PREPARING FOR WINTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15729, 2 October 1914, Page 6

PREPARING FOR WINTER.

GERMAN'S BUY SHEEPSKINS i I I COLD WELCOMED BY RUSSIA. London, September 30. The Germans are vigorously preparing for a winter campaign. One Hundred and fifty thousand officers' fur-coats have already been delivered, and the Government has bought 2,000,000 sheep and lamb tk»ns for men's garments. Reports from Rotterdam state that the Germans are preparing for a winter campaign. Men are being withdrawn from fghting and are returning to the factories to.prepare sheepskin coats.

The Russians aver that the Germans have not been trained to pursue hostilities in winter, while the Russians are more active as the snow and ice increases.

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORTS. Times and Sydney Sun Service .deceived October 1, 6.30 pja.) London, September 30. i Tne London Times' military correspondent, while admitting the apparent thoroughness of the German spy system, has not a high opinion of its usefulness. Their failure to ascertain until August 21 that the British Army was in France is a proof of their incapacity. The Times, in a leader, says: "Many circumstances are leading the allies to mistrust Turkey. There is still time for an | explanation from her, and for her to return j to the path of peace, whither the allies ) invite her. Upon a prompt decision rests her future, as an empire and a people." Sir William Piender, reporting on the German and Austrian banks in London, states that their assets, if collected, would probably recompense the collectors in full, but he specially states that the holders of i cheques issued "by customers of the banks are not regarded as creditors. The Pone is continuing his personal efforts in the direction of peace. He has exchanged letters with Emperor Francis Joseph. A nephew of the Kaiser Ls reported aboard the Emden, whose commander informed the captain of one of the sunken vessels that he expected that if she was captured she would make a good run for it. A foreign military authority at Paris estimates the German losses at 500.000. The Germans regained Alost by a ruse. A hundred disguised peasants arrived in country carts. "Suddenly, they uncovered machine guns and poured a hail of lead at soldiers and civilians. Panic-stricken, the inhabitants fled. General Botha, addressing a meeting on the Rand, was wildly cheered when he declared : "The German tortoise stuck its head too far out of its shell. United .South Africa will help to tread upon it."

TROOPS AND LIQUOR. —,— A DIFFICULT TROBLEM. [BT telegraph—special correspondent] Wellington, Thursday. Tut. Hon. O. Jones asked in the Legislative Council to-night if the Government would take- steps to move stringently control the sale of alcoholic liquors to members of the expeditionary force. Mr. Jones i said that members of the Council must have noticed with sorrow that a certain number of young men iu the force had been taking more than was good for them, and ' had exhibited the fact in the streets. ! Whilst he said that with considerable ' regret he "was bound to confess that the cut)duct of the men on the whole • had beer, admirable. He had been moved ! to speak on the subject partly by a letter which had been published over the signature cf the Bishop of Wellington, j The Leader of the Council (the Hon. j H. D. Bell) said that the matter had been the subject of anxious consideration by tie Government. It had to be remembered thai the men were under the control of the military authorities and that it was extremely difficult fur officers .to refuse leave to those young fellows who had their friends here, and that if the leave was granted the control had ceased. 1 It was obvious that it was a difficult question, this matter of the granting of leave.The subject had received, and was rei ceiring, the consideration of the- military ! authorities as well as the Government. He hoped that it would be remembered that, while the military authorities recognised that there should be no undue opportunity for license, they could not control the liberty when it was granted. It was an extremely difficult question, What could be done was being done, much, he was happy to say, at the instance of the men themselves.