MANAWATU DAILY TIMES. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1916. THE-RUSSIAN ROLLER.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13524, 7 October 1916, Page 4

MANAWATU DAILY TIMES. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1916. THE-RUSSIAN ROLLER.

The immediate result of the vigorous renewal of the Russian offensive is that Hindenburg has been compelled to recall the troops sent from the eastern front to Transylvania; the enemy was unable to follow up the axpulsion of the Rumanians from Hermannstadt, and evidently has no men to spare for his invasion of the Dobruja; we can imagine the difficulty of the German General Staff in deciding whether its available divisions are needed most in the east or in the west. It is understood that Hindenburg proposed to crush the Rumanians in Transylvania while holdiag the Russians in the east and the Franco-British in the west, but his plan of campaign seems as doomed to failure as that by which Falkenhayn proposed to crush the Italians while similarly holding their allies. Blind belief that Rumania would thus share the fate of Servia, leaving 1/he Central Powers still masters of the Balkans, appears to have confirmed C<mstantine in his stubborn refusal to listen to the demand of the Greek people. The fall of Lemberg, after all the Austro-German efforts to preserve that important centre, will not only demonstrate the futility of this belief, but will also help to convince the still truonilcat Germans that the course of the war is leading to their crushing defeat in every theatre and on every front. THE SELF-HELP MOVEMENT.

In such a country as New Zealand, containing all the raw material necessary to a prosperous independent coun : the value of science as an adjunct to industrial development is peculiarly great. Our land is still only in its pioneer stages in respect of many of its productions. Some of its most valuable minerals lie untouched; many of its vegetable productions are wasted or carelessly dealt with, for want of knowledge and skilful experiment. In the mining laboratory, in tho field, the forest, and on the sea coast there is a vast deal to be dono In utilising the natural

wealth of the country and in opening new avenues for industry and trade. Like Australia, New Zealand lias been sending away raw products to bo worked up by foreigners, to the 1 foreigners' prolit, all for want of the application of scientific methods to tne things of daily life, and for investigation in the direction of cheapening cost of treatment, overcoming refractory elements, and eliminating waste. Now that a crusade for a fuller recognition of the value of research Avork has begun—a crusade that, like many another movement for the human betterment, has its birtli in the misfortune of war —we hope to see the State administration and members of Parliament and leaders in trade and commerce generally endeavour to encourage in tangible form the skill and the talent for research which have suffered so long neglect. Such encouragement will most generously in tne long run.

THE ANZAC CLUB. Contributors in our last two issues have drawn attention to matters in connection with the proposed erection of an. Anzac Club which seem worthy of some special thought. Attention hav- | ing been drawn to tne matter, we have discussed the question with a number of business men, and were somewhat surprised to find that the. erection of a Club on the proposed lines is regarded as short-sighted. It appears that the publication of the casualty lists and tneir startling bulk have set;. people thinking as to whether the scope of the institution should not be widened so as to embrace some comprehensive scheme of helpfulness for many men who are likely to return from the battlefields of*th& Empire halt and maimed. We approach the question with diffidence, knowing that the promoters of the scheme have svt their hearts on erecting a club in which the amenities will be a leading feature; but we are quite sure that, as the welfare of the soldiers is the primary consideration, no helpful criticism or advice will be taken amiss. The trustees of the Anzac Clud fund have a substantial amount at their disposal. A heavy responsibility rests upon them to administer it to the very best advantage. It may be remarked that in other countries involved in the war. and more particularly in France, very practical steps are being taken to deal with after-war problems in relation to the soldiers. Here in New Zealand there is a great deal of talk about placing the returned mCn on the land, but so far no adequate attempt has been made to formulate a scheme by which soldiers who have no inclination or adaptability for rural occupations may be furnished with means for congenial employment in industrial avocations. It must be remembered that many of the youths who have gone forth so valiantly to fight the Empire's battles were) too young to have embraced a career. It is to be feared that if means are not provided of focussing their minds on useful works they may become restless rovers and ne'er-do-wells. An Anzac Club run on social lines wuuid tend rather to emphasise than to overcome the difficulty. We join with "Soldier's Father" in the hope that Mr P. A. McHardy, the father of the Anzac Club, will go carefully into the points which have been raised with a purely helpful intention. The proposed extension of the usefulness of the institution may make an appeal to his practical mind.

AMERICAN FIGHTERS. In the "New York Herald," Cuptain. Hesser, a Canadian officer, gives some interesting particulars of the "American Legion" in Canada. When the war bioke out, the Canadians simply considered themselves involved, but they could not understand why Americans v/anted to join in. In the first Canadian contingents, we are told, one man in three was a citizen of the United States. The Americans have gone further since then. An American Legion battalion, of 1200 strong, has left Tcronto for the front, and four other battalions were well amler way in July. The idea originated with the Rev. C. S. Bullock, a Unitarian clergyman in Ottawa, and an American citizen, who obtained the approval of Sir Sam Hughes for his plan. Dr. Bullock's efforts were directed towards enrolling Americans resident in Canada, no appeal being made to Americans across the border, • so that there should be no question of violating the laws of neutrality. The idea got across the border, however, and men of all cl- ses have left America to join the Legion. Americans abroad—and Canada is as much "abroad" as anywhere—are generally careful to t preserve their nationality, so that it was not merely in order to fight for Canada that the Americans in Canada joined the Legion. They joined for the same reason as their fellows from Massachusetts to Georgia, and that reason was their endorsement of the arguments of the Legion movement, as expressed in the characteristic sircular: —"If the red blood of manhood is in your veins, you cannot sit idly by! You must realise that the buttie line in Flanders is the bulwark oi civilisation —that if is were to give way not only Canada bat the United States would be drenched in blood. Do you want German helmets and German savagery on North American soil? Do you want a line of German forts on what is now the peaceful border-line between the United States and Canada? No—No —Ns—not if you are real men! The time has come—the call to arms—to fight for liberty —as true Americans"!