NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15931, 31 May 1915, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

HUGE FRENCH RESERVES. 'The Paris correspondent of tho Daily Call writes as follows:—Details that hitherto have not been allowed to transpire as to tho disposition of the allied forces are now published hero in the form of extracts from tho Swire press. Tho writer seeks to show that, apart from tho condition of the German army, no German offensive movement is now possible in France. This is due to'the fact that after stretching the allied.front first from Compiegno to Albert, then from Albert to Bethune, and afterwards from Bethnne to the sea, General Joffro has gathered a force behind his first line which on Janoar»/ 15 last numbered no fewer than two and a-half million men. The suppoi troops ue fully staffed and equipped and they are led by young officers, who, despite their age, are veterans in the art of war owing to the -length of time they have been n the field. Behind the supports, _ 'again; are 'the' reserves proper, amounting to almost two more million .< of men. These reservists are all rained troop's, and possess most formidable artillery, with a practically inexhaustible supply of ammunition. Hundreds ;of heavy guns have been supplied them within the past three months, and it may safely be said that no army in the world lias ever been so strong in »juns and ammunition as aro now the allied forces.

AIRCRAFT IN WAR. In their book " Aircraft in the Great War" Claude Grahams-White and Harry Harper deal with the question of the airship. "For the present," they say, "and during this far, tho airship is handicapped sorely by h«r sure and her slowness." And there is this verdict on tho Zeppelin "The Zeppelin is, to a larga extent, 'a white elephant' in this war; huge, costly, expected by the German public to <io great things, yet placed at such risks, owing to a lack of weapons and organisation, that- it is only on rare occasions that she has hope of success." Speed and weight-lifting capacity are the desiderata of the airerafts of tho future, and tlw writers predict something colossal in the shape of development of both kinds of craft. Airships, they say, will probably be six times as large as those now in use, and will carry formidable guns. Aeroplanes, also, will grow larger and swifter, and will bo more armed. In this connection tho possible doom of the airship is suggested "It may bo that tho airship will continue to disappoint her supporters—as she has in this war. The aeroplane may develop so rapidly, and may bo given such- a powerful driving plant, and such efficient sustaining planes, that it will be. able to achieve in tho matter of weight-lifting and radius of action, all that can bo obtained with tho largo airship; and in that case,' for purposes of war, tho latter will be doomed."

THE INDIAN TROOPS. The Maharaja of Scindia writes to the Times of India forcibly contradicting rumours spread in the Punjaub and elsewhere that the feeding and clothing of the Indian troops at the front is unsatisfactory. Personal inquiries from returned officers and men, particularly the wounded, ho savß, prove beyond a shadow of doubt that on tho battlefield European and Indian troops are employed on a footing of absoluto equality, and there is absolutely no foundation for any rumours about unequal treatment. In war somo hardship are inevitable, but oven in the trenches the troops are well supplied with food and othor necessaries, lie report that Indian troops had been placed in front of English, he said, was an absolute lie. The public must boware of believing false rumours. He concludes: "It is the bounden duty of every Indian to get himself enlisted at the first opportunity, remembering that life and death are in the bands of God." CANADIAN TOURIST TRAFFIC. Canadian transportation companies announce that they expect the coming summer to be a record year for tourist traffic on tho railway and lako steamship lines. The war, fur from causing a curtailment in such traffic, will greatly stimulate it, because the confused conditions in Europe will naturally lead sightseers from - the united States to visit the .best known and most scenic parts of Canada. In. this way, according to those conversant with- the a?"? k situation, a 1 Permanent inn!? off" bbmlt "P. which "i" endure long after » 6 cessation of the present hostilities. Mr. John F. -Pierce, general passenger agent of the Canada SteSS Company, summarises the situation Ttf lows: Reports indicate that "2 stream of travellers ■ who have hiS sought their pleasure in Euronn « f being diverted to new playground? C JIT «™f to in line to JffS of this diverted stream of tourist