THE PELORUS GUARDIAN and Miners' Advocate. TUESDAY, 6th MARCH. 1917. SIDELIGHTS ON THE WAR.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 18, 6 March 1917, Page 4

THE PELORUS GUARDIAN and Miners' Advocate. TUESDAY, 6th MARCH. 1917. SIDELIGHTS ON THE WAR.

The great success of the third British War Loan, followed by the magnificent contribution of £j.00,000,000 from India, must be very disappointing to German hopes of an early financial collapse in Great Britain. The result stands out in striking contrast to the latest loan raised in Germany, with double the population to draw upon. It is an effective reply to Germany s policy of unrestricted submarining and provides further proof of the determination of the Empire to provide whatever is necessary —whether it is men, money, or munitions —to bring the war to a successful conclusion. More important still is the evidence of the financial power of the Empire still remaining despite the unparalelled drain upon its resources. And in proportion to what the Mother Country has done can also be accomplished by the outside Dominions, and New Zealanders, we feel sure, will not be behind in showing their unswerving loyalty in this respect when it becomes necessary to launch a second New Zealand War Loan. In referring to the details of the British War Loan, Mr A. M. Myers (ActingMinister for Finance) draws special attention to the fact that there are no fewer than eight million applications for subscriptions, which (deducting the men withdrawn for active service) is equivalent to 20 per cent, of the population having placed their current available resources at the disposal of the State. This is all the more remarkable when one remembers that the number of subscribers to the last German loan represented something under 6 per cent, of the population. It is also very gratifying to note that considerably more than nineteen million pounds were subscribed direct to the loan through the medium of war loan certificates. The small investor at Home has certainly played his part well in the direction of giving financial support to the Government’s war policy, he having provided no less than one hundred million pounds for this purpose, to the end of October last. This is a splendid record, and speaks plainly as to the ready response with which the appeal to ‘save and lend’ has been met at Home.

The full disclosures in connection with the Mexican plot, which have fallen into the hands of the American Government, reveal the depths to which Germany will descend in an endeavour to accomplish her ends. While using every means to keep United States neutral, Germany was attempting, through her agent Count Bernstorff, to form an alliance with Mexico, Following the successful carrying out of this plan Japan was to be seduced into joining forces with Germany, During the carrying out of these intrigues, ruthless submarining was to be pursued with the confident hope of compelling England to make peace in a few months. According to a recent message from New York the disclosures are the climax of the operations of Count Bernstorff, who has been associated with passport frauds, dynamite plots, and intrigue to an extent never published. They also support the stories of submarine bases in Mexican territory, and throw new light upon Carranza’s proposals for neutrals to cut off exports of food and munitions to the Allies, and confirm the stories of the operations of German agents in Mexico and Central America. The United States is evidently well rid of the notorious Count, who has now been shown up in a true light.

Germany’s necessity knows no law, observes the "Westminister Gazette.” If she is short of Germans and Austrians she will make Poles fight for her, and French and Belgians work for her, so that the last German may be put in the firing line. She will sweep away all rules, whether of law or humanity, which may conflict with her purpose, and impress into her service those of her enemies whom she has temporarily in her power. There has been nothing like it in modern or mediaeval warfare.