The Rangitikei Advocate TWO EDITIONS DAILY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1918. THE BUSY AMERICAN.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11450, 1 February 1918, Page 4

The Rangitikei Advocate TWO EDITIONS DAILY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1918. THE BUSY AMERICAN.

NEWS of American preparations for engaging in the war on a scale commensurate with the resources of the country now bulk largely in Jalmoat every day’s budget of cable news. In the expenditure of money, which the Italians designate “the other blood’’ the Americans are as liberal as the British—which Jis saying a good deal, —and in the provision of men, rifles and munitions we imagine that they have surpassed the world’s greatest efforts. To the German eye the vast scale of American on the war must appear an omen of terror in the West. It has shown them that their contempt of America as a potential belligerent, when events wmre shaping towards such an evolution, was the very acme of stupidity and misconception. For that, however, the Americans themselves have been to some extent the cause. Men of middle age can remember when the American Government was not the serious and dignified administration that it is at present. The psychology of Congress has undergone a remarkable change for the bettor. Tiiere used to bo a spirit of irresponsibility —almost of recklessness of speech in regard to other nations. It was considered a specially meritorious act to “tweak

the lion’s tart,” as verbally ius.ulting England was called. But, it was all t.ikeu with good-humoured toleration, oecause it was regarded as merely the bombast of a people almost suddenly finding itself a great nation, and rather over-

anixous to apprise the world of the fact. The German junkers, however, seem to liaVe standardised their ideas of American meutality many years rgo and kept them in pickle They- could 'not or did net want to see that there had been a great change. Bornsdorff called thorn fools, and acted on the assumption by almost openly intriguing to destroy manufactories making munitions and guns for th.e Allies. He and those ho served believed that the Americans could not be kicked into the war. They experimented and found that instead of kicking a jelly fish they had fired the detonator of a mine.

Whenever there is need to hurry great national undertakings there are always impatient people who allege that the authorities are not hustling fast enough, and it is good for humanity that these people have been created. For without thorn tho world would stagnate in Its tracks. Some criticisms appear to have been levelled against Mr/ Baker, the United States Secretary for War, and we are indebted to them for the very cheering and illuminating report which was made by.tho Minis ter in his defence and that of his department. Ho frankly admitted mistakes and false starts and nobody seems to .have yot considered himself qualified to cast tho first stone at him. But tho achievements foreshadowed are sufficient to condone lapses or mistakes. Wo are promised a half-a-millioa of men (6u the West Front very shortly, and a million and a half within the present year. Tho Ameficans have purchased (520 of tho French splendid 70’s, will soon be manufacturing groat numbers in America, have ordered sixty million shells abroad, vast quantities at homo, these alone for seven months costing a billion dollars. There must have been great activity also in siwdl snips, accoutrements and clothing manufacture, considering that tho authorities have been aide to giro every enlisted man Ids gun and supply him with his soldier’s uniform. Those later statements and estimates arc on a considerably larger scale {.than formerly. Probably air Baker was at first inclined to conservation in his estimates as to the prompt help America would bo able to afford the Allies, so es to incur less risk of falling short in his ideal and giving cause for hostile criticism. Peril aps even now Ins public estimates are far below ins private beliefs.

We are sometimes tempted to think that fate fights for the enemy. Now and again we have felt that he has had the devil’s lack and his own. We do not take much account of his poignant disappointments, because wo do not share thorn. But how acute must bo his chagrin over the failure of his last, hope of victory. His latest submarine offensive was launched in, not only the hope, hut the certainty of sinking so many British ships before the Americans could take an active part in the war as to starve Britain into submission. They allowed themselves three months fey the task. Nearly a year has elapsed since America declared war, and not only has their design failed, hut the probabilities are that when- Hiadcuburg is ready for Ills threatened offensive he will have to reckon with an American army of Half a million in addition to those of the Bcitish and French. If wo lost sight for a few minutes of our own [difficulties, therefore, and, in imagination, assume those of the Hun, wo shall soon express our preference for the mental burdens we Jiave laid down over those which the Hun is forced to carry. Tilings are not going well with him. What with Bolohovism in Austria demanding separate peace, jegreat strikes and ’ revolutionary propaganda at home, failure of the submarine hope and the gathering of fresh legions against his exhausted and decimated armies the Hun’s out look is a gloomy one.

Mr Peter Wilson will give an address on Gospel Work in Holland, at Bulla, on Sunday next at 7 o'clock,

A meeting of the Marton Bed Cross will be held in the Depot, High Street at 2.i30p.m. on Tuesday next, to give out and receive work. The annual general meeting of the Bangitikei Motor Cycle Club will bo held at Turner and Co. ’s shop at 7.00 this evening. Members and intending members are roquetsed to attend.

