NOTES ON THE CABLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16665, 10 April 1916, Page 5

NOTES ON THE CABLES.

Br Shbafhel.

THE ATTACK ON VERDUN. " Our enemies declare that wc are nearing the end of our military strength. The battle of Verdun will teach them better." So Dr von Bethmann-Hollweg has declared in tho course of " the most comprehensive speech that he has inado in the Reichstag since the war began." Surely he mußt have been carried away bv his enthusiasm. One would think from his 'boast that Verdun had been captured, or that it is certain that it will be. It was to have been taken in four days; yet, after frantic endeavours and prodigious losses, only the fringe of the outworks has been singed and only a small portion of that. Instead of what has been accomplished being an indication of Germany's strength, it is an indication of weakness and folly. In only one branch —the artillery—has the attack illustrated German strength. It is not improbable that tho German forces are opposed by tho French with half the number of men that they are themselves employing, or that they are said to have brought against Verdun. The place is still secure and, what is more to the point, tho French are now becoming aggressive on both the Woevre and Meuse fronts. This shows plainly that the German forces whicti were mobilised for the onslaught against the fortress have become seriously exhausted. Only by depleting some other part of tho front or withdrawing men from the Russian front, will the Germans be able to renew their former heavy attacks. That, however, means a reconstruction of their forces and of their plan of attack, since the French have successfully resisted the first attacks and have become conversant with all the forms of that attack and with the numbers and dispositions of the enemy's forces. In the face of what has happened round Verdun the statement of the Imperial Chancellor will convince none but Germans, who, on the whole, have an almost pathetic confidence in the utterance of their rulers.

GERMANY'S SUPPLIES. The only portion of the Imperial Chancellor's speech last week that is worthy of criticism and analysis is that in which he said he ycould not understand any intelligent man sharing the hope of starving Germany. It is probably true that Germany cannot be starved into submission, but she can be seriously inconvenienced. There is probably no people in Europe that enjoys more the delight of eating than the Germans do. In their unexampled prosperity since the seventies of the last century they have become accustomed to luxuries and plenty. These the middle classes, though possessed of considerable means, now find themselves compelled to do without. In the matter of butter, fats, and oils they are faced with an undeniable scarcity, and with famine prices which are steadily increasing. Those who know the habitual menu of the Germans understand that, besides being a physiological necessity, those commodities are indispensable to the culinary arts of the German housewife. Apart from fats and oils that are necessary for household' purposes, they are required for the lubrication of machinery and for the manufacture of explosives Germany is faced also wjth a famine in flesh foods other than pigs and fowls. Prior to the war both Germany and Austria were faced' with a shortage of moat, and'it "was only the greed of the agrarians or landholders that prevented the introduction of beef from Australia and the Argentine into Germany. With the stoppage of pork importations from America and cattle, geese, and turkeys from Russia, Germany myst be seriously short of animal food.. Horse flesh is eaten in Germany, but so great are the dprnands of' the army that it must be becoming a luxury. Motor traction should certainly enable the Germans to dispense with a great deal of horse traction, were it not for a dearth of petrol and'rubber. Berlin, once notable for its thousands of motor cars, now scarcely sees one employed by any other than some high official. The presence of a set of full-blown clean tyres in Berlin would be an announcement that the British blockade had been burst up,* and would lead to a beflagging of the city. A rubber famine in the progress of a war is,almost a disaster, ajid the military authorities must contemplate the present and future demands with much misgiving. It is true that the Germans have demonstrated the possible manufacture of synthetic rubber, but it is questionable whether they have the materials in Germany from which to manufacture. Thejt claim, however, 1 that they are manufacturing such rubber. The boast is probably made only to hide a weakness. While the Imperial Chancellor has made an attempt to show'a stiff upper lip, the evidence of nervous twitches can be seen. He doth protest too much. His speech emphasised Germany's straits, and also contained an " ad misericordiam " appeal to the world. His remarks about the harvest of 1915 probably represented something near the truth, but. he forgot to state that; Germany had despo : led the Pbles of their harvest ajid robbed Bulgaria and Austria of their surplusage. In his hopes for the future he is reckoning upon holding the fertile tracts of Russia and Poland until the harvest of 1916 is garnered. It should ba the task of Russia to see that the Germans do not reap these fruits of conquest. COVERING UP A FALSE STEP^ The Germans and the inspired press are celebrating the jubilee of von Hindenburg'e military career, and asserting that he is the greatest military genius of modern times.- That fuss, taken in conjunction with the Zeppelin raids and the extra activity against the British lines in France, looks very liko an attempt to smother the attention that would be given to- tho failure of the German attempt against Verdun. Every raid of tho Zeppelins upon the British coast is reported throughout Germany to have completed its purpose, the objecti; doubtless, being to rousa the dying enthusiasm of the German people for tho war, and to turn their minds from the disastrous check at Verdun. The Daily Mail's correspondent at Rotterdam writes: "A big battle is expected shortly on the Yscr," and enumerates some of tho preparations that are being made. The attempt is about, to bo made, if it is really intended, against tho Belgian portion of the front. Such a presumption leads to the idea that tho Germans may possibly 'imagine that tho part of the front which the Belgians are defending will be the weakest part of the Allies' lines. If, as the correspondent says, heavy and light guns, «ind an immense amount of ammunition, are bsing sent to Ostend, the Germans must be taking risks. Ostend is open to bombardment from the sea, and, if there is any truth in the report, the British monitors and the airmen- of tho Allies should soon bo giving Ostend and the Belgian coast generally, some delicate attentions. The transference .of tho German offensive to tho British and. Belgian lines will, when it occurs, be an indubitable sign that Verdun has given the Germans enough.

ARE THE ANZAOB GOING TO FRANCE? The discussion which is taking place about the shifting of the Australasian base hospital to Franco suggests that tho Australasian forces are going to Franco. Nothing

will please the Australasians better.. Uttcomplimentary remarks made by soma of the German papers will causa tho Gecnjana to pay a heavy price if tho Australasians ever got an opportunity of falling upon the Roches with the bayonet. It is known to the British authorities that the '' Anzaca" and other overseas troops wish to fight alongside the Canadians and British -in Franoe, and it has been already pointed out that tho dash and stamina of tho Australasians would be of great service against some of the positions held by .the Germans. Instead of transferring the base to the south of France, we are told ib will be retained in England, but wounded men will be taken to Wimereux, a town near Boulogne, and from there to, England. If the Australasians were going to fight anywhere else but on' the west front, it would be a grave surgical blunder to take them off the transports, convey them to Wimoreux, and reeiil'bark them for England. Army medical men don't make such grievous mistakes open-eyed; ergo, the Australasians are to bo given their chanoe, for ■ which they have so eagerly longed, to meet the Germans.