THE WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16243, 28 November 1914, Page 11

THE WAR

THE OTAGO PATRIOTIC FUND. THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES LIST. Previously acknowledged ... £19,671 16 7 Fresh subscriptions to Great Britain and Ireland Relief Fund (as per statement below) ... 50 7 6 Total £19,722 4 1 THE GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND RELIEF FUND. THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES LIST. Previously acknowledged £577 6 3 "C. J. D'A. C." 50 0 0 Mrs Watson ••• 0 5 0 Joseph Evans, sen., St. Kilda (additional) 0 2 6 Total £627 13 9 BELGIAN RELIEF FUND. THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES LIST. Previously acknowledged £2576 5 6 "C. J. D'A. C." 50 0 0 John Donaldson (second donation) 10 10 0 Mrs J. Roy, Moonlight (per Otago Witness) 1 0 0 J. S. Gunn, Moa Creek 10 0 C. Hunt, Clinton 5 Mrs Watson ••• 0 5 0 Joseph Evans, sen., St. Kilda (additional) 0 2 6 Total £2639 13 0 PATRIOTIC AND RECRUITING COMMITTEE. A meeting of tho Patriotic and Recruiting Committee was held in tho Council Chambers at 4 o'clock yesterday, tho Mayor presiding. Mrs S. M. Park and Mrs Bcaurnont were added to the committee. Mr J. A. Johnstone regretted that he could not accept a seat on the committee, owing to the vast amount of work ho had in connection with tho Patriotic Association. The secretary was instructed to writo to the Patriotic Association stating that the committee was anxious and willing- to become a sub-committee of tho association. It was also resolved to hold a publio meeting in the South Dunedin Town Hall, probably next Thursday. The sub-commit-tee which arranged the publio meeting on Thursday night wns appointed to make all arrangements in connection with this meeting. Another meeting of the committee will be held on Tuesday afternoon. RECRUITS FOR THE REINFORCEMENTS. A STEADY FLOW OF MEN. Recruiting for the reinforcements is proceeding steadily at the local Defence Office. Men in ones and tows were -dribbling in all day yesterday. About 80 men presented themselves last evening for medical examination at the out-patients' department of the hospital, all of them having applied to be enrolled during the past week. It is stated that an improvement is necessary in the method of recruiting. At present the names of the applicants are taken, and they are told to present themselves at a certain hour for medical examination. TTie men are then allowed to depart, and a considerable percentage of them are never heard of again, either owing to change of residence or the obtaining of employment in the country. It is thought that if tho men ■were placed in camp immediately after enlistment this serious leakage would be •topped. / SERVICE AT SAMOA. LOCAL VOLUNTEERS. In response to tho letter from the Hon. James Allen, Minister of Defence, read at the patriotic meeting in the Garrison Hall on Thursday night, a number of men called at the Defence Office yesterday to offer their services with the force which it is intended to send to Samoa to relieve part of the garrison there. The names and ad- j dre6ses of the volunteers were taken. Official information in regard to enrolment, etc., is expected to be received shortly from Wellington. LETTERS FOR PRISONERS OF WAR. A FORM OF ADDRESS. The Postmaster-general announces thai; letters for New Zea'and prisoners of war interned abroad should be addressed according to the following example:— Captain X (or Private Y.), (Name of unit), British prisoner of war, j Prisoners of War Information Bureau, BERLIN. Letters may be posted with prepayments, and no dh&rgo will be. mado for registration or insurance if these services are desired Parcels will also be accepted without prepayment either for postage or for insurance. No letter may be enclosed in a parcel. Any letter, parcel, eta, received for delivery and bearing a clear indication of having been sent by a prisoner of war will bo delivered _ without charge. A parcel sent by a prisoner will also bo redirected without charge. Money-orders for prisoners of war will be issued free of commission. The words "Prisoner of War" must be written across the requisition form. The foregoing is in accordance with ar"rangements made by the British Post Office. DUNEDIN WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION. The members of the Dunedin Women's Association were busily employed yesterday dealing with flowers, boquets, etc. for to-day. The following donations are reported:— The employees of Ross and Glendining's Mill have sent in another large parcel of socks. This brings their donation to the Queen Marv Fund up to 500 pairs. Mrs Huxtable's girls sent in two large parcels of sweets. The Balfour Women's Patriotic Committee has forwared a cheque for £22 Is for the Ambulance Fund. Parcels for the soldiers in Samoa will be received at the Early Settlers' Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday. These gifts will go by the Navua, and will arrive in Apia on Christmas Eve. Flowers will be received to-day for the Hospital Saturday collection, a quarter of which goes to the Belgian Relief Fund. All those willing to make buttonholes, and assist with the flowers generally, will be welcome at the hall all day. THE OVERSEAS CLUB. The committee of the Dunedin branch wishes gratefully to acknowledge rece'pt of tho following donations to the Otago School Children's Christmas Fund for the Belgian, children, from pupils of the following Schools: —George Street School, £3; North Taieri. 