The Rangitikei Advocate TWO EDITIONS DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1918. AUSTRO-GERMAN PEACE AIMS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11448, 30 January 1918, Page 4

The Rangitikei Advocate TWO EDITIONS DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1918. AUSTRO-GERMAN PEACE AIMS.

IT appears to us that the revelation of peace aims made by Mr Lloyd George and President Wilson, with the rejoinders of Baron von Hertliug and Count von Czernin, have rather tended to complicate the situation than to have brought peace into clear and proximate perspective. There was, of course, little if any divergence'.between the views expressed by Mr Lloyd George and those of President Wilson. If there ■were any differences they were due more to personal idiosyncrasies of expression than to disagreements regarding matters of concrete importance. In fact they had probably conferred by cable before communicating publicly to the world their resolution on so superlatively serious a matter as that for which they intended to tight to the last. But Germany itself seems to be torn by savage dissensions es to its aims and purposes in the war. The pan-Gormans, represented in high official quarters by the Kaiser, Hertliug and others, are determined on vast schemes of conquest, and it is difficultjo realise what'other cult they can now profess and still maintain a reputation for consistency. They .plunged their country into the war for territorial acquisition and world rule, and to agree with, those now who would, like Maximilian Harden, purchase peace at the cost of the cession to Franco of Alsaco-Lor. raine, to abandon the bombastic pretensions made j»t the commencement of the war of a mission of Kultur to the world, would cause the most wooden-headed and junker-ridden Prussian to wonder what Germany

went "to war for—if its object really

was to achieve the slaughter of millions of Gormans and national privations such as no people in the world had probably been subjected to. Whether, therefore, tiie pretensions of the junker aro only a pose or an obsession they will be persisted in right down to the end of the war.

The fact that such a tire-eater as Maximilian Harden urges the conclusion of peace on terms which would return Alsace-Lorraine to France indicates a change of heart in the public as complete as in his own. At the commencement of the war ho had no patience with the hypocritical whining of the Kaiser that Germany had boon forced into the war against its will. He was all for the expression of the frankly brutal admission by official Germany that it had deliberately made tie war and was in it fqr all that was to ho got by a victorious conclusion of it. War-weariness and a profound fear of the consequences of continuing it are also indicated by the allegation of the representatives of an apparently largo section of the people, that Germany is in danger of sinking into an abyss, and by the appeal to the minor German rulers to use their influence with the Kaiser to bring about the end of the war. But ever since the course of the war engendered a doubt in his mind as to its ultimate actual result the Kaiser seems to have entirely belied the general estimate of his character, which crouited him with lirmness and tenacity of purpose. He has fallen under the influence of every party in turn, including Unit of unbridled irightfulness down to the other end of the scale of the merely inhuman. They may as well cry to Baal.

From tlio Gorman point of view, however, the most ominous divergence of the whole is that which has arisen between Austria and Germany. It would seem that HortImg and Czernin were simultaneously addressing their respective Parliaments or in flnontial sections of them, the one in Berlin and the other in ‘Vienna, and it would naturally bo supposed that their dolivorancoa would have been identically similar. But they differed very widely indeed, and it is clear that a very serious cleavage has taken placei nt ho relations of the two chief belligerents of the other side. The one speech was bumptious and defiant, and allowed, or offered, the implication that Germany intended to adhere to its plans of conquest end annexation. The other definitely renounced any intention of exacting a yard of soil or a penny of indemnity, found in President Wilson’s speech a very promising basis for negotiations, and made what must have been an extremely startling statement to German ears that he had communicated the speccli to President Wilson before delivering it. As in von Hertling’s speech, there was a weak desire apparent to tempt the Allies into negotiating separately, but the idea is so foolish as to be negligible. The truth appears to lie that Austria is on tlu verge of famine and of revolution, end a o - rly pome is essential in the interests of the ruling dess. Austria realises, too, at last that she has nothing to gain in seconding German aims—that, in fact, it is more likely to bring about its own dissolution in the process. The signs, therefore, are clear that Austria intends to have peace with or without its ambitious ally.

Mr Massey stated yesterday: From information that has reached the Government we have reason to believe the War Oabniet and Conference will meet somewhat later this year than it did last year. This mav require very- important alterations to ho made" in this Dominion. An Ashburton telegram'jstates that a six-vear-old girl Marjorie Ethel Gill, daughter of Mr Robert Gill, farmer, of Ohirtsey, met with a fatal accident yesterday morning. A horse attached to a dray bolted, and the little girl -was crushed between the wheels of the dray and a post, death being instantaneous.

Newspaper proprietors are advised that next cargoes of newspaper will show a ‘‘solid advance” on anything hitherto charged. It shows, says the Westport Nows, how’ absolutly lacking in enterprise this country is that it cannot, with the vast timber areas of the West Coast, supply its own needs in the way of news printing paper. No tariff that can ever be imposed will allow’ such a margin of protection as is afforded now.

The scow’ Moa, which was recently the centre of interest because of her capture by the German escapees from Motuihi Island, and her subsequent recapture in the vicinity of the Kermades, has been repaired, and is now ready for duty again. The severe weather experienced while she “was being flowed by a cable attached to the foremast strained her timbers severely, and necessitated extensive repairs. The cost of these, run roughly to about £2OO. ■

r ( hree good meals a day, agreeably varied, are needed by all busy folk. Nowadays the cost Is increased but c«n be kept at rock-bottom by dealing for groceries exclusively with Hodder and Tolley. Spot cash over the counter, no booking, no canvasing, no delivery,—so their prices|are lower!*' - 1

The Hawke’s Bay A. and P. Society will hold its annual autumn show 'at Hastings on March (ith, Messrs James and Gillman, land, stock and finance 'agents, Hswera, advertises on page)! several desirable properties for exchange or for sale.

