CLOSING UP THE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3396, 16 April 1919, Page 19

CLOSING UP THE WAR.

THE SPIRIT OF THE BRITISH

THE EX-KAISER'S VIEWS.

(By Cable.)

MARSHAL HAIG'S CONCLUDING DESPATCH.

THE SPERIT OF THE BRITISH RACE. Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, in a despatch dated March 21, describes the advance of the British force in Germany and the occupation of the Cologne bridgehead. He briefly reviews' the chief features of military- interest in the operations of the British armies on the west front during the tinTe he commanded, and thanks the able and gallant officers who assisted him. Dealing with the new armies, Sir D. Haig says: The whole Empire may be Eroud of its achievement in building up 1 the very midst of the war great new armies on more than the Continental scale, capable of beating the best troops of the strongest military nation before the war. He says: "That we were able to accomplish this stupendous task is due partly to the loyalty and devotion of our Allies and the splendid work of the navy, but mainly to the wonderful spirit of the British race everywhere throughout the world. At the outset lack instinctive discipline placed the new troops at a disadvantage, but during the last two years the discipline of all ranks in the new armies, from whatever part of the Empire they came, was excellent. The universities and public schools of the Empire again proved that they are unrivalled in the formation of character, which is the root of discipline. This does not mean that the universities and public schools enjoy a monopoly of the qualities for making good officers. The life of the British Empire generally proved sound under the severest tests, and while giving men whom it is an honour for any officer to command, it furnished officers of the highest standard from all ranks of society in all quarters of the' world. Prpmotion has been entirely by merit. The highest appointments were open to the .humblest, provided the necessary qualifications of character, skill, and knowledge were present." Sir D. Haig concludes with a very warm and sincere acknowledgment of the great debt of all ranks in the armies in France to our kinsmen and kinswomen of the British Empire for their unfailing support, by thought, prayers, and work, during the long years of the war. Their trust and confidence never wavered; their labours never ceased. No sacrifices or hardships or privations were too great, provided thereby the needs of the troops might be adequately supplied. BRITISH TROOPS ABROAD. In the House of Commons Mr Winston Churchill, Secretary for War, said that M,. Pichon's (French Foreign Minister) statement that 140,000 British troops were in the East included those in the Balkans, Turkey in Europe, Asia Minor, and the Caucasus. There were only 20,000 in Russia, 'but this figure did not include those in the Caucasus, where our troops are not engaged on military operations, and are not in contact with the enemy. DISPERSAL OF THE GRAND FLEET. Admiral Beatty hauled down his flag as Commander-in-Chief on the occasion of the formal dispersal of the Grand Fleet. The suggestion has been made that Admiral Beatty be made First Sea Lord of the Admiralty. No ceremony marked the end of the Grand Fleet. When Admiral Beatty's flag was lowered at-sunset he sent a message of farewell to the fleet. Searchlights from many ships lighted his pinnace on its way to the shore. Asked, as a sportsman, "What odds against Jutland being the last sea battle?" Admiral Beatty replied: "A thousand to one." After his retirement from the Grand Fleet it is unlikely that Admiral Sir D. Beatty will be further employed' at sea. The Australian Press Association's representative learns that the redistribution of the fleet is proceeding. It is being divided into the Atlantic and Home fleets and the China, Mediterranean, Cape, South American, East Indian, and West Atlantic squadrons. AMERICAN VOLUNTEER ARMY. It is reported at Washington that the War Department will issue a call for 60,000 volunteers for European service, for the purpose of replacing a similar number of drafted soldiers in France. Another report says that further calls for men are likely,, with a view to taking military measures against Bolshevism. PUNISHING LOOTERS. Aix La Chapelle advices record the drastic measures taken against highlyplaced individuals found in possession of valuables looted by the Germans from occupied regions. Two professors were imprisoned, and Lieutenant Honningham, a multi-millionaire, was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and fined 3000 marks for stealing medals from the Brussels Museum. The arrests were the result of the Entente's Commission of Inquiry. THE YOUNG TURK PARTY. The New York Herald's Constantinople correspondent interviewed the Sultan, who indicated that he was determined to arrest and punish men responsible for the actions of the Union and Progress Party and the Government. A Cabinet Minister told-the correspondent that certain members of the former "Young Turk" Cabinet would be charged shortly.