16s; Srath-Taieri, 255; Waianakarua, 15s 6d; Livingstone, 10s; Maerewhemua, lis. Tin; response of the school children of Otago is a splendid example of putting into practice one of the objects of the club, "To help one another." • BELGIAN DISTRESS FUND. To-morrow evening, in the Octagon Hall, Mr W. Paget Gale and his choir will give a sacred concert in aid of tho Belgian Distress Fund. A splendid programme has been arranged. The choir -will sing Mendelssohn's "Motett" for soprano solo and Ch'orus, and Mr Gale will pay. by request, tho tone poem "Finlandin" and tho national anthems of the Allies. We hope to seo the hall crowded, so that such a worthy object may be largely benefited. PORT CHALMERS LADIES' ASSOCIATION. Keen interest still prevails among the ladies at Port Chalmers, so much so that ihev do not wish to cease holding their weekly meeting even for the holidays. Donations of monev have been received from tho following Mrs I. Steveneon (St. L"ortard?) £1 (Queen Mary Fund): a Friend (Sawyers' Bay) 5s and Hui Hui (Aramnima) 10s (Belgian Relief Fund). Contributions of goods are acknowledged from the following:—Miss Dove, Mrs M. Solomon (Carey's Bavl, Mrs Dodds, Mrs J; H. Gray. Mrs John Watson. Miss Anderson. Mrs Poli, Mrs W. Wilson. Mrs Hill. Mrs Tarlcton. Miss Lea, Mrs Sutton. Mrs MTDonald, Miss Horton. Mrs M'Lean (Carey's Bay). Mi* Campbell. Mrs Leisk. a pared of goods and dressed dolls for Christims gifts from " Wellwishr-r " (Broad Bay), Miss Tunnage, and Mrs Brcnnan.

SOUTH CANTERBURY PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE. (Per United Pbkss Association.) TIMARU, November 27. The South Canterbury Patriotic Committee's balance sheet 3hows receipts £11.414 and payment® about, £5500, both including the va4uo of 82 horses, saddlery, anil produce given—about £2600. The rest of the outlay—exccpt £250 sent to tho High Commissioner—was spent on outfit and materials. The Mayoress's Committee has packed between 18,030 and 19,000 garments, new and mended, for shipment Home, and this work is still going on. The Home and Belgian Relief Fund i 6 now over £6000. LETTER FROM THE FRONT. A NEW ZEALAND DOCTOR'S STORY. Dr W. H. Johnston, a lieutenant in the Ist R.A.M.C. (son of Mr John Johnston, of Wellington, late of Kaitangata), who was a teachcr in the North-East Valiey School, in a letter to his parents, has something of general interest to say. Ho was, when the letter was written (September 23) at St. Nazaire. Dr Johnston writes: — "Hie casualties of the British are enormous—so far 18,000 in six weeks. Tho wounded are nearly all hit by shrapnel. They say the German artillery is superb, and their wonderful accuracy in finding tho range at first shot is the talk of all. In this the aeroplanes render invaluable service. The fire of the German infantry is stupid and erratic. Tho casualties among the Germans arc awful. The soldiers say it makes them sick to see the way they fall. The German Maxims arc a. great danger. They have three as many, per division, as we. The English soldiers pay the highest compliment to motor cycle despatch riders and to the British aviators, who constantly take awful risks. I met a motor cyclistone arm shot through—on a train yesterday. He said he never believed it would bo possible to drive a motor cycle in tho dark along narrow lanes crowded with transports, and all without lights; but ho got used to it. Heavy artillery is coming on fast—battery after battery of 18-pounders and now 90-pounders (howitzers), each gun drawn by eight draught horses; such horses, too—the best in England. " I can't tell you how proud we arc of the soldiers. They sing_ continually. You pass a battalion moving in columns of fours up to a rest camp; they swing along singj ing ' It's a long, long way to Tipperary' and 'We are all going the same way 'oms '—catchy tunes; I thought tho latter magnificent. " The most successful, and the one that does most work, is the Australian Voluntary Hospital, which includes in its operating staff such men as Hamilton-Russell, of Molbourno; Thryng, of Sydney; Shields, of London (late of Australia), all clinking good men. They have the best block of buildings in the town, and have a magnificent operating theatre and- X-ray apparatus, and are fully fitted out. Lady Dudley (wife of a former Governor-general of Australia) is their lady superintendent. She is a rare worker. "To-day one of my sergeants went up to a hairy-faccd, dirty-looking chap lying on a stretcher. His head was bandaged, and his trouser leg ripped up to the thigh, and bandages and cotton wool bound round his knee. 