NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15949, 21 June 1915, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

NEW ERA IN CANADA. The Premier of Manitoba,, in. a recent messago says :—" Many of the best of Canada's sons are at or on their way to the front. Many thousands mdro are ready and anxious to go. The fires of patriotism, ever burning in Canadian hearts, are aflame as they never were before. 'J he Dominion has stepped out in the open with, the declaration, ' Wherever the flag or the righteous cause it represents are in danger, there is Canada's plaeo and there is the placo of Canada's citizen soldiers, close behind the soldiers of the King from the Homeland and from every one of the farflung lino of British peoples that compose the Empire.' I hold that, in their action, begins a new era in Canadian history."

WAR IN* SOUTH AFRICA. A White Paper, issued by the Colonial Office, contains the text of the telegrams exchanged with General Botha's Government at the outbreak of war with reference to the expedition against German South-West Africa. On August 4 the Union Government cabled that it was prepared to take all necessary measures for tho defence of the Union, and that it would gladly employ the Defence Force for the performance of duties discharged in South Africa by tho Imperial troops should it be desired to withdraw the latter for service elsewhere. Mr. Harcourt replied on August 7 gratefully accepting this offer, and intimating that all Imperial troops would be withdrawn except those engaged in duties which could not otherwise bo performed. The Colonial Secretary added "If your Ministers at th,» samo time desire and feel themselves able to seize i;uch part of German South-Went Africa as will give them tho command of Swakopmund, Luderitzbucht, and' the wireless stations there or in the interior, we should feel this was a great and urgent Imperial service. You will, however, realise that any territory now occupied must bo at the disposal of the Imperial Government for purposes of an ultimate settlement at tho conclusion of the war. Other Dominions are acting in similar way on the same understanding." A further telegram was sent on August 9 to the effect that " His Majesty's Government regard as an urgent necessity the seizure of the coast wireless stations at Swakopmund and Luderitzbucht; this can only be effected in reasonable time by a joint naval and military expedition up the coast. Capture of long-distance 'station Windhuk, which is of great importance, might follow another expedition against coast stations or bo carried out independently from the interior, but this must rest with your Government." In reply General Botha announced on August 10 that tho Union Government cordially agreed to co-operate with the Imperial Government and to assist in sending an expedition for the purpose indicated, the naval part to be undertaken by the Imperial authorities and the military operations by the Union.

THE DUNTROON CADETS. Proof of the efficiency of the training given to young officers at Duntroon Military College has already been supplied in tho actual field of action, says an Australian paper. Among the names of the wounded and the killed at the Dardanelles cadets from Dimtroon have already figured, and others are still serving with the troops. Cadets aro still in training at the college, learning their profession, and much work is being done there in the way of laying' the foundation for Australia's future army. A general account of tho work done is included in the annual report prepared by tho commandant, Colonel J. W. Parnell. Between March and August, 1914, tho college was at its normal strength of four classes, but on the outbreak of war the first class were appointed as lieutenants in the Expeditionary Force, while in November the second class were also given commissions for active service. Altogether no fewer than 57 Duntroon cadet* have been appointed as lieutenants in command of troops on active service, the men being allotted to light horse, field artillery, engineers and infantry. Previous to the war good progress was made in general military work, and tho curriculum for the cadets is no light one, covering most military subjects from history and tactics to musketry and horsemanship. The health of the college is generaly good, and efficient hospital arrangements have now been made for dealing with ordinary illness. The actual cost of maintenance of the college for the year 1913-14 was £49,056, which sum included pay, £15,051; wages, £7115; cadet allowances, £13,700; and general expenses for horses, forage, equipment, etc., £13,190.

THE NEED FOR MEN. " We have heard," said Dr. Macnamara in England recently, "that Lord Kitchener is very gratified with the response which has been mado by the country to the appeal for voluntary enlistment; but if you assume that he is satisfied you fall into a very serious error. We want more ir.en and wo want them now." Dr. Macnamara poiittd out that it was true that many men could nob bo spared for tho army. Tho skilled worker engaged in urgent Government, contract work was serving his Kiig and country just as devotedly at tho bench as ' his brother in the trench. But there were still a good many young fellows about who could bo spared, and their placo was with the flag. Ho did not speak of those who had not yet answered the call as deliberate shirkers. Ho was sure they did not lack either patriotism or pluck—the absence of those virtues was very raro among tho English people. Tho simple fact was that they had not realised their stake in the conflict. It was not altogether sui prising. Defended day by day and night by night by the great fleet, their lives, speaking broadly, were just as comfortable as ever. Any man who had been all his life enjoying tho freedom, the security, tho peace of mind, and the comfort of life under the Urion Ja;k, and who to-day deliberately doclined to play a man's part in the defence of his privileges was not worthy of the namo of British citizen.

AUSTRIA'S SUBMARINES. | Tho French cruiecr Leon Gamhetta, which I was destroyed last April iu the Gulf of Otranto by torpedo attack, was sunk by the Austrian submarine U5. commanded by Lieutenant Georg Ritter von Trapp, of the Austrian Navy. At the outbreak of war Austria possessed but six submarines, tho U1 and U2, built at Pola; the U3 and U4, built by the Krupp mania Yard and tho U5 and U6, built by tho Whitehead firm at Fiume. The boats with the widest radius are the US and U4, which, according to the Taschenbueh der Kriegsflottcn, the Austrian Navy list, can travel a distance of 1400 miles or. tho surface, at a speed of 10 knots. vSis other boats, of a much improved type, building- to Austrian order at Kiel, in Germany, are supposed to liavo been delivered overland, but if Italian intelligence ,is to be relied on none baa so far taken the water.