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Nelson Evening Mail, 27 May 1916, Page 4

The outstanding feature of the operations on the British fi-ont, so far as they have been disclosed to us, is the struggle on Yimyi Ridge, where the are still firmly established. If they can be dislodged the British guns will command .the great plain eastward from t/he fort of the heights, and with the inevitable withdrawal of the enemy from this unfavourable ground the railway lines converging at Douai, on which they have relied for so many months, can be cut. Moreover, the task of regaining Lille, in the north, will be simplified. Viniy Ridge was the objective of attacks by the British and French in combination in May and September of last year, but the efforts were not successful.

In stating that "no public speeches in modern times have made such an impression on the British public" as those delivered by Mr Hughes during hi\j visit to England, which must now be drawing to a- close, Mr Lloyd George lias expressed a view that appears to be v wy generally held in Great Britain. Mr Hughes certainly arrived at an opportune time, but to his own personality is due the widespread interest taken in his public utterances'. Hero are three sentences from one of his speeches that put the case for service in a nutshell: It fires my imagiiiationi when I »t-hiri'k that thousands are indifferent to the fact that men are dying daily in order that the citizens of the Empire may remain free men. Mirny walking peacefully in the streets fail to appreciate the glories of that immortal cemetery in Gallipoli. They fail to realise, through lack of imagination, that this struggle determines the fate of the world for a thousand years. As Mr Lloyd' George says, the sentences "get home" and their "detonating quality" is of the "highest order," and "the percentage of prematures and blinds is imperceptibly low."

- The 'Commonwealth Statistician (Mr Knibbs) has furnished some striking figures concerning the manner in which the wealth of Australia is distributed among the people. For instance, there are 300 men drawing over £SOOO a year, theh\ total income while there are 1,117,000 men drawing under £SOOO, and their total income is £156,000,000. Again, there are 1,097,620 men receiving less than £501,. their total wage foeing £133,630,000; theirs are 20,670 .men receiving over £SGO a year, and their total is £22,54'8,000. The political strength of Australians receivink £2OO a year and over is 154,246; while men and women earning -under £2OO. a year possess 1,404,723, leaving out of account the 234,740 persons whose income is nil, but who, as a matter of fact, include many married women electors.

"What is 'known as shell shock is one of tihe difficulties the war has for the doctors. Some soldiers have been rendered dumb, others are deaf or blind; some again-are unable to feel and others cannot walk. . Some, while retaining their perspective faculties, 'become perfectly incoherent in, idea and speech- Some are merely profoundly melancholy and depressed. According to the Lancet: "It is not so clear., however, that the keenest investigation has yet supplied a satisfactory answer to all the doubts that have'been expressed." A most exhaustive consideration of the question has lately been made in England by Major Mott, an expert neurologist, and, without coming to any posi-/ tive conclusion, he arrives at the position .taken by Erichsen last century that there is conceivably some actual structural damage to the nervous tissue in most such cases. 'lt may bo physical or chemical, -and, if the latter, poisons may bei conceivably self-produced or introduced from without, such as an excess of carbon monoxide. 'Other theories have been also advanced, but their consideration has more scientific than popular interest.

The bright side of the picture is that the-majority soon recover with appropriate rest and care. Dr.\ Mott sums up the treatment as follows : "Be cheerful and look cheerful is the note that should •be sounded to these functional cases. Sympathy should not >be misplaced, .although, it should be shown to all these, poor fellows who have a fixed idea m never recovering. Diversion of the mind from their terrifying experiences is essential for successful treatment. I do not find hypnosis or psychanalysis necessary, or even desirable—only common sense and interest in the oomfort, welfare, and amusement of theste neurotic patients are necessary for' their recovery. '' '