NOTES ON THE WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15728, 1 October 1914, Page 6

NOTES ON THE WAR.

MAILED FIST MUST GO. A REMAitKABi.K letter in denunciation of the German Emperor has been written by Professor F. X. Riethdorf, of the s-tafl of the Woodstock College, Canada, and a former German soldier. After stating that the quarrel in the present war is not with the German people. Professor Rietlulorf says •' We must deeply sympathise with the German people in the sufferings and dangers brought upon them by their ruling classes, by an oligarchic, insane, military government. It is the Germany of the ' clinched fist ' and the ' drawn sword,' of the 1 shining armour ' and the ' sabre rattling in the i scabbard,' that- calls for no sympathy on i our part. It is tho Germany that has ! precipitated the monstrous world struggle | 01 the day that fills us all with horror and indignation. I am a native German and a former German soldier. My own position in this struggle is perfectly clear. My loyalty to the British Hag makes me stand against any and all enemies of Bri- i tain. If need he I should even fight against Germany, though with a bleeding heart, }• urthennore. I desire disaster tc the German Army in this way, for the reason that it will mean restoration of fellowship among the \\ extern nations for one of the greatest peoples of Europe. A liberated, free democratic Germany will start a new and lasting era of prosperity, of peace, arm in arm with England and France. Germany's defeat will mean the establishment of a German republic, and the elimination of Wilhelm 11., and all that he stands for. Such things as 'Divine right ' and ' mailed fist ' are anachronisms. an insult to the intelligence of the people of the twentieth century. William 11. is the common foe of Europe, and he must be eliminated. Defeat of Germany in this war means ultimate salvation and freedom for her; Germany will be the greatest gainer through defeat."

THE NEW BRITISH ARMY. According to the War Press Bureau the prompt response, given to Lord Kitchener's appeal for volunteers enabled him early in August to decide on and define the framework to be employed and to make all necessary arrangements for the infantry training. Six divisions aro to bo formed, iu the designation and employment of which territorial interests have been remembered. The divisions w.:ll bo known as :The Scottish, the Irish, tho Northern, the Western, the Eastern, tho Light Infantry. The divisions will consist of three brigades, the names of whose battalions are well known in the history of {Tie army. Compo.'ing. for instance, the first brigade of the Scottish Division well be the Black Watch, the Seaforth Highlanders, tho Got don Highlanders, and tho Cameron Highlanders. Shorncliffe is a- convenient centre for the Eastern Division, and the facilities which it affords arc held to compensate for any increase in the distance from Norfolk and Suffolk homes. The Western Division will assemble on, Salisbury Plain, the convenience of which for tlie purpose of training is well known. Tho Ctnragh is the natural station of the Irish contingent, which will consist throughout -its ranks of Irishmen. The station of the Northern Division has not yet been decided upon. A suitable training ground will shortly be selected. The name "Light Division" may recall the timo of Wellington's advance in tho Peninsula, when Craufurd's Light Be gade of 1809 developed into the Light Division of 1810. The defence made- by the Light Division of the day for five months oil a long front against an enemy of six times its own strength is well known ill military history. Tho King's Royal Rifles and the Rifle Brigade compose the first brigade of the new Light Division.

WHY ITALY IS OUT OF THE WAR. There is in a recent issue of La Tribuna. —one of the most influential of Italian newspapersan article explaining the position of Italy in regard to the war. " Before anything else," it- is early explained, " tho Triple Alliance has nothing to do with tho causes and aims declared in this war. The Alliance," the article goes 011. " has not been made to revenge political crimes, or for punishing the guilty; nor lias it been made to suppress or transform nationality and sovereignty more or less implicated in those crimes. The treaty is a diplomatic law, not, a penal law. and it can never have a. penal law i function. The Treaty of Alliance was Heated for peace. But- after the treaty had been in force for 35 years, one day . Austria sends an ultimatum to Servia ; and Germany, against everybody, stands ! by the side of Austria and supports this t ultimatum. War bursts. What has Italy |to do with it ? Italy gets notice of the I ultimatum of Austria, and the two uiti- ! matums of Germany against Russia and I Fran-e. just- as does any other Power ! that is foreign to the Triple Alliance. j 1 And along with such notice she gets an : invitation to go into the field along with ! Germany and Austria. How? What for? j Against whom? In pursuance of what, 'act of proper or collective responsibility?"' It is urged cogently that the making of | war is a very serious matter, a.nd that those who make it must discuss it and rediscuss it together. All must concur I if all are to participate.. And, it is pointed out, a treaty that would permit ] two parties to it to deride am* a- third to execute would be a treaty of vassalage of tho third as regarded the other two. That was not the intention of the Triple Alliance. Therefore, it is argued, the fa. that Germany and Austria decided on war without the advice of Italy, is I a proof that they were conscious that j he war which they had matured and ) brought about was not in their concep- ! tion the war of the Triple Alliance, but "the war of the Double Alliance, of that Alliance, Austro-Oerman. that was founded in 1879, which has its law and its basis with the treaty of the same year, the treaty of defence against Russia.." Finallv this l- said with some emphasis "If i there is no responsibility in the. decision of tho war there cannot be any participation in the action. Not by our fault nor by our will are all the nations of Europe to-day engaged in the most tremendous war that the history of map > caa recall."