NOTES ON THE WAR,

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15685, 12 August 1914, Page 6

NOTES ON THE WAR,

THE ATTACK ON LIEGE, /c The Germans aro reported tolmvoefr , , an entry into Liege between the S : Heron and Evegnee, although th 77 ° f w> st. 1 holding out, Liege tJr^ and six on the left bank T\ 0ft,,9 tl'o right oank, which have tin ject of German attack, are w* Evegneo, Fleron, Chaudfontainc £ " and Boncelles. Fleron, with °'smb°urg,s mb °urg, t-e, defends the main line from Germany. The average d l*J tween each fort is .bout foVmt 'V* that the town 8 held by the ft °* the forts are nit off from li* TP»' of snpplios, both of food and ami \ ° and an attempt will to -"TO then, into n JJfc* Belgian amy, however, is sai( j * * advancing from Louvain to their J? Louvain is about 50 miles distant 7 Liege, and 20 mile* distant rom T f? Between Uuvain and Liege Cei» railway communication. A French is marching to join the Belgians h? the meantime German troops ■ lft 'J" * Itrating at which is situated onT Mouse, midway between Lie 26 ll Namur. Other Herman troops [reports to be seeking to "* tho Mouse between Liege and Vise.S lies to the north-east of Liege 'T, movements seem to forecast severe J? wig between the German and FrancX g.an armies in the neighbourhood of Lb'

THE AUSTRO-SERVIAN CONFLICT Mobilisation is reported [ 0 have yield*! 460,000 troops m Sena. In Servia ffl J tary service is ocnij.iiJwwy a „ d univerea! lhe repulse of tin, .Wtriim forces i" inspiring Servians with tho hope of »j. ing rebellion in Bosnia and Herzegovina" Except in tlio big towns, tho inhabitant of Bosnia and Herzegovina are almost wholly Croato-Scrvians, and half the pom lation belong to the Servian Orthodoi Church. In tho 14th century, Bosnia and Herzegovina formed part of th Servian Empire, but in tho 15th century tho two provinces camo under Turkish rule. Following the Russo-Turkish war they were handed over to tho Austro'. Hungarian Government by the Treaty 0 f Berlin, 1870, for administration and military occupation, and in 1908 they were annexed by Austria.

THE MEDITERRANEAN POSITION.

It was officially stated, only a few weeks ago, that the French fleet in the Medikr. nmcan is superior to the combined fell of Austria-Hungary- and Italy, and hai in addition the advantages of unity of command and unity o/ training. The French Government, however, come to the conclusion that in 1920 France will re', quire four moro largo armoured ships, and it is suggested that these vessels should be of the battle-cruiser type. So far the ' French naval authorities have been satisfied with a speed of about 21 knots in their battle line, and have refused to construct any vessels of the battle-cruiser type. It is apparent, however, that,' if at some future time the French Navy has to manoeuvre against the combined fleets of Italy and Austria-Hungary, « division of four heavily-gunned and wellarmoured ships, with a speed of 25 knots, would prove a most valuable acquisition. So far Austria has been content with a nominal speed for the battle line of about 19 or 20 knote, but in Italy the ships now under construction and those recently completed have been designed for 23 knots, and it is said that the . four new vessels will steam at 25, knots. They correspond, indeed, somewhat closely to the Queen Elizabeth class in the British Navy, and no doubt the action of the Italian authorities in this respect has ■ powerfully influenced French opinion. ...

THE MONTENEGRIN ARMY. Montenegro, which has joined Servia against Austria, is a bellicose nation of » mountain fighters. The military fared of Montenegro are organised on a militia basis. And every Montenegrin subject « liablo to military service from the eighteenth to the sixty-second year of his life; that is,, for a total period of 45 years. This period is divided into two years in the recruits' class, 33 years 'in tie active army, and 10 years in the reserve. Men in the active army are liable to be called up annually for a period of training not exceeding 10 days, and may be called up in (addition for any extensive manoeuvres or for an experimental mobilisation, sub- , ject however to the proviso that no man shall be called upon to perform more than \ 15 days' service in any one year. The war strength of the Montenegrin Army is variously estimated at from 30,000, to

SERVIA AND MONTENEGRO. \ It was recently stated in London that Servia „and Montenegro are resolved to proclaim tho union of both countries under the Servian King. A similar project was on the point of being realised before, but was thwarted by unforeseen events. It was also stated in Paris that on June 28—tho anniversary of the battle of Kossovo—tho Servian and Montenegrin Governments decided to proclaim the union of both countries, and as 3 _«""' stop towards the formation of a single State would establish a Customs .union and two common Ministries— namely, foreign affair? and finance. It is explained that the assassination of tho Archduke Franz Ferdinand caused the postponement of the scheme. Since tho close of the last war the union of both Servian countries under a single Government is considered an event which sooner or later must occur. When in 1912 Austria allowed tho Montenegrins and Serbs to join hands in tho Sanjak of NovißaWi sho must have foreseen to what this must inevitably lead. As to the arrangements made to proclaim the union of the tfO countries on Juno 28, it must be observed that, had they been made, they would not have been postponed by tho assassination, because the news 'of the tragedy did not reach Belgrade until late in the evening. The realisation of the scheme is likely to be delayed so long as King Nicholas reigns.

NEW TORPEDO MINE. A terrible weapon of warfare has hfon invented. In tho Naval Annual for 19" there is a description of tho Leon W' pedo mine, which has now been acqUffW and is being manufactured by a Bnw firm. This engine is so constructed ft» it can bo set to hover between any *Pj below the surface that may bo d«j«J When placed in the water it has, a slig negative buoyancy, and sinks until ant,matically a propeller is brought into JJ lion which drives it upward a S m ' ' can bo used in the open sea by anytjp 0 of ship. or, in the case of tidal httbjWj it, could bo released by a vessel ° Iltslde ; as to make its way with the tide g tho anchorage, and perhaps destroy f 1 ping there. A touch on the deadly st« , "whiskers" which project from its upF surface, and tho enemy would be sen t ■ the bottom, as were tho Hatsuse and t Pcptropa\losk in tho Japan** War. , K^>.