THE EX-CROWN PRINCE. The ex-Crown, Prince, interviewed, admitted that he was not too popular, adding : "I am no idiot, or degenerate." He repudiated responsibility for the war, and said that von Tirpitz and the army chiefs were well-educated liars. Ludendorff's communiques in 1918 were so mendacious that they were ridiculous. He owed his position to a reckless-energy and brilliant organisation, which, however, were insufficient for a long war. THE EX-KAISER'S FLIGHT. Die Freiheit publishes a memorandum recording Dr Schulenburg's plot to save the situation. On November 9 Hindenburg and General Groner (War Minister) visited Spa, and urged the ex-Kaiser to abdicate, declaring that the position of the army was hopeless; that the revolutionaries were in power, and the army was untrustworthy. Dr Schulenburg argued that it was impossible to order the army to turn their backs on the enemy and march back to quell internal revolution. He urged that specially-selected troops, equipped with poison gas and flame-throwers, be sent to Verviers, Aix-la-Chapelle, and Cologne, where they could quickly restore order. The country would rally, especially if tricked. by the tale that the mutinous sailors and the profiteers were cutting off the food supply of the army. The Kaiser fully agreed with this. General Groner (War Minister), however, feared that things had gone too far. Wilhelm demanded Groner's and Hindenburg's written opinions on the condition of the army, and Groner answered: "The army can retreat in good order under its generals, but not under your Majesty's leadership." Hindenburg said that abdication was an absolute necessity. The Kaiser replied: "If the Higher Commands declare that the army is no longer loyal I will go; but not before." Meanwhile the Chancellor's telegram regarding serious disturbances in Berlin arrived. The Chicago Daily News Berlin correspondent states that he has read letters from the ex-Kaiser to Dr Schulenburg, Berlin University, wherein the Kaiser says that the Freemasons started the war; that the Americans intended withdrawing their forces from the west front in January, 1919, because of their terrible losses; that if the armistice had not been arranged the German armies would have been victorious; and that the Social Democrats were responsible for the demoralisation of the German army. THE EX-KAISER'S VIEWS. Mr Harold Begbie, correspondent of the Daily Chronicle at Amerongen (Holland), discloses intimate details of the exKaiser's exile and personal views on the war. Mr Begbie says: The ex-Kaiser is entirely impenitent. He declares that he strove harder than any man in the world to "avert war, and laughs at the idea of being tried. There is no power on earth can try him. He would destroy himself if he thought he would be arraigned before an international tribunal, because' such an ordeal would be insufferable. "Only God knows," he added ? "I strove at my own peril and the peril of the throne to avert the calamity. Replying to a question regarding German plots, the ex-Kaiser points out that German manufacturers, in 1914 ? with the War Minister's consent, supplied Russia with 3090- machine guns, half a million rifles, and 400 million rounds of ammunition. He imperilled the throne by withstanding the generals' demands for mobilisation. In the early days of the crisis Germany was the last Power on the mainland of Europe to mobilise. The ex-Kaiser added : " I did not want waT, Czar Nicholas did not want war, King George did not want war. The rulers were all dead against it. The war was made by diplomatists. The whole guilt rests with the Russian Government. The rivalry in the Balkans between Austria and Russia precipitated the conflict. Germany was drawn in because she was pledged to defend Austria. The Entente were seized of my tremendous powers, and aimed at the German Empire. Queen Victoria constantly warned me against King Edward VH's influence.- She said: "Do not have anything to do with him; he will do you no good. " The ex-Kaiser protested his love for Britain. The Kruger telegram was sent against his wishes, owing to Prince Hohenlowe's insistence. The ex-Kaiser laughs at those who refer to him as an autocratic power. He was never allowed lo know the generals' strategy or the true course of hostilities. The ex-Kaiser hotly resents the charge of organised atrocities, and says the sinking of the Lusitania was a great blunder, but England's attempt to starve the women and children of Germany maddened the German people. The ex-Kaiser deplored Nurse Cavell's execution, which he said was ordered by a general who was the worse for drink. He (the ex-Kaiser) ordered that no more women be shot without his personal sanction. The ex-Kaiser defends the methods of occupation in Belgium. He regarded Bolshevism as a criminal alias for Freemasonry, and Freemasonry for him is Satanism. His love for Britain remains. He continually exclaims: "Can my English friends believe these outrageous things about me?" then moans: "Those wonderfully happy days in England are gone, gone, gone." BULGARIA'S SECRET TREATIES. Regarding the criticism aroused by the failure of the Entente diplomacy in 1915 to enlist Bulgaria on the side of the Entente, the publication of a secret treaty between Austria and Bulgaria, signed in September, 1914, shows that they mutually agreed not to enter any alliance against each other. A second treaty, signed on the eve of Bulgaria's entry into the war, guaranteed Bulgaria's annexation of the Dobrudja and the Salonika district.

