ENDING THE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3382, 8 January 1919, Page 13

ENDING THE WAR.

r DEMOBILISATION ON A SELECTIVE BASIS. MORE BRITISH PRISONERS THAN EXPECTED. (By Cable.) . Marshal Foch, after consultation with Marshal Haig and Allied generals, decided that the size of the Allied army needed in France leaves a large margin for demobilisation on a selective basis. Ten thousand men can be discharged daily, which can be increased to 22,000 if a nonselective basis is adopted, with the same transport facilities. AMERICAN TROOPS. Great Britain has released ships to carry homeward 40,000 American troops. It is pointed out that the. burden of repatriating dominion soldiers and returning Chinese coolies' is heavy. A United Press . message from Metz states that General Petain has declared that France will welcome American sol- ' diers who wish to remain and build up the devastated districts. REPATRIATION OF NEW ZEALANDERS. The repatriation of the New Zealanders is proceeding steadily. Although, like other forces, actual demobilisation does not begin until peace has been ratified, 5700 lower category men departed for New Zealand during December aboard the Maunganui, Marama, Tahiti, Briton, and Oxfordshire. Passages for soldiers' wives have been reduced to £7. Two hundred will . leave aboard the Ruapehu next week, together with 300 soldiers. The New Zealand No. 1 General Hospital at Brockenhurst will close at the end of January, Hornchurch at the end of February, No. 3 Hospital at Codford in April, and No. 2 Hospital at Walton in May. DISPLAY OF GOOD SENSE. The newspapers are gratified at the restraint of the authorities and the good sense shown by the men, which prevented a serious situation regarding demobilisation. The position is not developing discontented outcries. It is insisted that the dominions are short of men; also that there is heaps of work for them at home. The men add: "We are only waiting »ur time in France," and emphasise, the fact that trouble would not have arisen if the war was still on. " Leave " boats are now running as usual. : GERMAN DEMOBILISATION. The Daily says: Germany has demobilised two million men, but proposes to maintain ari army on the prewar standard. PRAISE FOR THE ANZACS. General Allenby's despatch refers to the brilliant achievements of the cavalry, and says : The Australian and New _ Zealand mounted division, by entering into the pursuit, threw the Fourth Turkish Army into a state of disorganisation, intercepted the garrison of Moan and compelled it to surrender. General Chaytor's force took 10,000 prisoners in the Valley of the. Jordan. The Royal Air Force and Australian Flying Corps did brilliant work, not only during actual operations but during the preceding months. The process of wearing down the enemy's strength in the air was continuous throughout the summer. Our ascendancy was so marked towards the end of August that only a few of the enemy's aeroplanes ' . were able to fly, with the result that the strength of the air force could be concentrated on the retreating enemy.

THE INDEPENDENT AIR FORCE. A despatch from Major-general Trenchard, commanding the Independent Air Force, in explaining the policy of attacks on Germany, says: " The alternatives were sustained attacks on one large centre after another until each -was destroyed, or to attack as many industrial centres as possible. The latter plan was adopted because our forces were insufficient to carry out the former, which, even * with greater forces, would have taken another five years to execute." General Trenchard incidentally mentions that Group Commander Colonel R. Malock established in England a department from which it was intended to carry out raids for bombing Berlin; but he only received machines capable of carrying out this work at the end of October, and although everybody worked night and day to get them ready for the attack, they were only completed three days before the signing of the armistice. INTERESTING FIGURES. - The army, navy ? and Air Force at the date of the signing of the armistice numbered 6,500,000, though Britain's total war effort was over 10,000,000 persons. Thus far 270,000 have been demobilised, 115,000 prisoners repatriated, and 390,000 munition workers released. The railway and shipping facilities in France and England made it impossible to" increase the rate of demobilisation. When all the prisoners have been repatriated the speed of demobilisation will be increased. GERMAN SUBMARINES. The Allies are sharing out 114 German submarines, 15 going to France, 10 to Italy, 7 to Japan, and 4 to the United States. One hundred and twenty submarines were found in course of construction in German yards. The British Naval Commission ordered their delivery to Great Britain. British destroyers are taking over the