The public Las formed itself into a co-operative society of buyers and mouey-suvers. They have unanimously' selected Lloyd’s, Ltd., of Marton, as their shopping headquarters. At the end of eachmonth they sit down and compare other’s prices with theirs; then they figure out the savings they have effected by trading at Lloyd’s. Admission to the Society is free. Your membership starts' with the first purchase you make across the counters or through the mail. Lino up with the throngs of members who save money thero daily and finally re;.d their advertisement on page I.*

If you have home-separated cream for which yon 'desire a ready and all-thc-yesr.-round market, wo are at vour' service. Wo specialise in home-sepirated cream and give the highest market price. Maoiiland Dairy and Produce Co., Ltd., P.O. 1 Box 185, Wanganui.*

Mr Louis Eacmaekers, the Belgian artist who lias made a world-wide reputation by Jiis war cartoons, has gone to live at Bath.

Marton Patriotic Shop for tho coming Saturday and Tuesday, and there will be'a supply of poultry and lamb.

Robert Reid, an unmarried man, employed at tho Taratu Coalmine, collided with some coal trucks while cycling against the wind on Monday, and was seriously injured, lie was sent to the Dunedin Hospital, where he died yesterday.

Speaking of the country’s debt to. tho limbless array, Sir Francis Lloyd said £IOO,OOO was wanted to extend the work done at Roehamptou. A hundred men a week are fitted there with artificial limbs and 11,000 had passed through tho institution. After training 3200 had found work and GSOO had returned tp their old„ places. In last night’s hospital list, C. Stauden (Feilding) is reported as still dangerously ill, D. McCol (Ashhurst) seriously ill; Major R. D. Hardio (Palmerston North), still dangerously ill, but improving. Severe cases are: Lieut,. W, Huso (Palmerston .North), R. L. Gill (Feilding). O. H. Kerr (Marton), M. Mulcdiy (Mangatainoka), and R. E. Wili'le (Marton).

The following local soldiers returned by the hospital ship at Auckland yesterday:—Privates, L. G. Amies, P,.lmerstonN. ;W.R. S. Askew, Waikamio; W. R. J. Climo, Rangitkei: R. W. O. JDalrymple, Bulls H. O. Lucas, Eongotoa ;*G. McElroy, Feilding; W. G. Moore,* Palmerston N. : R. G. Ranby, Feilding;,/. Tennant, ILlmerston N. ; .). A. T. Thompson, Levin; Lance-Corporals C. \V/ Cross, Woodvillo; O. O. Thorborn, Marton.

At a moo iug of the Executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday on t!m motion of Mr A. Kobinson, seconded by iVr J. 11. Pcrrctt, the following resolution was passed; •‘That tin's mooting is of the opinion that in Hie case of low-grade wools, such as seedy pieces, crutchings, bailies, etc., the Wool Brokers’ s ssooiation be shod by the ImperialSSupplies Departments s Department to formu- !-. to a scbedrMe of prices at rates proportionate to those of higher giv.dos as ascertain ail from prices obtlined for sue)! wools in Jaua-try, HIM.

The recommendations of the interDepartinentnl Committee re"-mlin g the immigration of to Fiji are considered by “many in those islands to bo prejudicial to the planting industry. It is stated that there will be noendeavour to procure Indian labour under the conditions Hid down. The Planters’ Association ofFiji’has communicated with Japmose immigration firms regarding the possibility of obtaining Japanese. The British at Consul Tokiohas informed the association that Japanese agent will probably visit Fiji to report as to the advisability of entering into contracts, A funny story from rhe Western front concerns a “large and fat Bavarian soldier’’, who w r as taken prisoner. As lie was brought to the French lines he took out an envelope and waved it, saying, “Eon Bocbe, karucrad. ” Ho added that he bad had oblige of the French prisoners in a fort in Bavaria and so satisfied wore the captives with his treatment that they bad given him a letter of recommendation in case he should over lie a prisoner himself. An officer opened the letter, which read as follow: “We French prisoners, interned in Fort X, hive found in Fritz a thief end swindler, who robbed ns outrageously when we commissioned him to buy things for us. Fritz is both cunning and stupid Ho played us the dirtiest tricks. We recommend him to the tender mercies of whoever of our countrymen rs we hope t kes him prisoner. Ho deserves a sound thrashing.” The Bavaria!! joiueddin the .French officer’s laughter, rubbing bis hands and exclaiming “Bon Boche. ’’ History is silent cs to Iris ultimate fate.

