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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17092, 25 August 1917, Page 6

German sophistry is admirably illustrated by the comment of Dr Michaelis, made with reference to the papal peace Note that "no desire for peace with the enemy existed. Such a statement is very characteristic of the German authorities. Officially Germany does not think of peace, while unofficially She is diligently pulling all the strings upon which she can lay her hands in the hope of securing peace negotiations. At present her Government has to brazen tihings out and keap up the pretence that Germany is invincible. The alternative would be to make admissions that would probably bring the whole fabric of its authority about its ears in the storm created by the anger of a disillusioned nation. Publication of tihe truth about the military situation by tho German authorities would no doubt hasten the termination of tho war, but it is tho last thing that need be expected. The official statements of Germany, political as well as relating to military operations, were new mora misleading and purposely distorted than they are to-day. We see an intensification of tile efforts of the Government to inyaraes tho German people with the

conviction that they are fighting implacablo enemies from whom as a nation they have not the slightest hope of mercy in the event of defeat. The Gorman people are plied at ovary turn with the warning that their very survival as a nation is at stake. The Imperial Chancellor reiterates that the war aims of the Alii 03 prove thoir deslro to annihilate Germany. And ho seems a little put out because far some reason the peaco Note from the Vatican makes no suggestion of this kind. The pious fiction that the Allies are benit upon annihilating Germany may bo suited for German consumption, and may serve to stimulate the war efforts of the Fatherland, but it has been authoritatively repudiated by the Allies. They havo no desire to reduce Germany to nothingness, even were it in their power to do so, and even if such a fate sOiould seem the best that Germany has merited. But until the Allies can exorcise the evil spirit of militarism in Germany to which the war is attributable they can have no confidence that the peace of the world will be secured.

A welcome feature of the war nerws from the Western Front during the past few days has been the prominence of the French in strong offensive operations. The fighting near Verdun adds another glorious chapter to the splendid record of the French army during three years of terrible conflict. During the anxious months of the furious and sustained attempts of the Germans to carry the historic citadel French valour entailed such heavy sacrifices that nobody would have been surprised to learn that the bloody defeat of the German offensive had been secured at the expense of the ability of France to do much more than act upon the defensive for some time to come. The Germans have claimed that they have brought about the exhaustion of France, and though their claims may frequently be disregarded, ifliis one appeared to find' a measure of substantiation in a statement attributed to General Joffre when on his mission to the United States, and in a later utterance by the Minister of War in France which was read as implying that the future policy of the French Commander- in-Chief would be to reduce military losses to a minimum and to remain on the defensive. But the fresh operations at Verdun dispose of any idea that it was the French intention to be content to "hold on ' tOl the American troops arrived in force strong enough to take up their unfinished task, just as they effectually dispose of the German claims. The Germans have still got to reckon with the attacking power of the French army, as they will have to do till the end of the chapter. Capacity to deliver an important and successful offensive on a fifteen-mile front, as the French have done against the enemy's strong positions in the Verdun region, does not betoken anything in the nature of exhaustion. The indomitable spirit of France ia st.ffl i n the ascendant.

The increase in the cost of living emphasises the importance of efforts that are directed to securing that fish may be available to the neople of tihe dominion in adequate quantity and at a reasonable price. The fish supply is not at all satisfactory to the public. The arguments in favour of the establishment of a fish market at Thmedin under the control of the City Council were placed strongly before the Minister of Marine on Thursday by a deputation of members of Parliament. The weight of evidence compels us to the view that the establishment of fish markets has now become necessary to ensure that the public may obtain supplies of fish at a reasonable rate. The existing system provides neither a continuous nor a cheap supply. It has no doubt to be recognised that the community Tm-<> aocustomed itself to the delivery of fish at its doors, and that it may expect to be deprived of this convenience if fish be sold at a public market. But against this has to be set the fact that the existing system has to a large extent failed, chiefly, we apprehend, through the control which middlemen have exercised over the supplies. It is to be noted that in his latest annual report the Chief Inspector of Fisheries expresses the view that the Government shotdd encourage and assist the municipal councils of the principal cities in the erection of suitable fish markets, in the adoption of a system of distribution of fish from these markets, and in supplying inland towns and country districts with a regular supply of fresh and cured fish.