NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15998, 17 August 1915, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

AMMUNITION FOR RUSSIA. Ok arrival at. New York on July 6, an American, who had spent- a year in Russia, said that the Russians were making extensive preparations in munitions. The Vologda and Archangel railway, with newly-constructed lines reaching from Vologda toward the battle line, had been taken over by the Government for the transportation of munitions of war. Only two passenger tra.ins a week were being run when he left Petrograd, the American declared, and all freight traffic had been suspended. Since Archangel had been open to navigation after the winter am-munition-laden ships from Britain and Canada had been arriving almost daily. Thousands of soldiers at Archangel were busy day and night transferring munitions to trains, and all railway equipment that could be handled was Wine operated over the line, the south-bound trains being Loaded to capacity. " I left Petrograd about- the middle of .Tune," said the American traveller. Despito tho Russian reverses there was no indication of ] discouragement. Thousands of new troops i already are in training and in readiness to be lushed to the from as soon as the danger 01 another shortage of munitions is passed. They are simply awaiting ammunition and equipment. Within 10 miles of Petrograd over 600,000 troops are encamped ready for the word to go into action, and I was lelia'oly informed as many more arc in readiness in downs of other places. While Russia is not receiving much help from Japan in the form of munitions, or men, 1 know that- hundreds of trained Japanese officers aj-c engaged in drilling the troops in the use of heavy artillery. At tho hotel in Petrograd where I lived there were 17 Japanese artillery officers. They made no secret of their presence or of what they were doing.''

R rSfilA DREADNOUGHTS. The now that Russia's first Black Sea Dreadnought has been commissioned places beyond all doubt the command of that sea. The new vessel is the Imperatrit.sa Maria, which was launched in the Ivanhoff yard?, at Nicolaieff. on November 1, 1913. and she would be more than a match for the Goeben, even if the Goeben were at her best. Russia has 'two sisters of the Imperatritsa Maria completingthe Imperator Alexander 111. and the Eketerina ll.—and it is fully expected that they will both be. placed in commission well before the end of this year. The following details give a comparative idea of the latest Russian vessel and the Goeben before she suffered damage : — Imp- Maria. Goeben. Displacement... '22.500 tons 22.640 tone Length... ... 551 if t 610 ft Ream • . ... 89$ ft. 96ft Draught ... 271 ft 27 ft Armour ... 1-2-inch S-incli Arrnsmont 12 121u. '20 oin 10 lliu, 12 5 9in Speed ... ... 23 knots 26 knot* JAPAN AND THE WAR. The Japanese judicial adviser, Dr. | Ariga, on the question of a Japanese army in Europe, says —" Japan will intervene, energetically and without delay, in the European war if it would appear that a German victory would nullify the importance of the capture of Tsing-tau. The best sphere for Japanese intervention would be the theatre of war in Poland. One must-, however, seriously consider the question whether there is not a reason for Japan lending her assistance against. Turkey. The freedom of the Suez Canal—that is to say, the unfettered -possession of the canal by England I —is a question of life or death to Japan, i Our intervention on this side would allow [ England to use her troops in France, j Japan has 250,000 men ready for service |in the canal zone. The Japanese are willing to follow British directions in the [ struggle in Egypt, and to renounce all | initiative in these operations. The j Japanese troops are ready to play the

.same part in Egypt that the Indian troops are playing in France. On the question of expenses of the war, Japan will follow the Sardinian example in the Crimean war. That is to say, Japan will look after all the costs, but will ask for compensation if the campaign is successful."

GUARD OF THE ADRIATIC. The French Naval Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Boue de Lapeyrere, has issued the following order of the day to the fleet under his command —"At the time when the intervention of Italy and the conventions which have been established relieve the French fleet of its task as immediate guard over the Adriatic and bring to an end the ten months' co-operation which has been sustained by the ships of alt classes with a really remarkable endurance, the Commander-in-Chief considers it his duty to express his warm thanks to his subordinates for the tireless zeal, energy, and abnegation which everyone'displayed in supporting the Admiral in the most arduous and thankless tasks which naval forces ever had to accomplish. The cruisers which recently paid so cruel a contribution to the service of the country are worthy of the highest praise for the great and continued effort which they put forth to the .very end in spite of the pitfalls with which their path was strewn. The torpedo-craft and submarines have served equally well, and they must be singled out for their never-failing keenness m their ceaseless attempts to reach the enemy in spite of the extraordinary precautions he took not to he approached. Finally, the battleships of the line, operating in the midst of all sorts of dangers in order to assert their mastery of the seas and to imprison the enemy's squadron in his ports, and continuing their training with a constancy and zeal which it would he impossible to praise too highly, have achieved, thanks to those who lead and arm them, such a degree of military power tiijit they must be considered as an absolute guarantee of final success. On the eve of new trials the Commander-in-Chief wishes to give to all an official testimony of his satisfaction, with special mention of engine-room and stokehold staffs, who | have worked so valiantlv."

DARDANELLES PROGRESS. An officer serving with the Dardanelles army explains the comparatively slow progress by the difficulties of the country and the dominating influence that Achi Buba. has on our proceedings. He continues Another impediment to our advance is the undoubted tenacity of the link, combined with their skill at digging and concealment, to say nothing of their bravery and skill as marksmen. Both day and night the enemy's snipers display great courage. Though our advance is slow and our losses heavy, tho Turks have suffered more heavily. The troops opposed to us were their very best, and the reinforcements they now get can only picsumably be a miked lot. The \ c hi Baba ridge will bo won-it may hi in days or it may be in months-but it will be taken, ,n spite of a German officer * assertion that it is as {m pregnable as Gibraltar." We are in a good antral position. but it . sim ib , s compl ; te — Wfrom