NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLVIII, 18 August 1914, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR

SOW WHEAT !

FURTHER APPEAL TO FARMERS

(United Pbess Association.)

WELLINGTON, August 17.

Mr J. G. Wilson, Dominion • President of the Fanners' Union, has sent the following telegram to the 'Canterbury Executive of the Union :—'T hope the Farmers' Union will assist Mi- Masseyi's appeal'to farmers to grow more"' wheat?. livery acre grown Ayill feed eight men for a year. Farmers- are tallying everywhere in assisting to , provide food, horses, men, and money for the Expeditionary Force. ; At" the present moment, before it is ibo~late'*irV the season, the most patriotic .thing farmers and their men can do is to get as much wheat in as possible. I have ' had ah assuranco of plenty of 'assistance "at—harvest time from townsmen.''

EXPEDITIONARY (FORCE

TO SAIL AT' END OF AUGUST FOR EUROPE.x

WELLINGTON, Aug. 17, The Hon. Jamoa Allen, Minister .of Defence," in a statementto the l ,'Press, said':'-' "The ' Expeditionary ' Force', will '■'•■• sail at the end of - the month, and .the' "" men will go' to Europe, with ' General Godley in command. The force will Be so Arranged' as to fit in with tho Imperial unit, and it is desired that the mobilisation of the force shall be expedited: The response "throughout New* * Zealand has been splendid.'*, Mr Alien*, added that he hoped that Otago and Southland Would, as in tho past, lead both'in rapidity of mobilisation aridi ' number of men. . . '. J ' k mmm "Becoverep;; INCIDENT AT' WE.LLINGTPN. WELLINGTON;' Thi<* Day.>':.. < ' Ah incident occurred at, tlio Basin "Re- - '; serve' when the'troops were "* being -fare- ■ vvelldd which varied the general 'tone '■ tff extreme patriotism prevailing. .A'wom'an with'a baby irither arms was'astonished . to/see her husband in the l-aiiksj!' gHe ' .tearfully called to him, but getting no,' response, she appealed to a'■ policeman,'•'.' who.'set tho law in mbtiPn and recoverw ed the husband for liei*..,.^.

OFFICIAL INfORMATION

WELLINGTON, Aug. 17. , Tile Prime Minister has received the following cablegram, from the High Com. missionor:— * ; '■' • •

■-LONDON; Aug. 16, a.50 p.m.. . : (Official.) , . ;_,-.', ■,.-. French and Bavarians werc v engaged at Blamont, Circy, and Ayrincourt. The French were completely'successful, and captured heights at Andela. '' , ? The French continue to advance in,tho Vosge's. ' ■ - .'.. , A ! state of siege has been proclaimed in Bulgaria. WEST COAST SECOND DETACtf- ■:.' ;■ ment.;, . ~■ >.,..:■■•■ GREYMOUTH., This^y.. 1 i The second detachment of 77. men, entrained to join the first detachment frqm i the'-West Coast already, at Addirigton,. making 200 in all, or 80 over the, quota on 'a .company . basis. The men were farewelled by' immensp crowds, amidstt touching scenes arid rousing cheers. • The second detachment was practically mobilised in. 24 hours. An instance is given of a man who was working bush at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. In; two li'onrs he had enlisted, .and was fuhy equipped and ready for the front; There are still numbers • offering. Several cam© in last night 1 late from the country, and were very disappointed in not getting, - away. ./ , < ..;'.:-,

NEW ZEALAND TRANSPORT;

FLEET.

WELLINGTON,. This Day

It is. •understood that tlie following yes. sols have been definitely cli'osoiv'to.transport tho troops and horses to :— •> Atlienic, Wavmann, Willochra, Tahiti, and Star of India. Tlie Ruapolni; artd Maunganui arc also to bo chartered 'on arrival from Australia. A 'muiibei* of smaller steamers are being fitted to bring mounts to the centres of embarkation. . . ••,.:• The troopships aro,having their names painted out and will he known by numbers. .". , The Imperial authorities have .Arranged for the use of the above vessels arid I others required, tho terms "being leit over I for settlement later on. . . v . j GENERAL ITEMS. / WELLINGTON, Aug. 17. The' Mayor's Patriotic "Fund is now over £12,000. Among the latest doriaI tions is'one of £3OO from Sarcood. Son, I and Ewon (part of £2oul) promised),! to 'wards tho work of alleviating distress ! that may arise in the city as a result of ' tho war.