German submarines interned at Cadiz, Ferrol, Vigo, and other ports. It is authoritatively stated that over 200 German submarines were sunk during the war, of which number the Germans destroyed 14. Mine-sweeping is proceeding on a large scale. Some minefields are 100 miles in extent. It is estimated that 100,000 mines, including drifters, have yet to bo removed. NAVAL MISSION TO GERMANY. Admiral Browning's naval mission found that the Germans had employed most of the interned British merchant ships on. war duties. They will require much alteration before they can be refitted for their original purposes. Hamburg is a dead port. The mission inspected a submarine cruiser capable of lifting 500 tons. They also saw the Moewe, which has now reverted to merchant uses, f The destroyers which captured Captain Fryatt's steamer Brussels carried two of the Brussels lifebuoys as souvenirs. The conditions at Kiel are deplorable. Discipline is non-existent. The mission in one case refused to proceed with its inspection until the crew quitted the ship. Admiral Browning refused to deal with the Workmen and Soldiers' Council, though obviously the council is in complete control of the situation. The German commission at Kjel included Steinbrinck, a submarine commander who claims to have sunk 200,000 tons of shipping.The British mission was treated everywhere with marked respect, including officials of the Workmen and Soldiers' Council, who smoothed the way everywhere. The naval officers acted with dignity, though their sense of humiliation was only too apparent; but the men appeared unashamed. The mission closely examined all the surface and submarine warships and the naval aircraft and merchantmen. The Baden, the newest German battleship, will "shortly be given over under the armistice terms. NAVAL STRENGTH OF THE POWERS. Mr Daniels (Secretary of the Navy) has issued a statement regarding the naval strength of the Powers just before the signing of the armistice as follows: Great Britain. —Battleships, 61; battlecruisers, 9; destroyers, 409; submarines, 68. '

United Skates. —Battleships, 16; old type battleships, 23; destroyers, 92; submarines, \ 79. France. —Battleships, 20; cruisers, 29; destroyers, 12; .submarines, 62. Germany.—Battleships, 19; battlecruisers, 6 ; destroyers, 213 ; submarines, built, building; and projected, 225. Japan has 13 battleships and four building, seven battle cruisers, 10 cruisers, 16 light cruisers, and seven projected, 66 destroyers, and 23 building, 16 submarines, and 27 building. . THE AMERICAN NAVY. Mr Daniels, Secretary of the Navy,.says that the United States fighting ships now under construction are superior to those of other countries, because they are fitted with electrically-driven machinery. The New Mexico, the latest United States dreadnought, developed on her trials 30,000 horse-power, instead of the contract stipulation of 26,000 horse-power, giving her a speed of 2X\ knots, with exceptional economy of coal in developing that speed. The United Press London correspondent interviewed Senator Owen, -who declared that if America's mission in Europe was unsuccessful America would continue to build ships until her navy was the largest in the world, but her actions showed, Senator Owen added, that America desired disarmament. THE LOSS OF THE HAMPSHIRE. The Manchester Guardian publishes additional details of the wreck of H.M.S. Hampshire. A warrant officer who was among the survivors states that the ship sank in less than five- minutes. Lord Kitchener did not appear on deck, contrary to the earlier reports. Everything aboard was lashed down, owing: to the great storm. Only one hatchway was open, from which the escapes, were blocked. Attempts were made to open the others, but the time was insufficient. The informant was included in a party of 80 who clung to a raft for five hours. Seventy-six died or were swpt off. The survivors were blown ashore, numb and bleeding, in a steep, rocky inlet. Two other rafts reached the shore, there being a total of 12 survivors. The whole ol the officers were lost. The informant is satisfied that the warship was -mined. NAVAL PROMOTIONS. Following on the voluntary retirement of Lord Milford Haven and Sir George Patey, Vice-admiral Sir David Beatty and Rear-admiral Tupper have been promoted to be full admirals.

