ECHOES OF THE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 15

ECHOES OF THE WAR.

(By Cable.) ;. -♦■; MR GIBBS'S CAUSTIC CRITICISM. LONDON/February 26.. Mr Philip Gibbs's new book, '' Realities of War," has made a strong impression. It-consists largely of caustic criticism of • generals and bitter revelations of disasters which could not be told during the censorship. Mr Gibbs castigates the regular army officers' training, which produced specimens with canaries' brains and Potsdam manners. Yet they formed a close corporation from which brilliant civilians were kept until towards the end of the war. Mr Gibbs mentions General Hobbs (Australia), General Monash (Australia), and General Gurrie (Canada) as instances of the success of unprofessional soldiers when given a chance. His description of the battles of Neuve Chappelle, Loos, Bullecourt, and Ypres makes g*rim reading. The British High • Command learned only by its costly mistakes, oft repeated, for which slaughtered British youths paid the penalty. RELINQUISHING CONTROL. WASHINGTON, February 29. President Wilson has signed a decree restoring the railroads to their owners, with a guarantee of 5£ per cent, profit. Simultaneously the express business revert* to private control, but without guaranteed profits. The Federal Coal Control Committee continues to exist. RESTORING GERMAN CREDIT. BERLIN, February 29. German industrialists are founding a great credit institution, comprising the chief productive establishments, and offering guarantees for their commercial strength. AUSTRALIAN ITEMS. MELBOURNE, March 2. . The commonwealth's war pensions lid i bility is now £6,097,000 annually. GENERAL ITEMS. . The 28-centimetre railway gun captured by the Australians at Harbonnieres (17 miles east of Amiens) has arrived. Its weight is 189 tons, and it will be mountedin the city until the war museum is established.