NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16030, 23 September 1915, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

IMPORTANCE OF HOLLAND. | The strategical position of Holland (says | En Vedette in the Fortaightly Review), is the most important in Western Europe. i For a dramatic turn in the long-dubious fortunes of the defensive war still sus- I tailed in opposing trench lines from I Niouport to the Yosgc*, almost precisely on the same spots as last November, the active co-operation of Holland is essential., The Germans in 10 months of occupation have turned Belgium into a fortress. It is not a question of a fortress here and there, but of a succession <>i continuous lines of fortifications across Belgium from the sea in the first place, from the approaches to Brussels and Antwerp in tho second, to the eastern frontier at Liege. Tho admirable system of Belgian railways, supplemented by several new lines constructed by the Germans during their occupation v supplies the means of sending forward reinforcements and of manoeuvring them to the greatest advantage. The difficulty in piercing the first lino in Flanders affords evidence of how long it must take to break tlirongh the inner lines in Belgium. Will Holland take the opportunity open to her to deprive the German fortresses in Belgium of their value? Perhaps if the Dutch people remember that by so doing they will save Belgium from a fresh martyrdom they may adopt the resolute policy which their own permanent security demands, and which would be worthy of the great part they have played in the history of Europe, #

GERMANY'S WILD BEAST TRADE. | The various forms of trade which have been lost to Germany as the result of the war even include the wild beast trade, a department of commerce for the conduct of which it might be supposed the modern Hun is peculiarly adapted. Germany has for many years controlled the bulk of the wild animal business of the world. The enormous trade built up by the Hagenbecks was one of the great commercial enterprises of Germany, furnishing the major portion of the collections for the zoological gardens of Europe and America and the many private parks. Their business of supplying animals for circuses and trained animal shows was enormous, and troupes of performing beasts, with complete properties, such as have been exhibited at great expositions, were always on hand for sale. They also carried on a largo trade of importing game birds and animals for sportsmen. The wonderful wild animal park founded by the late Carl Hagenbeck at Stellingen, a short distance outride Hamburg, was one of the show places of the "Continent. Practically all of the wild creatures brought to the Port of Hamburg were purchased by them, and sailing masters trading with German ports were always on the lookout for specimens to bring back to a ready market. Many of the cities of North and South America have gone in for zoos on a large scale, the New York Zoological Society alone making purchases within the last few years of an extent to keen the animal dealers on the qui vive. and almost double the price of specimens. The greater part of this business was done by Hagenbecks. Their great business, however, has been paralysed by the war, and Germany is no longer controlling 75 to 80 per cent of the wild animal traffic. No doubt, says a writer on the subject, the bulk of tb*is I lucrative business will for the future be | done by Great Britain, which by'its great] commercial marine power is best equipped ! for the task of supplying what Germans ! will never- again be able to.- undertake. . .

POWER WAGGONS IX WAR. The use iof power wagons of a multitude of types is one of the original fea-

tures of the war. At the beginning of hostilities the various nations engaged in the war were said to dispose of some 250.000 power waggons, properly so-called, having a net load capacity of two to four tons. Army subsidised standard types, built by various constructors, figured in this list. France stood in the lead with 90.000 power cars, then came Germany with 70.000 cars, England with 55.000, Austria-Hungary with 25.000, while Russia counted 10,000. But it should be remarked that these figures refer only to what are properly known as power cars and do not include ordinary pleasure or touring automobiles, nor on the other hand special types of war make-ups, as armoured power waggons with machineguns or cannon and the like, nor the class of motor-cycles. It is stated in a Paris publication that on the second day of mobilisation last year, as many as 500 auto-'buses went to the frontier, each carrying 40 soldiers, and on the next day 1000 others took the same direction.

ANCIENT AND MODERN GUNS. Mr. John B. C. Kershaw, F.1.C., discussing modern explosives and their application in Cassier's Engineering Monthly, states that it is difficult to realise now that at the battle of Waterloo the effective range of cannon was less than two-thirds of a mile, and that, as solid iron balls were employed, the destructive effect of artillery fire was confined to the individual or building hit. He adds that one round from a modern field gun firing a 5-inch shell will do more material damage and cause more casualties than 12 hours* firing •with the form of cannon used in- 1815. Mr. Kershaw states that when the Dardanelles were last forced by a British fleet (in 1807) the Turkish <»uns were firing stone shot, and that in Nelson's day naval actions rarely began at a range of more than 1000 yards. The writer predicts that the great, battles of the future will be fought entirely in open country, and that, whether on land or sea, the big gun. whenever it can be brought into action under favourable conditions, will be supreme.

BULLET PROOF STRETCHER FOR SOLDIERS. Fighting conditions have become so strenuous in the war zone that there is I no certainty when or where hospital atI tendants, or Red Cross men. will be given immunity from attack when performing their duties of rescuing the wounded, and this is especially the case when working between the lines of opposing trenches, for the ever-present "sniper" is always on the lookout for a victim. To meet these conditions a bullet-proof stretcher cover has been invented m England that appeals to meet the conditions perfectly. This consists of a long metal shield, arched at the top, and high enough to enable the attendants to stand upright within. At the front end the shield is rounded and sloped backward to deflect billets, and two "eyes" are provided through which the attendants can see to direct their course, and locate the wounded. The whole apparatus is mounted on four\wheels, and is provided with arrangements for ' supporting a stretcher.. With this vehicle two hospital attendants can make their way in safety over a field exposed' to -rifle fire, and, after rolling the shield over a wounded soldier, he is placed on the stretcher, and a retirement is made in safety.