'What's your number?' asked the sergeant, alluding to tho tin medallion which every man in the ranks has, bearing a number and a letter for identification purposes. Our friend on the stretcher laughted heartily, and said, ' Got no number, sergeant, aw-er. I'm Lord George Murray—Guards—don't you know?' The ssrgcant nearly fell over. I walked across and spoke to 'him. Ho is a brother of the Marquis of Tullibardine (of Scottish Horse fame), and son of the Duke of Athol. The wounded are most cheerful. If they don't smile or ioke or make some facetious remark, you may tako it that they are badly hit. " I think we ought to pulverise these blighters while we are on tno job. If we don't, it will only mean trouble later on. The Germans, with all their Goethes, Schillers, Beethovpns, Wagners, etc., have proved themselves to be barbarians absolutely. I don't consider the whole kingdom worth the price of one human life." THE PURPLE ARMLET. British people are moving in tho direction of giving up orthodox mourning for soldiers or sailors who may lo6e their lives in tho war. Among the suggestions mado as to the change to be made, the best, so far, is that embodied in the following letter, which appeared in The Times. Tho writer is Mrs Edward Lyttelton "What I am advocating is something that would be an appeal to all hearts for. sympathy in, bereavement, and it would mean practically no expenditure, for the simple narrow' band of purple cloth to be worn on the left arm by every man, woman, or child who had lost a relation in tho war would cost practically nothing, and tho -badge, would be the same for all classes. "The saving of expense of such a time would be a clear gain to many families who have lost! the bread-winner. Let rich and poor alike wear tho purple armlet. The rich, if they so desire, can give the cost of the mourning thus savefl to one of the many war funds."

GERMANY'S RAIDING CRUISERS. ARE THEY COALED FROM MANILA? AN INTERESTING LETTER. Apropos of tho allegations mado regarding the* Germans securing coal from Manila the following letter, written by a Manila resident, who signs himself " A Britisher," to the editor of the Manila Daily Bulletin, should be of interest: — " There can be little doubt in the mind of any reasonable man in the Philippines that ever since tho outbreak of war in Europe the port of Manila has been used as a coaling station by Germany. "Ever since the beginning of hostilities this port has been the refuge of German ships. Thero can be no objection to this, but there are serious objections to their movements subsequent to their arrival here. Almost without exception these vessels came into port with general cargo—that is to say, they were not coal ships. They were not originally destined for Manila, but put >n here to avoid capture. As soon as they dropped anchor negotiations were under way between them and a local Gorman firm for transferring their general cargo. With feverish haste they were loaded with coal for some mysterious port, and appar-** ently without the slightest investigation they were cleared by the local port authorities. Shortly after their departure tho news is received in Manila that German ships of war in Oriental waters arc sinking British merchant vessels. " Now, a great many Americans, as well as Englishmen and Frenchmen, are curious to know, why these German merchant ships were permitted to leave with munitions of war to be used in destroying British shipscargoes of coal are munitions of war, for without coal the German cruisers would be useless. Does everyone imagine that the local port authorities believed the statements of the.captains of these vessels as to their destinations? "Take, for instance, the case of ttje steamer Elmshorn. Her captain appeared before the port authorities, and stated that he desired to clear for Bangkok with 5000 tons of coal. It is ridiculous to suppose that the authorities believed that Bangkok was really the destination of the ship. They did not believe it. While knowing the captain's statement was false, they evidently took the stand that they had no right to question the sworn statement of the shipmaster. Now, the question presents itself: Have the local port authorities t«e right to question such a statement from the captain of a ship of one of the belligerent nations? The writer' believes emphatically that they have the right —not only the right, but that it is their urgent duty* The very existence ot several European nations is now swaying in' the balance, and as all American port authorities have explicit instructions, direct from tho President of tho United States, to use cverv precaution to maintain strict neutrality during this awful cataclysm in Europe, failure to do this might plunge America into the most terrible war in history. Did the local port authorities take any steps whatever to satisfy themselves as to the true destinations of the various German ships that have been permitted to rush coal from Manila to the assistance ot German warships? It is plain that no such precautions have been taken. In the case ot the steamer Elmshorn, for instance, why did not the authorities require the captain to produce his charter from Bangkok? Why was tho captain not required to produce a confirmation of thp charter, signed by tho American Consul at Bangkok? "Now comes the Australian Government -with a note to Messrs Madrigal and Co., tho local coal merchants, stating that no more coal will be permitted to leave there for Manila. This action of the British authorities was to bo expected; similar action will undoubtedly be taken by the Japanese Government. The British are not at present in the business of supplying munitions of war to the Germans,

