to 1 ini. friendly like, as we rounded the turn, 'Don't worry," I'm not trying.' Whereupon he threw himself off. I won, and 1 lost a patron."'