The North Otago Times THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1914. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

North Otago Times, Volume C, Issue 13180, 8 October 1914, Page 4

The North Otago Times THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1914. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

. The announcement was made a few (lavs ago Hint British troops liad boon landed to assist the Japanese'in tliif soigo of Tsing-Tau. Tlit British Governincut's policy is to bring pressure lo bear upon Germany at every possible point, and, as troops were available in the East, no doubt this is considered one of'tlic best means of using them. Before this Avar Germany had just entered..upon what is called a forward policy 'at Kiau-Chaii. Her previous agreement under which slio obtained tlio lease of this territory confined li'er to a comparatively narrow '' sphere.'' But just, before tlio war Germany obtained the right, according to tiic London ■Tillies, to extend Hie Kaomi-llantscliung railway., southwards beyond (lie frontiers d)f- Shantung, the German "sphere," ,io Sticliowfn, .(vhe.ro it would meet the trunk line from Mill to lfankow. From its new southern terminus-Hie Conner railway would, it was hoped, enable the "German port of Kiau-Chau lo compete successfully for trade and traffic with the terminus of tlio Belgian railway, wlicrevor that may bo. When it was finished "there would be more to say" ns to its fuithev extension into Kiangsu and Ilonan.-This meant that Germany, instead of pursuiucr a parochial policy in her own ' 1 sphere,' 1 • was. piinmi ug' a '' Chines,o policy " .which would extend .her jinliueiwe in all directions. \ ■ \, .

• l "iFoniy those,who cannot aoo'thV] necessity 'for-prepara'tioff could; see W otalfl of Franco how^.differently,. tlmy would' regard Iho bitualion," nays Iho London Dhily Telegraph, /'There are two Mpressions which; ntand out moat vividly-'-tlie absence of all young and 'lnidtllo-agctl men, and' Iho inlcnso bus- [ tttiiifedj concentrated anxiety written (5u Ihefaccs of fhe women and'chlldrcn andthe Old territorials, .who, arrayed in every species' of 3trange uniform and .armed witll eWy kind of' weapon, gii&d (h 6 briilges, culverts,' and , stations, TliC' whole Country looked an if some terrible' pe3tilchco' liiid n'wc'pt' it ; bare oil men, leaving only the old and feeble, and the young."", Thrf :j joy on the of these poor wretches; ad m hundreds they gathered foiind" anyone who happened to have newspapers aiid- learned ot trifling successes'ou tho'frOntier, was pathetic to see.' ; Their gratitude towards England for standing by them;in this terrible hbur is alone enough to repay the 'sacrifice we shall have to make. Nothing can ever'efface from 1 the. soul of , tlie' French the. memory ,'of tlic' debt which:; they -bear towards, us. No .blnndCTing'"statesmanship, no con-. tlicUiig in'tfcreit, -iio~ legitimate ease of grievance' s cdn' ever destroy the great edifice of friendship'which is being built up on the plains of Belgium, almost on the. site of' Waterloo.' 1