A remarkable achievement was accomplished at the University book-keeping diploma examination held last November for the Now Zealand Society of Accountants. This was the passing of the ox.ruination by a young student, Mr. D. E. Duthoit, who is temporarily blind. Mr. Duthoit studied at the' Auckland College under Mr. W. H. Hemingway. All the ’principles of bookkeeping were explained to Mr. Duthoit by his teacher, and at the examination he w»s supplied with a roadeft The reader read over the paper aloud, and then at Mr. Duthoit’s dictation, set down the answers to the question. What is the more remarkable is that the examination papers—two iu numberinvolved the working of practical problems, consisting of any figure with the usual additions, deductions, allowances, and so forth. All of this had, of course, to be retained in the head. The examination was specially supervised by the Kev. A. B. Chappell, registrar of the Auckland University College.

Another war romance, in which a New Zealand soldier and an English nurse are actors, is reported. Years ago the soldier, when quite a lad, was induced by an English magazine to participate in its scheme for the exchange of picture post-cards on the part of its subscribers in different parts of the world. The New Zealand lad exchanged post-cards with a little English miss, and for about couple of years both were enabled by this moans to add to their collections. Then the correspondence gradually' died away. Some years flew by and then the great war broke out. The young New Zealander was one of the first to enlist, and saw service before he was seriously wounded. He was invalided home to Now Zealand to discover that his fiancee had, during his absence, married one of the stay-at-homes. Though discharged from tli© forces he now had hut one desire—to got back%> the firing-line as quickly as possible, and forget Ins troubles Ho returned to the front with one of the reinforcements last voir,- and after a period of strenuous fighting was once more seriously wounded: Ho was sent to a hospital in England, where lie was placed under the charge of a pretty nurse. It w « case' of love at first sight on the part of both ami ■ss soon as it wts possible they were married. Then they discovered thrt they were the parties who had corresponded with one another _ by means of post-cams years before. The voung soldier, no longer lit for the army, has now brought his \yife out to' his homo in Christchurch.

There was u loss of £.lO Ts lOil’on the working of the Foilidng electric lighting machinery last mouth. During tho last nine mouths the receipts ami working expenditure has been nearly equal.

A lire at Rongotoa at “1 o’clock yesterday morning destroyed a wash-house, trap shed, and stables on the property of Hr W. G. Bayliss. Called out of bod by tho whistle of the factory, local residents formed a bucket brig-do, and prevented the flames from spreading to tho premises of Messrs J. Gould, draper, and F. J. Teaz, butcher.

The South British Insurance Co., Ltd , announces that it has acquired the business of tho Guardian Trust and Executive Company of Now ZoU'Uid. Ltd., and is prepami to act as attorney trustee, executor and administrator. Pull particulars can be obtained from Messrs Abraham and Williams, Ltd., Marton agents.

At the m eeting of tho Feilding Borough Council last night the Mayor stated that a sufficient amount of oil had been received from Taranaki to run the machinery yatbout reducing tho quantity in stock. Tho company which had supplied tho oil, however, was not now rising any. An application was about to be made to the Minister of Mines for a subsidy towards the cost of sinking for oil. Ho proposed that tho application receive the support of tho Council. Tho motion was adopted.

With reference to tho ' statement which bas’appeared to the eflecfc that four Germans have lately bought up IT dairy farms in the Uougotoa district" and converted them into sheep farms, Mr Edward Newman, lU.P, is communicating with the Prime Minister to find out if the statement L correct, and if so is asking wlml action the Government propose to tko to prevent the wholes ; lo acquisition of our best farm 1 ,mls by Germ ms while our boys are fighting for tho Empire at the front.

At tho meeting-of tho Wanganui Education Board on Wednesday evening, correspondence was real I'rom the M nitwatu A. and P. Association, offering live guineas lor a school exhibit at the next Show. Tho Chairman explained that this was an answer to a request for a grant in keeping with a promise in the Show schedule for the veiy fine school exhibit at the last Show. Considerable time, trouble and expense had Veen involved in getting this together, hut the request for t financial help had been absolutely ignored. Under the circumstances in', did not think it sdvis dole to repeat the experiment Tho Board appiovert of this.

Quo of the Ne,v Zealand soldier s who returned about tho New Year was sent h. ck not on account of wound or sickness, nor for any fault at all, except that he was under ago! Ho enlisted in Southland (says tire Dunedin Star) dodging the forbidding of his father and steering through all other hindrances, served two years with tho army, behaved well, and came through without a scratch or any bodily trouble, _ or without a question as to his eligibility, until it was discovered that he was technically an infant. As a matter of fact he is only 18 years old. tie resents his rejection and wants to know what the military authorities are going to do with him while lie puts in the time that must elajise before he can enlist again. His ease, however, docs not come near tho record. The authorities know an English youth who edged in unlawfully, fought the Germans for two years, and when bowled out was only 1(5 years of age. The case is well authenticated and known to some Now Zealand soldiers.