Mr :R. H. Evans, of- Huntley School, Martou, has received an appointment at Christ’s College, Christchurch.

Constable Manley, of Taihapo, Jins been appointed to take charge of the Martou Police District, vice Sergt Sweeney, who has been transferred to Wellington. A writ claiming £IOBS damages lias, says a Masterton correspondent, boon issued by Mr M’Oalmont, contractor, of Masterton, “gainst the Greymoutb Borough Council, in connection with a sewago contract. The case is to be hoard at the March sitting of the Supr erne Court in Masterton.

A Dargaviilo telegram states that Wilhelmina „ Rebecca Rasmussen, aged 5!) years, was found dead on her bed'yesterday afternoon. She complained during the afternoon of feeling unwell, and at“s o’clock was discovered dead. Her medical attendant certifies to heart failure being the cause of death. Deceased was the proprietor of the Belmont Boardinghouse. She leaves six sons, two of whom are at the front, and one daughter. The chairman of a. journalists’ dinner the other day told the following story, ■ s <ys an English paper:—“l met a newspaper man to-day who came to Fleet Street twent yeirs sgo with exactly 35s in his pocket. Ho is now worth £ 1(1,000. Me owes that entirely to liis own ability and energy, combined with good health and a high code of ethics, and to- the fact that a relative recently died ami left him 098. ’ ’

Mr J. M. Johnston returned to Palmerston yesterday from a fortnight’s motor tour around Tanpo and Rolorua"districts. Mr Johnston stated tint the roids in that vicinity, which were under Government control, were in a very had state through neglect. The material was at hind to keep them in good repair but they were allowed to got into holes an 1 ruts, which greatly militated against the pleasure of motoring.

China is apparently giving material aid to the allied cause. Captain J. S! Watson, salvage expert of the Hongkong Dock Comp my in Victoria stated recently that ships are being built at Hongkong and all the principal yards in China for British interests as fast as they can bo turned out. He says the Hongkong Dock. Company lias six steel ships each of approximately 350 ft in length, on the stocks at Hongkong. 'While labour is cheap in the Orient, the steel shipbuilders there have many ohtacles to combat, the greatest of Which is the shortage of steel. The question of the duration of the Manawatu Winter Show was brought up at the meeting yesterday morning, a recommendation being read from Winter Show Committee that the Show be hold on four days, the dates to he from the 18th to 21st June. Mr H, Akers said that there would he a British trades exhibit at the Winter Show this year, and it should bo given as much scope as possible. Therefore the Show would bo extended over four days. The recommendation that the Show extend over four days was unanimously adopted.

A peculiar position arose at the last sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Bulls. A Bulls stablekeeper named W. Meads was convicted in November last of assaulting an employee named Wylie. He subsequently'applied for a ro-heur-iug of the case, which was granted by the Justices. On the case being called last Court day, the police police intimated that Wylie had disappeared and that although they had made all possible enquiries they could find no trace of him. Mr Ralph Brown, who appeared for MO'nls, applied for the information to he dismissed anil the , conviction removed, which was accordingly done.

South Taraubi is essentially a groat dairying district and h.-s been recognised for a good many years as the foremost district in the Dominion for the production of butter and cheese. A visit to the district in midsummer, when laud in mos't other localities is suffering from the lack of moisture, reveals the fact that the land does not dry up, and in consequence is ideal for dairy farming. The co-operative dairy factories are in vogue everywhere, and several of the factories paid out is per lb. for butter fat for last season. We refer our readers to an advertisement of Messrs. Grant and Campbell, on page S 3 of this issue, iu which a number of farms of various areas are offered lor sale and exchange. Anyone interested should communicate with the firm mentioned.

A peculiar death occurred at Dunedin recently. Mr William J. Charters visited his sister at Woodlands last December, and went into the garden for a smoke. In bonding down to pick up a straw’ to clean bis pipe, his head came in contact with » branch of ft “monkey puzzle” hush, A thorn on it pricked him above the ear. They thought the result was a pimple or a boil, and applied J eyes’ fluid to it. On his w’ay homo by tr du to • Mosgiel deceased complained of throbbing iu the bead. He consulted Dr Peters, who lanced and dressed the wound. For a day or two deco .-s.d seemed better, but subsequently became excited. and his temperature rose. Dr Church was c died in, and ordered bis removal to the Dunedin Hospital, where ho died.

Tho public lias formed itself into a co-operative society of buyers and money-savers. They have urauimously selected Lloyd’s, Ltd., of Marton, as their shopping headquarters. At the end of month they sit down and compare other’s prices with theirs: then they figure out tho savings they have effected by trading at Lloyd’s. Admission to tho Society is free. Your membership starts with the first purchase you make across the counters or through tho mail. Lino up with tho throngs of members who save money there daily and finally read their advertisement on page I.*

If yon have home-separated cream for which you desire t a ready and all-the-year-round market, we are at your service. Wo specialise in liome-sep a'ated cream and give the highest market price. Maoiiland Dairy and Produce Co., Ltd., P.O. Box 185, Wanganui. *