TURN OF THE TIDE.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13723, 14 November 1916, Page 4

TURN OF THE TIDE.

The combined effects of Verdun, the Somme, the Carso, and the menace of General Brusiloft*'s pressure in Galicia have entirely, upset the plans of the "BlucherGneiscnau" combination, as some writers have sarcastically dubbed

Marshal von Hiiidenburg, the Bailey of Germany's new play, and his shadow, General von Ludendorff. Rumania was to be crushed and Marshal von Macken sen' Gene'rahivon Falkenhayr were to share the glory, of.a triumphal entry into Bucharest, Von Hindenburg's delightful little scheme did not deceive the Allied military chiefs. General Joffre, General Haig, General Cardno, General Brusiloff, and General Sarrail are not babes in the art oi war , and are not to be bluffed, Germany attempted to turn the eyes of the world and transfer the major military operations to the south-eastern theatre of war, "Rumania would be crushed in fifteen days," the lap-dog Constantine yelped, and more than one political nincompoop in the British House of Commons reiterated the wail. But the Allied staffs remained silent and maintained an inexorable pressure on their respective battlefronts. General Neville smashed into the Germans at Verdun, General Cadorna crashed through the Austrian lines on the Carso, General Sarrail pushed across the Struma, and vigorous Serbo-Freneh thrusts were made in New Serbia. General Haig severely handledthe Germans along the line'from le Transloy and Gue.udecourt to the outskirts of Bapauihe, General Foch pounded the Teutons at Sailly-Saillisel and south of the Somme, while General Brusiloff thundered in, Galicia and General Alexeieff maintained a terrific pressure from the Pripet Marshes to Riga. Marshal von Mackensen advanced " triumphantly " in the Dobrudja, and General von Falkenhayn swooped down upon the Transylvanian passes, both very, materially lengthening their lines of communications. Before von Hindenburg had time to shake down into his new and exalted position, and wreak vengeance upon the erring Rumanians, every front was demanding heavy reinforcements. Not only was the Rumanian defence growing more stubborn, but Russia's unfailing ally—General Winter—was making more difficult and less rapid an advance into the heart of the Carpathians, and aggressive movements northward through the desolate wastes of the Dobrudja. To-day the tide is turning. Marshal von Mackensen finds himself in danger on both flanks—oh the east from flie Russian Black Sea Fleet and the west from Rumanian monitors on the Danube, while powerful RussoRumanian forces m, pushing him back. The failure of von Falkenhayn to overrun the Moldavian province of and von Mackensen's apparent inability to force the Danube above the Constanza line, have' left the enemy forces in the Dobrudja hi a dangerous position,: faced con : timiously with the menace of -a Russo-Rumanian thrust against his insecure: lines of communications. Altogether the Rumanian outlook has brightened very considerably • during the last .few days.

Tlio commodious 1 niiif modern qi«»to bus ordered by Mr W. K. Hcarlc I'ui the loi'iil passenger nervier has now sir will be 1 put on the ronil foi passenger traffic ■this weelc;

"The imposition of this unfair tax will mean a loss of fully £7OO to Wyndham factory alone," remarked Mr Richard Arnott at the Wyndh'am Farmers' Union meeting on Saturday night to protest against? the Butter-fat Tax,

It is notified' in the Government Gazette that the firm of John Edward Butler, Ltd., having admitted, on July 25th last, that it had from time to time committed offences against' the Customs Act, tho Minister for Customs has accepted, from the said firm, in full satisfaction of the penalties thereby incurred, the sum of £4OOO.

An Auckland Press Association message states that a largely attenfieff meeting of drivers' on Sunday discussed a telegram from the Hon. W. H. Herlies, stating that a conference would be held in Wellington of .employers and employees affected by the award. It was decided to take no further action in the meantime. : '"' • ■

On Saturday morning Privates Percival Mulligan (Oamaru)' and J. and A. Don (Windsor), who are on final leave from camp and expect to leave with the next reinforcements for. service abroad, were met by representatives of Windsor Presbyterian Church at Windsor railway station and presented with handsome soldiers' pocket Testaments on behalf of the congregation. The recipients responded in appropriate terms,

Recently, at a place near Hastings/ a 'gift afternoon was held for the purpose of supplying comforts for New Zealand l soldiers in France. A very large number of parcels were received, and in one a young lady enclosed a packet of .cigarettes with'a note bearing her name and address, and asking the recipient to let her know if he received the parcel. • The goods were duly.packed and despatched to their destination. Only a short time elapsed, however, when the young lady received a letter acknowledging the parcel and •thanking her for the gift. But the curious part' of the whole affair is that a soldier in camp at, Trentham received the gift. The matter'is now being investigated, and: the donors'are wondering whether the whole shipment did' not go to the same destination,

Mr W, C, Nation, coroner, of Levin, hold an inquest on Wednesday last in connection with the death of Tiripa Taiieki, a woman 62 years of age/ who' died suddenly at Kawiu, Horowhenua Lake. The evidence showed that the Natives had been holding a religious gathering, and some of them became very, excited, One of them, Keke Taneki, a nephew of deceased, became demented and assaulted his aged relative in various ways, He was secured with ropes and eventually committed to an asylum.., .He was nmj.er. the jlelijsjpn that he was the Apostle John, and' could walk'the'water. The coroner, after reviewing the evidence of several witnesses, considered that the deceased had been- undergoing severe mental strain of religious fervour, and that death was the result of exhaustion and shock.

