NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16034, 28 September 1915, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

THE TOWN OF STRASBURG. FoBTT-FrvE years ago to-day the town of Strasburg, the capital of Alsace, surrendered to the Germans. The average reader is probably not aware that it was seized by Louis XIV., on September 28, 1681, and that it was confirmed to Franco by the Treaty of Ryswick. On the anniversary of its surrender the Germans entered the town by a surprise. General Uhrich, the commander, declared that he would not surrender except on a heap of ashes but after a heroic resistance, and when a breach had been made and an assault was impending, notice was given, and the place surrendered at 2 a.m. on September 28, 1870—17,150 men and 400 officers laying down their arms. The German

losses were estimated at 1000 men, of whom 43 were officers. The town was retained by the Germans at the peace of May, 1871. The Cathedral of Strasburg, an epitome of Gothic art, was founded by Clovis and reconstructed by Pepin and Charlemagne. Destroyed by lightning it was principally rebuilt by Erwin de Steinbach and his son in the 14th century. The tower contains the celebrated astronomical clock, which, after a long stoppage, was repaired and inaugurated on January 1, 1843. The population of the town is 150,000.

THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY. The question of whether Mr. Roosevelt will again be a candidate for the American Presidency in the Republican interests next year is now being eagerly discussed in the newspapers of the United States. Three years ago, when the Republican nomination was secured by Mr. W. H. Taft, the retiring President, Mr. Roosevelt detached himself from the party and having joined the " progressive" party, ran as a third candidate, thus splitting the Republican vote. Mr. Woodrow Wilson, the Democratic nominee, won, and both Mr. Taft and Mr. Roosevelt, who from being bosom friends had become bitter opponents, shared the bitterness of defeat. According to a speech recently made by Mr. George W. Perkins, chairman of the national executive of the Progressive Party, it is regarded, says the New York Herald, as a fair inference that Mr. Roosevelt would not refuse to be a candidate for the Republican nomination, if a demand should be raised. That offers of Republican support from a dozen Western States had been received has been rumoured for some time. Mr. Perkins* speech also was considered corroboration in part of the belief that it was desired to keep intact the progressive organisation for strategic purposes, if for no other reason. Most of his speech was a plea to continue the party. Mr. Perkins prefaced his reference to Mr. Roosevelt and the Republican nomination by asserting there was no other man in sight in the Republican Party of Presidential calibre. "For the last month one Republican after another has been trotted out in the newspapers as a Presidential possibility," he said. " Some of them lasted twenty-four hours,, and a few thirty-six." After giving his version of the split in the Republican Party in 1912 and the formation of the Progressive Party, Mr. Perkins declared that the argument that the Progressive Party had been steadily dwindling since that time was largely fallacious.

IF AMERICA WENT TO WAR. Germany's assertions, that the United States is furnishing a great part of the war munitions used by the allies, and the statements by some persons that the readiness of American manufacturers to make munitions for Europe, proves that America could prepare in a very 6hort space of time to fight a successful defensive war, are combated in an article in a New York paper. The writer's remarks are based on the result of an investigation by Major-General Leonard Wood, commanding the Department of the East. His investigation has revealed that the munitions, particularly in the way of rifles, shells, high explosives and fuses, supplied by the United States to the allies in one year of the war were only a very small fractional part of * the munitions which have been used, and that all of the war material Bent from America to Europe within the year would be absurdly insufficient for home defence in case of war. It is stated that the American Government recently requested General Wood to make a careful inquiry to determine the quantity of all sorts of war, supplies that have been shipped to Europe, and to obtain figures that could not be controverted. Several reasons dictated the step. The Government, receiving complaints from many pro-German individuals and associations regarding the inability of the allies to continue war without American supplies, was anxious to get at the truth. In the second place, there arose a keen desire to know just where this country would stand if, in case of war, it had the advantage of all the munitions, accumulated and piled up, that have gone to the armies of Europe In the third place, figures were wanted as to the amount of war material in stock or in the making in the United States which could

be commandeered by this Government in case of trouble General Wood's report, as far as can be learned, has not yet been filed with the War Department, but persons who assume to be familiar in a general way with the facts ascertained say that the researches have demonstrated positively the absolute unpreparedness of the United States in the matter of manufacturing munitions. The opinion is given that the investigation shows that the supplies sent to the allies within the year were not onetwentieth of 1 per cent, of what they have used, and that, in certain necessaries of warfare, such as rifles, shells, high explosives and fuses, all the supplies sent abroad within the year would not have made 1 per cent, of what America herself would havo needed in case of a serious war.

FUTILITY OF GERMAN *' HATE."

There are signs that the futility of the policy of "hate" against Great Britain is being recognised in Germany. The Berliner Tageblatt, the Frankfurter Zeitung, Vorwaerts, Das Forum, the Hanover Deutsche Yolkszeitung, as well as the Vienna Neue Freie Press© have all been, publishing articles indicative of a change of feeling. Throughout these articles runs the idea that Great Britain will not be beaten to her knees after all, but that the end of the war will still leave her a mighty Power, with whom it will be to Germany's advantage to be on good terms. A good example of this new counsel for. the Germans is contained in the following passage from a long article in the Frankfurter Zeitung by Dr. Ernst Troeltsch, a wellknown Heidelberg professor, who says: — " Hate may at first inspire courage and energy in attack, but in the long run it is bad politics. It leads to a troubled and fantastic policy of sentiment which afterward cannot be carried out, and leaves behind a dangerous disappointment. . . . Especially is hate a bad counsellor in the ' case of England. It prevents us from appreciating the position correctly; it leads to an under-estimation of the enemy's strength, and renders difficult the renewed . and unavoidable contact after the war.*'- J