Rear-admiral Arthur 0. Leveson and Rear-admiral Sydney Fremantle have received \the K.C.B. and have been promoted to be vice-admirals. It is understood that Admiral Beatty has accepted the First Sea Lordship in place of Admiral Wemyss, who desires/ other employment. THE GERMAN NAVY. . Rear-admiral Redman recommended the Naval Committee of the House to advocate the destruction of the capital ships of the German navy. Admiral Redman said the German ships were of different types, and the Allies would be unable to make use of them. The combined Anglo-American fleet was such that the Germans wouid never be able to face it. What was the use of increasing the Allies' force by the addition of the German vessels when Germany was now helpless? The other ships except the

capital ships ought to be preserved for the Allies' use. The Secretary of the United States Navy (Mr Daniels) said that he personally was opposed to sinking the surrendered German warships. He-thought Rear-admiral Rodman only advocated sinking the old-type ships, and he believed that even these could be used as training ships. THE AMERICAN ARMY. Mr Baker (Secretary for War), addressing the House of Representatives Military Committee, said the Government did not intend, until the Peace Conference ended, to - decide on the extent of the military establishments in the United States. It was not intended to maintain forces in Europe for two'years. No arrangements had been made for universal military service. Speaking at Buffalo, Mr Baker (Secretary for War) said that American fathers and mothers surely had a right to some high assurances of' future peace as a consolation for their sacrifices. GERMAN MERCANTILE FLEET. The United Press Paris correspondent states that arrangements are complete by which Italy will obtain approximately 75 per cent, and 25 per cent, of the Austrian mercantile fleet. The United Press Paris correspondent learns from an authoritative source that the surrendered German ships will be used shortly to transport American soldiers to the United States, and in return American tonnage will carry food to Europe. BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR. j*., I '- A WELCOME SURPRISE. •'

The discovery of 15,000 more British prisoners in Germany than the British records show assures the fact that a large number of men previously reported as dead or missing will return home safe. The British expected to get 20,000 prisoners out of Germany in a fortnight, but the .German records show that there are 35,000 remaining, of whom 15,000, through the failure of the Germans to report all their captures, or the men's failure to communicate with friends, have been reported dead. —Reuter. In view of inquiries from the relatives of missing men, it is officially stated that a man was posted as missing only after the failure of all possible inquiries by regimental and hospital officers. Returned war prisoners are systematically examined regarding the fate of comrades. There is no reliable evidence of the existence of secret enemy prison camps. Inquiries are being made in hospitals, and all battlefields are being systematically searched, and British representatives have been instructed to investigate the working camps, mines, asylums, etc., where prisoners might be found. Enemy Governments are required to account for every . British war prisoners. No case of a prisoner's identity being untraceable through loss of memory has yet been found, but the possibility will be kept iii view. It is inevitable that the fate of considerable numbers of men will never be known, but no step to trace them will be omitted. It is officially estimated that there were 24,000 British war prisoners in Germany on the 29th December, of whom 5000 were entrained and are proceeding to Holland. A further 8000 are expected to reach Holland in a few days, and 7000 are being repatriated this week, via Baltic ports. The remainder are being transferred to a, concentration camp at Wahn, which is under British supervision. PRISONERS ILL-TREATED. British prisoners at Parchim Camp in Mecklenburg-Schwerin are appealing for repatriation. Medical supplies in the camp are very short, and many have died