> The Government has decided to reloase on parole those, of tho German prisoners of war on Soamcs Island" who can secure guarantees from friends as to good character. Mr E. Focke, lately German Consul hero, visited the island

yesterday, and explained the conditions of- release to the prisoners, whom ho found comfortably housed and evidently bent on making the best of their unfortunate position. It is anticipated that most of the prisoners will be able to find the necesasrv guarantees. PALMERSTON X.. Aug. 17.

The National Mortgage and Agency Co., owners of the Longburn freezing works, have given £IOOO to the Patriotic Fund.

PAHIATUA. August 17

To date Pahiatua has subscribed £4OO to the war fund. Pongoroa has given £3OO and many horses. WESTPORT. August 17. The West-port Harbour Board voted £SOO to the war fund. , GREY-MOUTH, August 17. To morrow morning 60 additional West Coasters will leave to join the others In camp at Addington. Mr Tom Pollard gave "an entertainment to-night in aid of the Patriotic Fund, and the gross proceeds, amount ing to £IOB. were handed to the func Mr Pollard announced that he wouk.

hand over to the fund the gross pro

ceeds of his picture entertainment on '-■ the second Monday in each month whikthe war lasted. Football teams are almost depleted through members going to the front. Eight West Coast" representative footballers have been selected. _ - Each member- of the Greymoulh. Waterside Workers' TTnion gives sixpence per week to the Patriotic Fund while the war lasts. The local war fund totals over £I3OO. WESTPORT. This Day. The Patriotic Fund has now reached £IOOO. and the Ladv Liverpool Fund over £250. Men continue "to freely volunteer for the Expeditionary Force. Branches of the military reserve ano ambulance reserve are being formed. WELLINGTON, This Day.

Subscriptions to the Mayor's Fund include £3OO-by Sargood. Son and Ewan. beins portion of a gift of £2OOO which the firm is making for the .relief of possible distress. .. ' CHRISTCHT7RCF. This Day.. The President of the Racine: Confer ence circularises nil racing clubs tirginp them to follow the English Jockev Club's example and continue to hole meetings, so as not to increase nnem ployment by throwing out those depen dent on racing. DUNEDIN, This Day

About a thnusad men. 'including 6C< from the South, are in camp at .Tahunn Forty-three Arm-vi Service Corps men 21 engineers, and a detachment of sit' nailers, left this morning for the hi concentration camp Yit . Palmerstoe North.

The 7-ake's Country is offering- n hun dred horses ■ for the Expeditionary Force.

Sarsood. Son. pnd Ewen. answering the Premier's call upon the people o' New Zealand, have placed £2CCO at t'v disposal of locat organisation.*, 'to b devoted to local r< lief. Cheque? ar forwarded to twelve nlaces. ir eluding Auckland (£400). Christchnr.l !(P-?Or>\ Wellington (£300), and Dunedii (£306). GERMA-N WARSHIPS AND NEW ZEALAND. DOMINION WATERS APPARENTLY CLEAR. (By Telegraph.—-Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Asked as to -th'? possibility Ger man warship being in New Zealanc waters. Mr Massey, in the course of ai interview, could, "say nothing, but hi pointed out that'instructions had beer, given to re-light the four principal har hours. " '■•:■- 1

IF BIG GUMS ARE HEARD

(Okiibd Pjutaa

WELLINGTON, This Pay. Very likely, owing to the probability of no* annual camps being held during this year's training consequent. Dn thi present- mobilisation, advantage will be taken-o£'.the presence of the Garri-soi. Artillery in 4he various forts the Dominion to early out part ..f then annuaL practice. People in the centie affected should not be alarmed t.-ier* i-r* if dnrinn- the next few days, .they ni-ai big guns going off. The reports w~■! or U he TtWe of the Garrison Artillery en "aged in big gun practice, and' shoulc. not raise the fear that Germans an attacking the place.

WHY ANTWERP ?