A BRAGGING YANKEE. An amazing story is reported concerning an American naval court martial. Captain Chamberlain was charged with fabricating reports of his aerial exploits whilst on an unofficial visit to the British squadron. The charges arose owing to the unsuccessful efforts to confirm the remarkable statements that had been made in order to recommend him for an honour. Chamberlain told the newspapers a graphic story of his exploits. He stated that he bombed and blew up a train, engaged in a "dog" fight with two other Allies against 12 German aeroplanes, of whom they downed .seven. Later he machine-gunned and scattered a body of enemy troops, landed in a fire-swept wheatfield, bluffed three Germans by pretending that the compass on his machine was a grenade, making one prisoner, the others fleeing. He also rescued a French solonial soldier, and dragged him safely to the French lines. Chamberlain's defence will be heard in Paris THE KIM MEL CAMP OUTBREAK. At the inquest on the five Canadian soldiers killed in the rioting at Kimmel Camp, evidence was given that several of the rioters were under the influence of drink. The Coroner said he was glad that it had been proved that there was no quarrel between different nationalities or between the 'Canadians and the Imperial troops. The Home Office had intimated that no criminal charge was pending ; therefore he returned an open verdict. WAR INSURANCE. A report of the Government war insurance scheme, inoluding aircraft .and bombardment, shows that the total premiums received were £197,787,800, and the losses paid £171,462,800. Of the balance, part belongs to the Belgian, French, and Italian Governments, leaving 17 millions to the credit of the British Government. THE RETREAT FROM KUT. General Townshend, in a speech at London, said that during the 90 miles retreat to Kut, with the Turks at their heels, his disciplined veterans never faltered nor lost a single man or a gun, and no wounded were left behind. The retreaters even turned round and wiped out 10,000 of the Turkish advance guard. ANZAC DAY. Six thousand Australians will march through the London streets on Anzac Day. The Lord Mayor entertains them at the Guildhall and the Mansion House. They will then march back to the West End, and be entertained at the various theatres. N SOLDIERS' GRAVES. . The Soldiers' Graves Commission will '(shortly arrange facilities to visit the graves in France. Lord Peel, in the House of Lords, replying to criticism, with reference to individual wishes of relatives regarding the form of memorials and graves in France being disregarded, said that three special cemeteries would shortly be completed. Particulars and photographs, together with a pamphlet by Mr Rudyard Kipling, would be published. He expected that after this was done the criticism would be mitigated. Large numbers of relatives had approved of the present memorials. GERMAN GUNS. The Daily Express Cologne correspondent states that among the German guns surrendered at Cologne were 400 obsolete weapons, some , having been used in the Franco-Prussian war. The most modern was dated 1894, while some rusted bronze mortars were dated 1870. German workmen are busy reloading them into trucks, and the German Government has been notified that it must replace them with modern weapons. DESTITUTION IN SERBIA. Mr William Ward, international secretary of the International Brotherhood movement, has returned from Serbia. He states that 240,000 Serbians are destitute. Orphans between the ages of seven and 14 are running wild, and there, is a great deal of starvation. Over 600 school teachers were killed. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. Mr Churchill states that 1898 British prisoners in Germany cannot be traced. The War Office states that 2,302,240 men have been demobilised since the armistice. Several thousand German prisoners are clearing up ruined towns m Northern France. Altogether 347 Victoria Crosses were 'awarded during the war period. The Allied commander at Fiume has proclaimed martial lav/. It is announced that the King will receive all dominion divisional generals prior to their departure homewards. Four hundred and fifty Germans have been deported from China. A number of missionaries and others secured exemption. One hundred thousand Belgiums will be repatriated by the end of April, and another 100,000 prefer' to remain in England.

■ The Government is deporting many German military prisoners, including Counts Metternich and Nettlebladt. who were well known in London Society. The Admiralty is offering a number of mine-sweepers on the East Coast at favourable terms for use as trawlers, to be worked on a co-operative basis. It is found that the back of the warship Vindictive, used in the attack on Zeebrug'ge, and sunk alongside the mole to obstruct the fairway and bottle up the submarines and "wasp" flotilla, is broken, and she is considered immovable. She will be blown up. Lieutenant-colonel Amery announced in the House of Commons that the Government will grant, after December, 1919, free passages to ex-soldiers approved under

any dominion settlement scheme; also to women who served in the land army.

The new Army Bill provides that members of Imperial Forces who enlisted in the dominions and were sentenced to penal servitude need not serve their sentences in the United Kingdom, as hitherto provided, but in their own dominions. Mr Winston Churchill said in the House of Commons that demobilisation is sufficiently advanced to justify the release of soldiers who had been convicted of misconduct, including conscientious objectors after they had served. Aliens are leaving the United States and returning to Europe at the rate of 2000 daily. They are enriched by war work. The Daily Express reports that, by the employment of a new device for diminishing hawser-strain, the Admiralty is able to utilize airships to sweep mines. They will be used to clear the field between the Shetlands and Norway.