GERMAN CULTURE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16288, 22 January 1915, Page 6

GERMAN CULTURE.

FRENCH UNIVERSITIES' ANSWER. (Peb United Pbess Association.) AUCKLAND, January 21. The French universities recently replied to a protest issued by the German universities against the accusations made with relerencu to their country in connection with the Jvar. A copy of the letter, which is addressed to the Lniversities of Neutral Countries, has been received by Monsieur j alien Rigoreau, French Consul at Auckland. J. ho omy answer tile French umversities, the document states, will take the form of the lollowmg questions:—"Who brought about the war ? \Vho, during the short respite lett to deliberation of Europe, have tried their utmost to lind conciliatory formulae'' Who, on the other hand, have refused all means proposed in turn by England, Russia, France, and Italy ? vVho, at the precise moment when conflict seemed to be subsided, has let loose the war, just qs if a propitious occasion had been expected and looked forwaid to? Who has violated the neutrality of Belgium, after having gi\,en a pledge to guarantee it? Who ueciared that neutrality is but a mere word, that treaties are only scraps of paper, and that in time of war it is every man for himself ? Who has disregarded international conventions, by which signatory Powers had pledged themselves not to use in making war any forcible means which might constitute a barbsrie or a periidie, and bound themselves to respect historical buildings, religious, scientific, or charitable institutions, unless the enemy led the way to such destruction by using them first ior military purposes? In what circumstances was the University of Louvain destroyed ? In what circumstances was the Cathedral of Rheims burnt down ? In what circumstances were incendiary bombs dropped on Not,re Dame de Paris Facts are sufficient answer to these questions. You can already consult .documents published by diplomatic chancellories, the results of inquests held by neutral countries, the evidence found in German notebooks, and, furthermore, the testimony of the ruins iu Belgium and France against them. It is no use, as the German men of science did, to give to these evidences a flat denial, based only on their honour. It is not sufficient to say, as the German universities are doing, '"You know our teaching, it cannot bring up a nation of barbarians." We know the value of this teaching; b„t ■we have seen, also, how it is breaking away from the Gorman traditions, which brought forth such men as Leibnitz. Kant, and Goethe. The German culture has been enslaved by Prussian militarism and carried away by it. It pretends to universal supremacy. There are countless proofs of this pretension. Quite recently a professor of the Liepzig University wrote:—"All culture in Europe is for the future dependent on us." On their part, the universities of France hold that civilisation is not dependent on one nation alone, but is derived from all nations, and that culture and moral beauty is the result of ever-changing variety and its dependence on the genius of all countries. Like the Allies, the French universities take upon themselves the work of defending the liberty of the world. REFRESHER CAMP. (Peb United Pages Association.! WANGANUI, January 21. At the Wanganui racecourse a refresher camp is in progress, 300 officers, non-com-missioned officers, and eadete from the Wellington military district area being under canvas, in charge of Major Morrison and staff officers. Favoured by good weather conditions, a strenuous training programme is being carried out. OBSTREPEROUS TERRITORIALS. TO BE DEALT WITH BY AUTHORITIES. (Pits Unit*!) Pbess Association.! WELLINGTON, January 21. Five members of the Territorial Forces and three constables participated in a melee in the street last night. Four of the soldiers were charged to-day, three with obstructing a, constable, one with resisting, and .another with inciting to resist and witn assaulting a constable. A constable gave evidence that he received a complaint that two men had been insulting a woman. lie visited the locality, and found the men sitting on the kerbing. On speaking to them one man, who was not in custody, attacked witness with his bayonet, but the weapon was taken from him and he was handeuftcd. While he was being escorted to the police station two others interfered. The constable was struck on the head,, and the man got away. T.vo more constables came on the scene, and the four accused were arrested. All were convicted and handed over to the military authorities to be. dealt with. Each was ordered to j»ay 3s 4d damages to handcuffs and shako. WAR NOTES. The number of recruits who have applied for enrolment this week is considerably less than the applications received last week; but, on the other hand, the health and physique of this week's batch has been excellent, every man being fit, with two exceptions, and even the latter have still a good chance of being accepted. Their ages average about 32 years, and they arc considered to be a fine type of men to be made into soldiers. A further number of enrolments is expected to-day, and a medical examination of the recruits will be held this

evening. Letters from members of the Expeditionary Forces now in Egypt to friends in Dunodin indicate that men from Otago lost no time in adapting themselves to their unique environment. One officer states that relations between men and offioers in the Fourth Regiment (Otago) were the happiest. Steady drill and field work are carried out day after day. Our men are already beginning to show" a marked improvement in their physique, and the precision with Which they carry out their drill is favourably commented upon. The Now Zealandcrs' camp is adjacent to the camp of the English Territorials, who are said to be very much smaller in stature than our men ; but whnt they lack in size they make up in smartness, in which they give the New Zealanders si good rn:iny points. In another Setter received at. Dunedin the writer asks to be supplied with some pansy seeds and other varieties of bedding flowers with which to beautify the oamp lines, from which it may be inferred that their sojourn in the land of tho Pharaohs is likely to bo somewhat lengthy.

BELGIAN RELIEF. (Pkb United Pbess Association.) INVERCARGILL, January 21. The sum of £1600 will be cabled lo the High Commissioner, London, for the Belgian Relief Committee to-morrow; £4400 lias now been cabled from Southland to this fund.