ITS STRATEGIC VALUE

IMPORTANT TO ENGLAND

Many pe'dple who are closely studying such particulars of the German ad vane* as uiev can learn from the scanty cables 'and ate carefully applying them tp..tht map have appreciated what a vital pom of attack mav yet-be Antwerp.- At tin present, moment the German: front ap pears to have moved northward from where Belgian soil was first sen ousty' stained with blood, and is withn easy distance of Brussels. One of tht questions of-the moment.is whether the invaders intend .purely to press onwards, towards France, or whether-the present attack in force is" merely a heavy flank in" movement; likely to be diverted up on" Antwerp -' Brussels is the capita city of Belgium'. Ami' unlike most othei capitals, it has oractically-no establisher defence. Without heavy opposition lithe field,' therefore,, the Germans could as it were, take Brussels in thoir strid* whichever- road they sought to follow from their present'position. To-holo Brussels would be a magnificent asset tc them, but- bevond its moral effect and such richness" as the city could, affovc .them as a prize, the capital is of comparatively smalt value. If the Germar army seeks a. great strategic point in Belgium, thev could find none mor* valuable than' Antwerp—the commercial capital of Belgium and its whole neigh biurhood. Whether they could take it is entirely another matter. Although the famous port is admittedly an objective of!the. invaders, there are a great many people who do not realise why it should -be jealously sought. "Why Antwerp''" is quite'a common question to-da-y. It is not close to the German frontier: it is in a hostile country, and it f'ould not be used by the Germans ; if the object was merely to cripple the vast shipping of the Scheldt, that is fairly doiu; now. Why. then, Antwerp? Antwerp has for many generations of soldiers been regarded as one r.f the most critical nositions in Europe ; and it is of peculiarly vital interest to England. Captain !Mahan, a well-known authority on the subject of sea-power, points out that for the preservation <*f the commerce as well as the supremacy of a

maritime State, certain dominant positions, whether within or outside that State's own boundaries, must never h*allowed to pass into the possession of a powerful neighbour. On>at Britain realising this principle. has secured jnnnv such positions, including (Jibraltur. Malta. St. Lucia. Aden. Egypt, and Cyprus —all vital for th» command of in-.nor-tant waterways. But Antwerp is preeminent. . There is a famous work by Alison, devoted to the constant relationship of Ant-

wcrp to the United Kingdom. He declares the Scheldt, to be destined as the rival c-f the Thames. It flows through a country excelling even the midlands of England" in wealth and resources, and adjoins some of the cities equal to any in Europe in arts and commerce. It is the artery of Flanders. Holland. Brabant, and Luxembourg, and it is the means ci communication between the Low Countries, with their agricultural and manufacturing productivity and the other marimitime States of the world. This from, the commercial aspect. But Antwerp is the key of the Scheldt Estuarv. and is eminently adapted for a great naval arsenal. Such it was under Phillip IT. of Spain ; and as -such was used by Napoleon when he dominated Europe". "It is the point." says Alison, "from which in every age the independence of these kingdoms has been seriously menaced. Sensible of her danger." it had been the fixed policy " of Great Britain for centuries to prevent this formidable outwork from falling into the. hands of her enemies, and the ucst davs of her history are chiefly occupied with the struggle to ward off such a disaster."

It was to protect Antwerp from the French that Charles 11. sided with the Dutch in 1670 ; that Anne declared war on Louis XIV. in 1704 ; that Chatham supported Prussia in 1742, that Pitt, 50 years later, took up aims against the Revolution. Here is the outline <.f the position created because Napoleon in 1809 held the. Scheldt, and- the British arms did not wrest it from him. In the great dockyard he had made, lay the nucleus of a powerful fleet. Eight line of battle ships and ten frigates lay in mid-channel. Twenty vessels were on the. slips, and in the' storehouses was equipment for twice that number. Britain had. but missed, the opportunity to crush Antwerp, as. a stronghold of Napoleon. Had she done so, scores of British ships would have been released to protect British shipping; Wellington in his great- "campaign of 1813 would not have found, for the first time, that the communication by sea of a British Army was insecure; and Napoleon, who, while he held Antwerp, never gave up bope of overmastering Great Britain, might on his own confession have* reliquinished the useless struggle against her. But the Walcheren expedition (Walcheren is the large island in the estuary on which stands the port of Flushing) faded because Lord Chatham stayed to besiege Flushing instead of attacking Antwerp. Whether or not the German advance will be diverted still farther north upon Antwerp the next few days will probably tell. But this remains fairly clear: that just Liege held out- against the siege levelled against it. so Antwerp will be able to do ; for Antwerp is one of the strongest cities in Europe. It is defended from the seaward side by the river and the low ground over which the river waters can be let loose to make a barrier impassable to any army; and on the other three sides by a ring of modern and powerful fortifications. —"Post."'

WAR NOTES

vVHEftE THE FIGHTING IS TAKING PLACE. Die*t -which has been the scene of <ome of the righting, is a town thirty miles east-north-east of Brussels, ami ibout the same distance north-west ct Liege. It is a fortress, and stands on ,hc Demcr river, and was taken by the British under. Marlborough in 1705 .Tongres is in Belgian Limburg, eleven nile's west-south-west of Maestricht, which is just over the border into Dutch Limburg. Tongres has been at-various times a sufferer from invading troops, .vhich have pillaged aid burnt it. Huj : s an important post ojt the' south bank of ' the' Meuse, half-way between Liege md'Namur. It is protected by-heights, and lias a 'fortified citadel and forts. Eghezee and Jodoignc are respectively 'ten and twenty miles north of Namur, .he latter being about twenty-two miles »ast-south-east'cf Brussels. Both are on railway lines. Jodoigne is five miles north "of Ramillies, where the famous ' battle was fought in 1706. Tirlemont is ! twenty-five miles east cf Brussels, and [ St. Trond is ten miles east of Tirle- ! mont.

