FINANCING THE WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15769, 18 November 1914, Page 8

FINANCING THE WAR.

GOVERNMENT'S PROBLEM.

TAXATION ON INCOMES.

NEWSPAPER SPECULATION.

(Received November 18, 2 a.m.)

London, November 17.

The Times, in a speculation as to the possibilities of the War Budget, points out that incomes have been lowered owing to the economic disturbance of the war, and any increased taxation will be peculiarly difficult. Nevertheless, the Ministry may possibly propose to meet part of the war expenditure from revenue, and certain articles of consumption, previously free, may be taxed.

THE AUSTRALIAN FLEET.

ACTIVITIES DURING THE WAR.

The following interesting summary of the activities of the Australian Fleet appears in London newspapers:—

On the outbreak of the Y ar the squadron, in conjunction with the China squadron, began a search for German cruisers, incidentally destroying several German wirelesss stations. Certain ships of the squadron, in company with French warships, convoyed the New Zealand expedition to Samoa, and later on the ships of the squadron were used to convoy the Australian expedition to Simpsonfhafen (in the Bismarck Archipelago), where a naval detachment assisted in the occupation. During the first six weeks of the war the warship Melbourne covered over 11.000 miles, mainly in the tropics. The achievements of the squadron in chronological order may be summarised as follows : —Samoa, August 30; Simpsonshafen, September 11; Wilhelmshafen, in New Guinea, September 24; also destruction of the wireless stations at Yap (in,, tho Caroline Islands), Nauru (Gilbert Islands), and Rabaul (New Pomerania).

Further, the trade routes have been successfully safeguarded, and the only serious casualty was the loss of the Australian submarine on September 19. All the work of the Australian squadron has been done in concert with the China squadron and local expeditionary forces. With regard to the occupation of Rabaul, the first visit was paid early in August, when the wireless station, however, was not discovered, but the post office buildings were blown up- The second visit was made in force on September 11, when troops and a naval contingent were landed and advanced on the wireless station in the bush southwards from Herbertshoho (Bismarck Archipelago). A slight resistance was encountered, but there were few casualties, and on September 12 Rabaul was occupied. Two days Later an advance was made on Toma. Solomon Islands, whither the German Governor had retired. After a slight combat the Governor was induced to parley with the commandant, and later surrendered. The occupation of Wilhelmshafen was unopposed.

BOMBS ON PARIS.

ANOTHER AIR RAID

A Gorman monoplane of the Taube type flew over Paris on October 11. SiK bombs

; \\cro thrown down upon various quarters lof the city, and the only damage done was to the glass roof of the Hare du Nord. , which was pierced by a bomb which I eventually fell between two coaches in one jof the sidings without exploding. A squad J roil of armoured French aeroplanes gav< chase to the Taube, which headed ot I towards the east. New squadrons o: I armoured aeroplanes are now at the dis , position of the head of the aeronautic ; organisation The bomb thrown at thf , Gar« du Nord was an incendiary bomb. I In the afternoon the approach of an i other Taube from thd direction of Com- ; piegne was reported, but the presence ol i what appeared to be a British aeroplane | over Paris apparently kept the second ! visitor away from the capital. j Although Parisians fire not by any means i intimidated bv the bomb-dropping exploits of the German airmen, they nevertheless see no reason why a squadron of three Taubo and two Aviatik aeroplanes should be allowed to rain 20 bombs upon . the capital and to kill four and wound 22 | non-combatants.

FRENCH BOY SOLDIER.

COMEDY IN A HOUSE.

The lad Gustave Chatain, who went I through several battles with the French forces, and who is now in a nursing home, lias written his memoirs. The foli lowing extracts give an idea of his adveni tures and show how he captured seven j Germans: — I " I had been at the advanced posts for j two days when it occurred to me to climb | into the loft of a house ill order to observe | the enemy's positions. Once inside the house I discovered German soldiers' kits ■ and rifles. I had to get out, but was un- ] able to reopen the door. I therefore broke ! the windows and came out'. Then I loaded my rifle and fixed my bayonet, and got in again. Nobody downstairs. "I went upstairs -and discoveredguess what! Seven Boches, sound asleep. I fired my rifle. Tho German soldiers woke up and looked at each other, wondering what had happened. Hidden behind some straw, I observed them. I rushed at i them. They did not attempt to resist, but j threw up their hands. ' Get down I' says ; I to them, and they went downstairs quite | happy to surrender. I handed them over to my comrades." On another occasion the boy soldier, although wounded by a bullet' in his shoulder, hoisted a wounded sergeant on his back a.nd carried him off. A soldier who is being nursed in the same hospital as Chatain told a reporter that the boy really did all that he said he had done. Ha officers praised him, and one general invited him to his table.