NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15766, 14 November 1914, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

GERMANY'S MISTAKES. i "THE Germans have been wrong on every single point of importance," says Earl | Cromer; " wrong as to. the probable 5 action of Russia, England, Belgium, and Japan; wrong as to'the value which they apparently attached to the Italian alliance; wrong as to the feeling ! likely to bo evoked in America and in other neutral countries; wrong as to the Irish situation; wrong in respect to the relations existing between Great Britain and her self-governing colonies; wrong as to the sentiments of the people both of South Africa and of India; wrong as to the effect of a declaration of war in Egypt and other Moslem countries; and wrong as to the opposition. likely to, be encountered throughout tho civilised world by the inauguration of a policy of reaction. The political and diplomatic blunders which, have been made aro enough to make Prince Bismarck turn in his grave. His successors havo emulated his ruthlcssness and want of moral scruples. They have altogether failed to learn anything from his unquestionable astuteness." THE RAIDS INTO RUSSIA.

The German raids into Russia which have been beaten back have served one purpose. They have shown the public that the concentration and much vaunted preparations of the Germans were matched by those of General Rennenkampf, the man who works in the dark. Ho has, had to hold a frontier of great length from the Baltic almost to Kalisch, against these experimental invasions, and at the same time bo ready for the real German advance, which was believed to bo imminent. Of his strength, his dispositions, and his' equipment, nothing is made- known. Ho has drawn tho censorship about him like a mantle, but it is evident ho was not only ready but alertly and brilliantly prepared for all eventualities. During the fighting on Niementhcro appeared for the first time a new pattern of Russian gun. of a large calibre and considerable mobility. Naturally no details wore, issued concerning its . construction and nrincipal features, but it is a product of the famous/-/Putilof works. . Exports who watched . its performance aro said !to bo satisfied that it is equal in power and effect to anything tho Germans havo yetshown. On the Prussian frontier two of these guns silenced the German's . batteries in 10 minutes and the German guns were afterwards abandoned in their positions. Every gunner had been killed. A largo quantity of German stores and transport had been abandoned on account of the state of the roads.

LIBERALISATION OF RUSSIA. In a letter to tho London Times Dr. C. Hagbcrg Wright and Mr. H. O. Wells ay ;__" We,who can claim to some slight knowledge of Russian conditions declare our conviction' that Russia has long ' wavered between the- Prussian connection arid tho traditions of tho Holy Alliance on' tho one hand, and her present association with liberal forces on the other. We do not deny her efforts in the 1 past to realise the ideals of Prussian- intolerance. But this war has made' her definitely liberal by linking . her almost' indissblubly with the: Western liberal ; Powers. < Unless we repulse her. That -liberalisation' is our. hope, it is a reasonable. hope; to deny, it now, to condemn the whole future of a people : v because of. «omo violence in its past is tho insanity of distrust,/ Already: wo -learn/that/the reassembling lof the Duma, which would have occurred in the ordinary, coarse:' of things next year, is 'to take -place': earlier,/and the freo promise of the Tsar to Jew; and Pole and Finn'are to;bo! embodied in legislation. '-..; Men.' of-, every party and every tradition in Russia, except the extreme reactionaries,' hail this war with passionate, enthusiasm." .- .