of influenza and pneumonia. The German doctors quit the camp at evening, locking up the medicines. The epidemic is* still raging. Official inquiry proves that 100,000 Italian prisoners died of starvation, cold and ill-treatment in Germany and Austria. Over a million parcels sent to prisoners were stolen. The treatment in Germany was more 'barbarous than in Austria. ITALIAN LOSSES. Official; The Italian losses on all fronts are;—Dead, 460,000 (including 16,562 officers); wounded, 947,000 (including 33,347 officers). The number of totally or partially disabled is estimated at over half a million. CANADIAN CASUALTIES. The total Canadian casualties, as revised, show 220,182, oT whom 60,383 are dead.'" MASSACRES IN ARMENIA. Evidence has been received showing that the Turks withdrawing from Armenia are perpetrating a final massacre and stealing food wholesale. The Petit Parisien states that an inquiry into the Armenian massacres shews that the victims total 1.500,000. German officers caused the massacre of 1500 at Kemen, while 70,000 children died of hunger. In another district 2000 women, suspected of swallowing jewellery, were saturated in petrol and burned. The ashes were afterwards passed through sieves to recover the gold. The paper states that Enver, Talaat, and Djemal Pashes and Marshal von Sanders werp responsible for the massacres. GERMANY DISGORGING. Germany's restoration of loot includes the handing over of 5500 gold ! bars, marked with the Russian eagle, weighing 73,500 kilogrammes, also 6000 cases of securities, valued at £120,000,000, which were, stolen from the banks in Lille, Roubaix, and Tourcoing. The value of the restitutions thus far made exceeds £240,000,000. The German Government has handed over 54,000,000 marks for the expenses of the American occupation army, and the latter has furnished estimates for 25,000,000 million marks for January. FINANCIAL AFFAntS.

The New York Times Washington correspondent' states that the credits advanced to the Allies and other belligerents by the United States total 8,455,000,000 dollars, or which 7,670,000,000 dollars consisted of cash. The cost of the war to the United States is estimated at approximately 22,589,000,000 dollars. In the French Chamber the Finance Minister said the Entente should consider the advisability of concerted action in the liquidation of war debts. If the burden were reckoned at £20,520,000,000, at 5 per cent, interest, it was possible to provide a sinking fund for extinguishing the debt in 50 years. The French victory loan realised £746,000,000. THE BALKANS. French troops have arrived at Cetinje. The Committee of National Assembly has taken over charge of public affairs, pending union with the Jugo-Slavs. The German correspondent of the Echo de Paris says: Entente troops have occupied Cettinje, and Italians, have replaced the French at Monastir. The Serbians have begun the occupation of Dalmatia, and Jugo-Slavs are approaching Klegenfurth. It~ is reported that Czech troops have arrived at Preasburg, and have cut the' Vienna-Budapest railway and the telegraphs. Mobs are looting the food stores. AMERICA TO SUPPLY FOOD. President Wilson has cabled asking Congress to vote a hundred million dollars to prevent starvation in the liberated parts of Europe. Mr Wilson says that it is the mission of the American people to find a remedy for starvation and absolute anarchy. DISTURBANCES IN CONSTANTINOPLE. Disturbances are reported in Constantinople, resulting in considerable bloodshed. Fire destroyed a section of Pera. The Turkish Chamber is reported to have been dissolved as a result of the Young Turk Opposition. Owing to the dangerous position the British admiral has landed gendarmes. • It is understood that the departure of the German Ambassador from Constantinople is due to Entente pressureGeneral D'Esperey has removed his headquarters from Salonika to Constantinople. Le Matin's Constantinople correspondent says that the Sultan has ordered a courtmartial to try those responsible for Turkey's entrance into the war, and he has asked for French support in this move. THE GALLIPOLI GARRISON. A delayed telegram from Constantinople states that the British brigades landed at Gallipoli on the 13th December. There was no display, the Turkish officers quietly surrendering. Later the French occupied the south bank. The party suffered from a sudden change of climate, New Zealandera becoming sick with recurrent malaria and influenza, and there were a few deaths. The cemeteries and graves are overgrown, and all crosses and identification marks have been removed. There were some violations, but all the areas can be enclosed with a monument giving all the names. The general defences have been enormously strengthened since the evacuation. ALLEGED SECRET TREATIES. The New York Times Paris correspondent has interviewed a high authority regarding the secret treaties to which M.