- "Armies are becoming unwieldy." wrote a critic last year. "With the vast growth of modern armies superiority in numbers has lost much of its former importance. Germany and France can raise several millions oi soldiers. Now, although Germany maybe able to raise one million or two million more than France, the case of France is not hopeless, because it is not certain that Germany may be able to make effective use of her larger numbers-. Efficiency is becoming more important than numbers. That was shown in the Russo-Japanese .War. . . An army may be too laige. A very hirge army is a very slow, ponderoiis and awkward machine 1 , which cannot live ii: the country, but must cling to the vai way, for its supplies, •uid v.hich cm l,e fed, moved, and manoeuvred only with great difficulty. It may have the fate of the whale "which is attacked, by the swordfisb. It may be defeated by a j smaller . but more agile force. Beside, the eastern district ~ of France and Southern .Belgium are so densely studded with powerful fortresses and forts' that there is not sufficient room +'or deploying armies of the largest size. Lastly, the paucity, of roads forbids the use of very large armies. . When -the ground is. heavy, troops on the march rmst stick to the roads. The soil of Eastern France is very soft. A German Army Corps, of 36,000 men, marching on a

single road, extends o.'-ir n-?.e;. and requires five hours for depl->yin:j for battle. It is folio .v«jd by two ammunition columns and a taggs-ze ■ rtilun.n. which extend over a nor nor 15 mi'es of roa-cl. -Through *he •.•••eat in., n'nso of the field artillery and of the number of ammunition carts which the modern quickfiring guns and migazino have made necessary, and the recent addition of siege-guns, howitzers, mortars, machine guns, wireless telegraphy sections, balloon sections, flying machines, field kitchens, etc., tho length of an ami j* corps is constantly growing.

POLAND

Poland was an independent nation till the end of the 18th century, but even by that time its territory had,been greedily partitioned by Russia, Prussia, and Austria, though in -war after war the high-spirited Poles, unskilful in government, had resisted their conquerors with «reat gallantry. In 1772 the first partition was made. Prussia taking the Palatines of Malborg, Pomeria, and Warmia, Culm, and. part of Oreat Poland ; Austria took CJalicia and part of Podolia, Sandomir, and Cracow, and Russia took White Russia, and all tho part beyond the Dnieper. In 1793 another partition was made, Russia acquiring the rest of fireat and a portion of Little Poland, and. tho Russian boundary being advanced to the centre of Lithuania ad Yolhymia. Thaddeus Koscuiszko headed, a great and partly successful insurrection against the great, nations, but he was finally defeated, and Warsaw was sacke<j, with great cruelty. The Polish kingdom was then at an end, and a third division was made. Austria got Cracow, with the country between the Pclica, the Vistula, and the Bug: Prussia had the capital, with the territory as far as the Niemen, and' Russia all the rest. Stanislaus sisned his crown in April. 1795, and [died in St. Petersburg in 1798. Many of the Poles, went into foreign service-;

and tlio patriots looked anxiously for help to iNapoleon. But he did no more, than form the Duchy of Warsaw.'with a population of two millions, ariu attach it to Saxony ; and it was a very prolific recruiting ground for his armies. A resettlement was effected' by i-.e Treaty of Vienna in 1814. The city arid district of Cracow were formed into an independent Republic, under the guarantee of the three Powers ; but in 1846 it was annexed by; Austria, in defiance of all international law. The Russian portion was to form a •on-titu-lional kingdom, subject to the Czar, and with many national privileges. Hut the arrangement, though liberal, did not work smooth aol. j:u insurre.tion began, but it was heavily crashed by Russia, and the kingdom was derived a ftussian province. By 1864 the rebel lion was quelled, and Poland found i* self in the position of having uee'i par eeriexL out into six governments, winl* Russian was made, compulso'uv, 'J'» language of th« country.