" No one can blame the local German firm for ; ts activity in the interests of its country. But who is to blame for the recent destruction of costly British shins and thoir cargoes in Oriental waters? And upon whom will rest the responsibility for tho imminent coal famine, with its consequent disastrous interruption of local business? If thoro is

anything in the reputed fairness of the American Government these questions will be answered." WILLIAM THE_P ACEMAKER. By Mb Justice F. il. Chapman. (Westminster Gazette.) When the astounding' Prussian -victories over Austria in 1856 brought, the first of the great wars of modern times to an end the reign of violence which has now governed Europe for 50 years was fairly established. All the nations had to shake off their old sluggish methods and bcg.n anew. It was then a common saying that all Europe had become a series of armed camps. The contrast between the methods inaugurated in 1864-6 unci those under which the Crimean war hod been conducted a dozen years earlier was something like that between the age of stage coaches and that of railways. It is scaxcely too much to say that tho contrast between the methods of 1866-70 and thoso of our time is almost as great—in some respects even greater. Ir bringing about these changes there have been many factors. The authors of tho first change formed that memorable historical trio—Bismarck, Moltke, and von Roon. These men, who built tho German Empire out of blood and iron, have handed down thoir names and that of their great Hohenzollcrn King to posterity. They were n-'t always in exact agreement in their methods. When they overthrew France in 1870 J. they did not quite agree us to how she should bo treated. Bismarck did not care about, annexing French provinces, which might remain disaffected. . Moltke intervened, ana insisted that the fortresses of Metz and Strasburg should become German, and that the German frontier should be pushed cjt to the line of the Vosges. From tho purely military point of view this was undoubtedly admirable, and the cautious views of Bismarck wore overruled by the King. It was urged m favour of Bismarck's view that it might take 50 years to reconcile those Ger-man-speaking people to German rule. Forty-three of those years have passed, and there is not much more evidence of tint reconciliation than on the first day, save that a large immigrant population has been infused into tho mass, and many German interests have been created. In truth, it was tho adoption of this form of punishment for France instead of so.no other that made the present trouble inevitable. The time came when ■ Bismarck was found too slow for the work of the Kaiser and his Empire. A new Pharaoh had arisen who knew not this Joseph or knew him too well. This was the last product of tho Dreikaiserjahr 1888—William tho l\ircmakcr. Europe was a. glow-going concern when his grandfather realised his dream of reconstituting Germany in the midst of it. We all thought that William I and Bismarck moved very fast. In this we were mistaken. To realise this wo have only to consider the results of accelerated methods in recent years. There is no parallel in history for the speed at which the world has been pushed along in the interval. At tho date of those great events the annual British naval expenditure usually ran to about 11 millions; it now runs in peaco time to 52'. In those days we thought an Imperial Budget of 70 millions monstrous; we now have to consider one of three times that amount moderate. There are, it is true, many factors in making up such an advancc, but no one who has watched the proceedings throughout will disputo the proposition that the main factor is tho pace sot by tho House of Hoheuzollern during the last 14 years. Every nation in Europe has been subject to something like tho same acceleration, but outside Europe there i 6 no clear evidence of unnaturaily accelerated speed. The race for armaments was set by Prussia and its Emperor-King. As his open utterances tuned to the "mailed fist" policy have repeatedly taken the form of threats against France, threats against England, ana threats against Russia, each ot them in turn has had to arm to meet his threatened violence. Statesmen have occasionally attempted to modify or disguise theso threats; their author has never been so wonting in candour. The whole modern policy of England after the Japanese alliance, which was directed against Russia, has been shaped to meet these reiterated threats. There has been absolutely no other reason for the vast shipbuilding programmes than