The MANAWATU DAILY Times THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1936. Germany Rearmed

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 66, 19 March 1936, Page 6

The MANAWATU DAILY Times THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1936. Germany Rearmed

The reaction of the public to an event very often depends upon the way it is presented or occurs. Thus we have been following Germany’s sudden re-entry of the Rhineland,. a shocked Europe and the condemnation of Herr Hitler’s action is all the more violent because of the more or less unexpectedness of his move. The German pledge is worth nothing, comes the cry, but when one looks back over the past 12 months, this is not the only occasion on which a treaty has ceased to have any practical significance for the third iteicli. What of the prohibitions placed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles in respect of re-armaments ? Germany’s re-arming has long ceased to be a matter of conjecture, yet because it has conic gradually, it lias lost the features of a major sensation and has been accomplished under the eyes of Europe with little .in the way of the hue and cry that has accompanied Hitler’s latest move. Germany’s rc-armamcnt is acknowledged nowadays by the national leaders as the great accomplishment for which the lowering of the standard of living, shortage of foodstuffs and such “minor hardships” are as nothing compared with the creation of a free “isle of peace, in the midst of disorder—an isle, secure because fortified,” as one official spokesman has described it. This re-armament programme extends to all branches, military, naval and air; and Germany lias taken its “equal status in arms” with little except verbal and written protests from the signatories to the Versailles Treaty. Military re-armament Avas given its first parade on March Hi, 1935, when Herr Hitler proclaimed conscription as the basis of a “people’s army,” and the intervening months have witnessed Avith Avhat feverish enthusiasm this step has developed. The army of 100,000 men, alknved by the Versailles Treaty, served as the training ground for an army and reserves Avhich in a lew years will certainly be 20 times that size. The impression left upon the spectator by such a display as that ol the military arm, at Nuremberg last September, Avas that it lacked little as far as modern weapons or quality man-power Avas concerned. Much has been heard, though not accompanied by statistics, regarding the development of the German air force. This is not surprising seeing that, Avhile much lias been Avrittcn about the air arm, definite data has been lacking. The result has been the publication in the foreign Press of figures which, Avhen mentioned to the German authorities concerned, have been described as “fantastic”—but nothing has been officially substituted for them. The personnel of the air force only emerged recently from the “cover” under which they operated as members of “sports clubs.” Even as early as May, 1935, Gcneral-of-the-Air Hermann Goring announced to foreign correspondents that military aviation Avas so far advanced in Germany as to be the most powerful in existence, though it appears he Avas thinking of the high standard attained by German fliers rather than the number of aeroplanes, for he added: “The decisive factor is not the number of aeroplanes, but their quality, not the number, but the character and ability of the aviators.”

The yield from the sales tax lias shown a steady increase for some months past, the total in January, 1936 —£233,103 —being the highest in any single month since the imposition of this tax. During each of the three years for which statistics of sales tax are available, January shows a relatively high total —a reflection of the Christmas shopping period, since tax collections in January would relate mainly to sales of goods in December. The January, 1936, total is 10.4 per cent, above that for January, 1935, and 24.2 per cent, above the January, 1934, figure.

A passenger on the Makura who arrived at Sydney last week, Miss Eleanor Fellowes, of Philadelphia, told of a day spent at Cocos Island, where a band of Englishmen are looking for treasure. They have spent nine months searching the mountainous and forest-clad island, but have met with no success as yet. They live in the huts erected by previous explorers, and have an electric plant which enables them to have a refrigerator for keeping their supplies fresh. Except when people go there to hunt for the treasure, Cocos Island is completely uninhabited.

During the month of February three building permits of a total value oi £1386 were issued by lho Horowhenua County Council. Several instances of blackbirds distinguished by white feathers have b.en roported from time to time, but a white-tailed thrush is most uncommon. Such a bird has been observed in an Auckland suburban garden for some time. A decision to assist the Auckland Aero Club to stage an air pageant at the Waikato airport in aid of the McGregor fund on Saturday, April 4, lias been made by the South Auckland .Motor and Air Carnival Association Committee. The death occurred at Kuku yesterday of a very well-known and highly respected native in the person of Mrs W. Seymour at the age of 52 years 'flic deceased was a member of the well-known family of Richardson, of Bulls. She leaves a husband and eleven children. The .amoral takes place at Ivuku to-morrow. Mrs E. Muslen, 'Wellington district secretary of the W.E.A., who has been staying in Levin as the guest of Mrs. R. Kelso, Trafalgar street, left' yesterday for Oruua Downs eu route for Wanganui and Taranaki, and will return to Wellington on Wednesday, March doth, to attend the Dominion conference of llio association. She will later visit the Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa districts. There is still no news of the whereabouts of Stanley Charles Maiscy, who is alleged to have shot his father-in-law, Mr. A. Conwell, at Dalelield, Carterton, last Thursday. A former Carterton resident claimed to have recognised Muiscy at breakfast at a Frankton boardinghouse on Saturday and notified the police. When they arrived the man was missing. The legend that n death in the house follows the sound of a death watch beetle in the wall was corroborated by Mr. 1!. Natusch in an address to Napier Kotarians. Mr. Natusch said that this story was quite correct, but not in the way that most people accepted it. When the peculiar knocking of this bettle is heard, it is -usually uuswered by a mate. The death follows shortly after the mating, but it is the death of the male bettle. Having no further usi for him, the female disposes of him shortly after the mating. Doth passenger and goods traffic show material increases during the forty weeks of the current railway year for which statistics are available, us compared with tho position lor that period of the 1934-35 railway year. The excess of working rovenuo over operating expenditure is £2OIB higher on this occasion—only a slight increase it is true, but a very satisfactory one considering the fact that working expenditure has increased by £209,850 — partly as a result of the further partial restoration of wages cuts to railway employees. A special air excursion to Now Plymouth in one of the regular 4-engined Union airliners is being arranged by Union Airways for .Saturday next, March 21. The plane will leave Milson aerodrome at approximately 9.80 a.m. and for return passengers will take off from New Plymouth about 5 pan. on Sunday, March 22—giving the best part of two days in New Plymouth. A special feature of tho stay will bo unique scenic “round Mount Egmont” trips on Saturday and Suuday afternoons. (Special excursion fares will apply. Full details are announced elsewhere in this issue. A club bore was recently silenced by having cold water thrown over him. Then his teeth uromullv started to chatter-