10RD KITCHENER

Earl Kitchener (Iloratiu Herbert) has left his mark in more parts ci' the British Empire than any other living man. He was bom on 29th of June, 1850, and is a son of the late Lieutenant-Colonel H. H. Kitchener, of Leicestershire. He was educated for the Army, and joined the Royal Engineers in 1971. He •took part in the Palestine and Cyprus surveys in 1874-82; then he was appointed to the command of the Egyptian Cavalry. In 1884 he led the famous Nile Expedition, receiving the brevet rank of lieut.-colonel, the Khedive's star, and other honours. From 1886 to 1888 hc> was Governor of Suakim ; in 1889 f.night on the Soudan frontier, was ad-jutant-general of the Egyptian Army fur many years, and Sirdar in 1890. In 1896 he" commanded the Dongola Expeditionary Force, and was promoted to major-general, made a K.C.8., and received various medals. The great Khartum Expedition, from which he derived his title, was in 1898; and for this work he received the thanks of Parliament, and a grant of £30.000, was raised to the Peerage, made G.C 8., and had two clasps added to the Khedive's medal. In 1899-1900 ho commanded th«forces in South Africa, and in the two following years was Commanccr-in-Ohief. Then he received the thanks of Parliament, was promoted Cj Cienera! and created Viscount .and -riven ;•

grant of £50,000. He was Commands.--i'n-Chief in India in 1902-09, and in 19JG was made a member of the C'ou:nil, of Imperial Defence. In that otpacity he toured a great part of the Empire, including Australasia, and np">n his it; f-ommendations the new syst in of military training on the Ft mill ions were based. Since 1911 ! e ha.< been His Majesty's Agent and Gon sul-General in Egypt, and ims cotniiiued tho maenificent work he ii«d l.eprur years before in reorganising the com try. This year, he w.i:» made ..:) Fail and his presence in England is due tc ; hia having taken his .~e;it in tb»- Umipc of Lords.—"Post."

SIR lAN lIAMLLTO*

General Sir lan Hamilim. i.ke Kit eh ener, is one of the few pi oat Biiti.-li sol diers who have made themselves ktnmi: personally in New Z.viland. r.avmj visited ' ' the Dominion oniy a Uw months ago as Inspector-Goner.il of +' ■* Oversea Forces. He is the s=on ->i CHo nel C. M. Hamilton, and was torn at C-orfu in Januarv. 1853. He entered the Armv m 1873, and served in the Afghan "War (1878-80). in ihe "Boer War (1881), an<L the Nile Expedition (1884-85), receiving then the brevet rank of major,: the Khedive's star, a:: 1 n edal with two clasps. In ] 835-37 le to; k part in the Burmese ExpsditK.-i, ana was macle lient.-eolonel, and w;;s promoted colonel in 1891.

GERMAN AIRSHIPS

" .According to the reports cf the fighting round Liege, little success has attended Germany's aerial fleet. Her finest Zeppelin airship was struck by a. shot from a specially-designed, gun on one oi the Belgian torts, and was brought to the ground, while three aeroplanes have been lost. The Zeppelin have been regarded with suspicion by other Powers, chiellv on account of Oe- run of accidents" under peace conditions. £ m,n ' Zeppelin has constructed about 16 of these huge aerial vessels. Of them six have been lost, while nearly all the others have met with mishaps of onekind- or another, and in some instances destruction has been narrowly averted. The first Zeppelin, launched at Lake Constance as far back as 1900, was 416 feet long. Its trials gave considerable promise, but a few months later it was wrecked. Not discouraged, the ingenious nobleman started out to build another, and his -misfortune at least, had this advantage, that it attracted attention to. his schemes. In 1905 he launched his second venture, 414 ft long, which had bad luck from the first, and was speedily smashed up. The . so-called Zeppe-lm IV. was a great success whilt it lasted, but, after performing feats which raised German enthusiasm to fever-heat, and placed the Count in the position of a national hero, it was wrecked during a gale at Eehterdiirgeri. Disaster followed-* disaster. The rebuilt Zeppelin 11. yvas badly damaged in May, 1909, by collision with a tree. Zeppelin V. was" also ripped up by contact with a. forest, and Zeppelin VI. was totally burnt as the result of an explosion. Then the only two naval airships commissioned were lost. If the airships prove unserviceable a weapon of offence on which Germany placed great hopes will have 'to be jettisoned. It was hoped to send these huge dirigibles over the heart of France and England to destroy towns and menace mobilsiation points. The Zeppelin is more than an airship ; it is a fighting machine? Each dirigible has an armament said to be capable of doing as much damage as two batteries of field guns. Tho height cf the dirigible gives the projectiles fired from it added force sufficient to make t"heir destructive powers equal, if not superior, to those possessed by the heaviest of. field artillery guns. (Continued on u.i<re 7.)