the necessity for making our rnovements conform to those of the great Hohenzollern and his ambitious Emnire. The same may be said ot the immense and ever-increasing military efforts of France, while since Russia got rid of the incubus of the Japanese war -she can have had no other object in view than that of defending her western frontier and keeping her normal place in Europe. If wo ask why New Zealand has remodelled hei compulsory military law, by which she now has 40,000 men ready to defend her territories and 8000 available for service abroad, we get but one answer. If wo ask why Australia has created an army and a navy we got the same answer. The same as to Canadian preparations; the same everywhere. It is the work of one man aided by suitable auxiliaries. .Fortunately for those most interested, it is tho work of an impulsive man who, by his open talk and his gestures, lets the world know what ho is thinking about. This, if we are to be saved, has saved us. But for • tho undisguised utterance of these repeated menaces we might have dreamed on to our own destruction. Wo have now been brought face To face with the dangers which the croakers to often predicted. Those dangers are the work of a small knot of men in Berlin. Ot these the greatest and perhaps tho most straightforward, and the one in ultimate control, I have, I think not unfitly, reierred to as William the Paccmaker—the man who has long set the pace for the whole world. The other members of that caste I will leave to be described by their own great countryman. Prince Hohcnlohe, Chancellor of tho Empire, a Bavarian whose vise statesmanship brought South and North Germany into union: When I am thus among Prussian Excellencies the contrast between North and South Germany becomes very perceptiblo to me. South German Liberalism is no match for the youns aristocrats. They are too numerous, too powerful, and have the kingdom - and tho army too much on their side. ... As I laboured from 1866 to 1870 for the union of South and North so I must strive now to keep Prussia attached to the Empire. For. all these gentlemen don t care a fig for tho Emp : re, and would rather give it up today than to-morrow. They form, however, the backbone of the 1 power which has taken in hand the running of the Empire as a military machine. To-day they have reversed the policy which Prince Hohenlohe feared, and work Germany as an appanage of Prussia. It would be unfair to leave out of account the enormous benefits that havo accrued to this country and its dependencies by reason ot the mere competition with tho storm centrj of Europe. This prodigious stimulus has literally sent the whole Empire ahead at the pace set for it, but there is no reason to tliarik for that those who provided that stimulus purely in their own interests, not in ours. The dream of the Prussian ana military caste during the last. 43 years has now come to the point of realisation, and it is for the victims and the intended victims of this great aggression to determine by their steadfastness whether it is to be realised or the danger dealt with once for all. Those who are engaged in this struggle cannot affdßl to relax any effort or precaution which may be required oi them, or to look aside from the obvious course. No sacrifice that the allied Powers make can be too great an insurance premium to pay for their own preservation. The position is identical with that which presented itself when tho war against Napoleon was renewed in I£o3, and no Slate in Europe can be safe unless it is dealt with 'as thoroughly as was that position. Let us exhibit the steadfastness of our ancestors, and this problem will be solved as that problem was solved. JOTTINGS. Several Knjtangata young men havo offered their services for the front (writes our correspondent), and three local married men have done likewise. The chairman of the Public Appeal Committee has received a cheque for £13 10s 6d, being a donation to the British-Belgian Relief Fund by the men und maids employed at Tevior, Station. Miller's Flat. Tho amount was collected by Mr John Mathers, head gardener on tho station. Mr Edwin R. Wells, architect, in tho office of Mr E. Anscombc, was presented with a set of field compasses as a mark of esteem on the occasion of his departure t'o join the reinforcements »t Trentham. A deputation Crom the National Reserve, headed by Colonel Stoneham, waited on Colonel Robin at the Defence Office yesterday. Several matters in connection with the working and position of the National Reservo were placed before him, and they were arranged entirely to the satisfaction of the deputation. Colonel Robin, C.8.. C.M.G., Acting Commandant of New Zealand Forces, accompanied by Captain F. Hudson, nss-stunt military secretary and A.D.C.. will leave Dunedin for Christchurch by the first express this morning. Since his arrival in Dunedin last Tuesday. Colonel Robin has . inspected the forts, garrison artillery, and troopships, and has got through a great deal of routine work. Colonel Robin will remain in Christchurch until Tuesday, when he will return to Wellington.