TOPICS ON THE WAR.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 26, Issue 62, 30 July 1915, Page 4

TOPICS ON THE WAR.

A GREAT deal has been heard of Turkish snipers and their wonderful marksmanship, but tbey are now being paid bsok in their own coin (states the special correspondent of

the Melbourne Argus). Among the New Zealanders is Captain Wallingford, who, as a sergeant- major at the Hytho School of Musketry, was regarded by riflemen as the best shot in the world. He holds records at all distances, and under every condition. He visited Australia with the British team in 1907. Almost immediately he accepted a commission in the Dominion forces, and now is their chief machine gun officer. Since landing in Turkey Captain Wallingford has taken to rifle-shooting again. Every morning at dawn he steals away from camp with three rifles and a quantity of ammunition. No one knows where he goes, but he apparently scores a great many hits, because the Turkish authorities have, it is stated, now offered a substantial reward to the man who can bring back his identity disc.

A correspondent of “Le Temps, v telegraphs that the situation in Constantinople is getting worse, and is almost certain to lead to the insurrection of the people against the Young Turks. There have been popular demonstrations against German residents, and the German Ambassador left in consequence of receiving an anonymous letter advising him to leave, otherwise he would be murdered like the attache. It is also asserted that the Young Turks are threatening to sign a separate peace on account of the shortage of munitions.

Professor A. P. Thomas, who has just returned to Auckland from England, remarked that if New Zealand paid the same proportion of the cost of the war as Britain, having regard to population, the Dominion’s annual expenditure would be, not £4,000,000, but something like £27,000,000. “It is generally recognised in’ England,” he said, “that there was too much optimism at the beginning of the war; nobody realised the extent of? the preparations made by the Germans.' There is not the slightest despondency; there is the simple feeling that we mifet win through, whatever it may cost. The construction of,artillery is going on at a splendid pace, and it is believed that more powerful guns than those possessed by the Germans are being made.”