Pichon, French Foreign Minister, referred recently. This high authority said that treaties were drawn up between England and France in 1916, and between England, France, and Russia in 1917. By the termj of the Franco-British Treaty France was" to control Syria, Lebanon, and part of Ar-. menia, while Britain was to control Mesopotamia. Arabia was to be an independ-; ent kingdom. Palestine was to have an'international administration. All the portions of Asia Minor covered; in the treaty now belonging to Turketf were to be taken from Turkey. The exact boundaries of Turkey will be defined at the Peace Conference. 4 The peoples of Lebanon, Syria, Armeniaand Mesopotamia will be allowed to choose their own forms of government, Franc* and England being merely- advisers tc» those Governments in their respective spheres ofv control. France does not proj t pose to dominate or assume over these peoples. -/ ■ The 1917 treaties are valid so far ag Russia is concerned, while the terms taining to England and France remain i valid so far as they deal w-lfch Asia Minor* \ THE .FUTURE OF PALESTINE. ftThe New York Herald's Paris corre< g spondent states: I learn on indisputable | authority that the United, States will act* as trustee of Palestine, Arabia, Asiatic Turkey, and Syria, unless she rejects th# responsibility. | French and Italians will occupy Stamboul (the Turkish part of Constantinople), and British troops will occupy Warsaw. The New York Times London correspondent states that, according to an American editor who has interviewed Mr Lloyd George, Palestine will not be de« „■ clared an independent Jewish State, bei | -cause a large proportion of its population y is not Jewish. England will be made trustee for Palestine. £ The New York Times Paris correspond-* ' ent interviewed Dr Sokoloff, head of the.. European Zionist Committee, who said that Palestine should be bounded on the west by the sea, on the east by the River Jor< dan, on the south by the River Littonl, and on the north by the El Arish. If the Jews were given their choice they would select Britain as tueir protector. A BELGIAN NEWSPAPER. The Daily Express states that a secret journal, Libre Belgique, published in Brussels throughout the war was the work of two brothers named Jourdain. Both died on the eve of the armistice. Several men and women were shot or imprisoned for helping to publish th 6 paper, which was printed in various presses, which the Germans were unable to locate. The Jourdains employed two orderlies, who were attached to vorl Bissing's and von Falkenhausen's Staff, to put copies on the Gover< nor's desk or in his pockets. BUREAU OF SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE. General Cockerili is retiring from hia position as Director of the Bureau of Special Intelligence at the War Office. At a farewell gathering tendered by the assistants he stated that the bureau had saved the Empire at least £200,000,000 by successfully counteracting enemy activities. R had detected and checked Germany'a active speculation in raw-- material, closed certain channels of enemy propaganda, and kept others open for the distribution of British propaganda in enemy countries, on which the postage was prepaid by Germans. . General Cockerili paid a tribute to the Intelligence Department of the dominions and colonies. . .". . - j NEW ZEALANDERS DECORATED. A bar to the Military Cress has been awarded to the following New Zealanders : —Engineer's, Captains R. Dald&. and M. G. Newboluld; Medical Corps, Captains A. D. Whyte (Port Chalmers), and . N H. Dempster; infantry, Lieutenant-A. Baxter; Maori Contingent, Captain E. „ Tingey; Machine Gun Corps, LieutenantsA. W. Brown ; Chaplains D. C. Herron and Cr Wallsr The Royal Red Cross has been awarded to Sister D. M. Huddlestone. The Meritorious Service Medal has been awarded to Corporal D. D. Miller. Seventeen New Zealanders have been awarded Distinguished Conduct Medals. Military Crosses have been awarded to the following New Zealanders: —Mounted Rifles—Captains R. Finlayson and A. E. Rhodes, Lieutenants C. Reid and S. Suth-> erland. One D.C.M. and two Meritorious Service Medals have also been awarded, CHRISTMAS IN THE HOSPITALS. WELLINGTON, December 31. ' Special from the Official War Correspondent, December 26. Christmas festivities at the New Zea; land Hospitals were marked by more than usual gaiety. There has been recently a considerable reduction in the number of patients, as no wounded men are now

