NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15737, 12 October 1914, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

CAPTURING GERMAN TRADE. Veky determined efforts are being made at Leicester, the largest hosiery centre in the world, to capture the German trade in hosiery and fancy lace. The Germans have, largely through climatic conditions, secured a big hold on high-class yarns for hosiery fabrics, and at the other extreme also for low-class yarns for cheap goods. Immense quantities of these yarns have been used at Leicester, to be manufactured into fabrics. In addition, Germany has done an extremely large trade in special fabrics in pure wool, wool blended with cotton, and in vegetable silk. Even in Leicester shops German hosiery is sold. On the exposed toe of the stocking the words are stamped dearly, "Pure wool guaranteed, ' while the word "Germany" may be discovered later concealed in a fold on the heel. There is also a large consumption of fancy lace embroidery made in Germany for the blouse section— a very large one— the hosiery trade. Pome of the jarns it has been decided to have spun at Leicester and in Yorkshire, while a, great effort will be made to secure the whole of Germany's business in knitted goods.' It has been suggested that yarns produced under humid conditions might bo spun in Ireland, and also that some ofthe lace embroidery might be manufactured there.

THE BRITISH ESTABLISHMENT. Military terms, having a precise significance, aro frequently used in the cables to describe operations, losses, and captures in the present war, and often their explanation is necessary to enable the lay reader fully to appreciate the significance of the news. The following explanations apply to the war establishment of the British Army, as furnished by the latest War Office publications :—An infantry brigade, after concentration, comprises four battalions, or a total personnel of 124 officers and 3988 men. Each battalion contains approximately 1000 men. A division contains 598 officers and 18,077 men, with horses., guns, and vehicles. Included in its composition are three infantry brigades (372 officers, 11,964 of other ranks) ; three field artillery brigades (69 officers and 2298 men of other ranks). A field artillery brigade (22 officers, 734 other ranks) ; a divisional train, a divisional ammunition column, and several j other companies. A cavalry division has a personnel of 485 officers and 9412 men of other ranks, and incudes four cavalry . brigades. A cavalry - brigade comprises 83 officers and 1589 men of other ranks, with six machine guns. One cavalry regiment comprises 26 officers and 51,4 men.

A horse artillery battery has seven officers and 213 men. A mounted infantry battalion has 26 officers and 513 men. The organisation of foreign armies differs considerably from that of the British, and is based mainly upon the German system. Normally the war organisation of foreign, armies (1909) is as follows:— Company, 250 men; battalion, 1000 men (four companies); regiment, three battalions {'some German and- French have four); brigade, two regiments; division, two brigades; army corps, two divisions (three in France and Austria). Cavalry : Squadron, four troops, or 150 men; regiment, four squadrons (Russia and Austria sis); brigade, two regiments; division, two or three brigades.

HONGKONG AND KIAU-CHAU. The position of Hongkong in relation to China's sovereign rights ft governed by the Treaty of Nanking. The document is set put in full in the fifth edition of Mayers' "Treaties between the Empire of China and Foreign Powers." Its third article states that "it being obviously necessary and desirable that British subjects should have some port whereat they may careen and refit their ships when required and keep stores for that purpose, His Majesty the Emperor of China cedes to Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain etc., the island of Hongkong, to be possessed in perpetuity by Her Britannic Majesty, her heirs and successors, and to be governed by such laws and regulations as Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain etc., shall see fijt to direct." The KiauChau Convention, which governs Germany's position in Shantung, Is a document of a different nature the crucial sentence being: "China retains her sovereignty over this territory and should she at any time wish to enact laws or carry out plans within the leased area she shall be at liberty to enter into negotiations with Germany with reference thereto; provided always that such laws or • plans shall not be prejudicial to German interests."

DEAR WHEAT IN BERLIN. Day by day evidence has accumulated showing the virtue of naval supremacy. In the weekly report of a British firm on the milling trade, there is further remarkable testimony, even though- no battle has yet been fought at sea. The report states : — Business is now settling down to something like normal conditions, thanks, of course, to the power of ■ our wonderful navy. Far from our supplies being held up by German warships, theirs are entirely cut oft" by ours, except what may reach them in neutral ships, via Dutch ports. Of course, the war is not yet at an end, and it would be a mistake to be too optimistic; but, all things considered, the probabilities are that we shall be able to obtain sufficient oversea supplies throughout the season. From a German paper published 10 days ago we learn that the price of wheat in Berlin was as much as 25s per cental. If tms quotation, which is equivalent to about 120s per quarter, be correct, it will be seen that German consumers have now to pay | four times as much for their wheat as we in this country! Who can say after this that our navy is anything but a magnificent scheme of insurance at a very low premium? Imagine what would nave happened if we had been in the position of Germany, with practically all our immediate and prospective imports cut off in a fortnight."