The following books have been received at the Atheiiffiuhi, and will lie available to subscribers,to-morrow:— "The Crimson Gardenia," by R. Beach; 'The Window in the Fence," H. Brunkhurst; "The Queen of. the Secret City," J. K Doke; "Desmond's Daughter," M. Diver; "The Bride of the Suu," G. Leroux; "Only a Nigger," E. Mitchell; "Salt of Life," Mrs 6. de H. Vaizey; "The Monument," T. Taftingham; "Lord Roberts," H. F, B. Wheeler; "Yusuf Khan, the Rebel Commandant." S. C. Hill; "The Lighter Side of School Life," I. Hay; "Up and Down the World," by a Passionate Pilgrim; "Soldiers' Stories of the War," Walter Wood; "A Vagabond Voyage Through Brittany," Mrs L. Chase; "News from Somewhere," J. Milne'; "An Irishwoman in China," Mrs de B, Daly; "Action Front," B, Cable; "My Home in the Field of Action," F, W. Huard; "The Conquest of America," C, Moffett; "Mike," E, F, Benson; "A Baby of the Frontier," E. T, Brady; "The Kangaroo Marines," Captain Campbell; "The Girl Phillipa," E, W. Chambers; "Honours of War," G, Edgar; "TheJ Yellow Dove," G. Gibbs; "Life and Gabriella," E, Glasgow; '"Leatherface," Baroness Orezy; "Just David," E. Porter; "Jerry," J. Webster; "And What Happened," E, 5. Stevens; "When a Man's a Man," H. B. Wright.

Our Incliolme correspondent writes: A social- wns hold. in. the school. Incliolme, on Thursday evening (9th inst.) as a farewell.to Privates William Stevenson and James Robertson, of the Twentieth Reinforcements, who are on final leave. Both young men arc sons "of two ofthc.fii'st settlers in Incliolme, and' are going to the front at considerable sacrifice to themselves. There was a large attendance, every householdl in the district being represented. Mr Jolni Newlands occupied the chair, and welcomed the guests, The evening was spent in progressive euchre and dancing to music supplied by Mr Baxter. Messrs 0. Wheeler, W. Morrison, and J, Newlands contributed songs, much to the pleasure of the audience. During an interval, Mr Kininmont, on behalf of the residents of Incholme, presented Privates Stevenson and Robertson each with a set. of military hairbrushes, as a slight token of esteem from their friends, and 1 wishing them both good luck and a safe return. After the company had sung "They are-jolly good' fellows," followed by rousing cheers, Private Stevenson returned thanks for, himself and Private Robertson. TheJadies of the district proVided' a delicious supper, which was much appreciated. .The singing of the National Anthem brought a ,pleasant evening to a close.

It is hot often 'thiit/¥"seamaii who has lost' his boat will walk b'O miles lo the next port lo rojoin. This happened, however, in dm, sailors on |he s.s, Somerset, .who ; ;'jhfl(ving missed the ship at Dunedin;set-but ami walked to Oamaru, On reaching here the men found the ship had gone on to Timaru, so, not realising another 50-mile walk, they gave themselves up to the police, who sent them on to the Canterbury port' . : J r-"fif:'^ Some time ago Mr' L. Priitlcy, of Waipawa, submitted ti recipe for micA proofing clothing to the Defence Department, and after treating a'uniform with the process a test was made. It was found, after, being worn in the rain for four hours that the underclothing on the man who wore the garment was quite dry. It was then a question of a medical opinion as to the action of the ingredients on the fibre, and Whether it would retain its porous-tor air qualities. An opinion has now been received from the permanent medical officer at. Trentham that the process has not. injured the fabric, arid, ; moreover;,has lef,t; ; itjquite porous as far. as air is concerrieu,"andi yet impervious/ to water. Mr Pratley has given- the/ rights of the process•,to the.Defence/ Department for the duration., of ■ the' War, and. no doubt the matter, will nof be taken in hand to treat the uniforms) ' ■■'.;•!.

Among the interesting visitors ; .to the Timaru breakwater this year ■ are, •, or rather were, four small penguins, which for a few weeks pasti have delightedmany people with their agility inpursuing small, fish;, They were quite tame, and) would 1 swim to within a few feet of the stonework and the wharf,.and gaze unconcernedly upon the : spectators. . The confidence of : the little birds, however, was rudely" shattered 1 . * i Two of them were, picked up deadi Oh. the*"beach betwWnl-Sturm's Gully 'aid' the Glasgow wharf. One had a large wound in its side. A third was seen swimming with an injured wing neath the wharf itself. The consequent inability to catch fish will probably re-; suit in" its' clealli by starvation. ; It seems a pity something cannot be done to stop the destruction of such rare, and at the same time trusting, visitors by cruel "sportsmen" who cannot appreciate them, - ..'

In a paper read before the Qtagp Institute, Mr D. Tannock/ superintendent of Dnnedin City reserves, said/ •that the kind of trees grown in a district were a good indication of its climate.' said, "throve splendidly in Dunedin, were^surprised to find, the tree there. A tree from Uganda was also growing in Dunedin. It war a cedar, which was thriving well jn the gardens, atjtl was likely to prove a valuable timber \ tree. Ifc would probably thrive better, \ further north. The Widdringto'nis' Whytii r from Kilamanjaro, Centra,} 'Africa, 1 which was likely to prove an-, other valuable timber tree, was also quite at home in Dunedin," . Amt>n£ other trees that were thriving weil.jn Dunedin, Mr Tannock mentioned trdfs from Queensland, Virginia, the Norfolk Island Pine, the South African silver tree,, a, Bermuda cedar (from which lead-pencil wood is made, the red flowering gum fronrWest' Australia, the.camphor tree (from which commercial camphor is prepared), the pohuta!kawa (from the North Island), and the Tasmanian manuka',.' Prom a gardener's point of view the climate of Dunedin was as favourable as anyone could wish. ■■ • ■ ■ : •i» •