coming through and the majority of the patients are those whose more serious wounds are slowly healing or who are victims of influenza. Concerts, dinners, and dances made the day pass cheerfully. The wards -were gaily decorated, prizes being §iven Pfe the most artistic decorations, anta Claus visited each ward, and every " digger" woke to find something in his stocking. At Walton 2 in the evening, there was a brilliant scene when the medical officers, sisters, nurses, and dined in the large hall. Speeches were made by Sir Thomas Mackenzie, General Richardson, Colonel O'Neill, Matron Wilson, and Coates. It is now announced that the New Zealand division will not form part of the army of occupation in Germany, so demobilisation will proceed more speedily than was originally anticipated. General Richardson, after a brief visit to the division, will proceed to New Zealand in connection with the demobilisation arrangements there. If the Allies send a force to Russia, there will be no New Zealand contingent, and it is understood that any New Zealanders volunteering will have to join the British army. GENERAL ITEMS. "Food rationing in England will b 6 abolished in March. A cross-Channel steamer, carrying 2000 soldiers, narrowly missed a floating mine. The German armistice commissioners have notified the Allies that the dissolution of the German High Command h proceeding. Marshal Foch has allowed the Germans in the occupied territory to participate in the German elections. Bishops and prominent statesmen have petitioned Mr Lloyd George to release conscientious objectors. Fifteen hundred are imprisoned, many having been in prison for two years. The Y.M.C.A. has outlined a scheme for utilising 1000 war huts as centres of social life in villages in the industrial centres. Education will be an important part of the hut activities. "The Transylvanian Congress formallv visited Bucharest and handed the King* an agreement to join Rumania. The Evening Standard states authorita- ' tively that Holland has agreed to Great Britain's request for the use of the Sch at for the transmission of supplies to the Allied troops in Germany under the commercial flag. Three telegraph officials at Amsterdam have been arrested, charged with sending copies of telegrams exchanged between

The Hague and the Entente Powers to a German agent acting on behalf of the German Legation at The Hague. W. Barry, the famous sculler, has returned to England from Hungary, where he was a prisoner. He is very fit and well. He says that British prisoners were well treated in Hungary. Barry, in the course of an interview, stated that he cannot entertain any proposal to row whilst he remains in the army or for some months after discharge, of which there is no immediate prospect. Fenton, who is in the army, also desires a race with Barry. GALLANTRY REWARDED. : 2Word has been received by Mr John Brown, of Kyeburn Diggings, that his eldest son, Sergeant Robert D. Brown, has been awarded the D.C.M. for gallantry 'on the field of action. Sergeant Brown left New Zealand as a private with the 17th Reinforcements, and has seen continuous service. Previous to enlisting he was employed in the office of Mr D. Cooke, solicitor. Sergeant Brown has two brothers still on active service, and one returned to New Zealand in May.

THE PALESTINE " STUNT." The operations of the British army under General Allenby in Palestine involved a great "deal of hard campaigning under extremely trying climatic conditions. A New Zealand mounted trooper affords a glimpse into what these conditions meant, as affecting the health of the men engaged, in the following extracts from letters written a few days prior to the capitulation of Turkey: October 25.—Have just finished the stunt I in which we had such a round up of prisoners. I suppose you would hear about the big push as quietly as it was made. I October 27. —Am getting over the stunt effects pretty well; although there are only about 12 left in the squadron that Jiavo been through the stunt. I don't suppose i we will know what the Jordan Valley do- | fence line has cost our division in sickness j and deaths, as it is still affecting us; but it is no use dwelling on it, as it is over and dono with, but it seems ctiff that the •'Aussie" Division only did one fortnight | in the place, and wc were on it nearly eight months in what is supposed to be the most ! unhealthy place in all the war fronts. The j Turks said that after three weeks they would walk over and collect our discs and I cover us up, but we hung out better than that. All the Jericho Greeks and natives saic; "Finish! All askarri (soldier) sleep!" So that will tell you what we were up against! October 28. —Good news in to-day's war news. Aleppo has fallen. Seem to have iio opposition there at all. Would like to trek through there, but don't know where , wo will end up.

JOTTINGS. The Rev. S. Griffith, of the Caversham Methodist Church, has received a private cablegram announcing that his son, Lieutenant J. 0. Griffith, of the Royal Air Force, who has been a prisoner in Germany for 18 months, has reached London, in good health.