War Notes.

Southern Cross, Volume 24, Issue 2, 15 April 1916, Page 3

War Notes.

GERMANY UTTERLY DOOMED. [ WHY AND WHEREFORES "Great thoughts" publishes an interesting interview with Sir George Blrdwood, uncle of General Bivdwood. The interview took place on Sir George's 84th birthday, and he stated that he had been up at four o'clock that morning, as usual. Sir George, 'who has spent many years in official life in India, with which country his l family have been connected for about 150 years, was asked his opinion as to the war, and replied that .he was an incurable optimist. "Why?'' he asked. "Well, because I have faith and trust enough in God to know that he wiill never let wickedness and ; evil triumph ultimately over right and truth .' Not a bit of it, Mr Wade ! God Himself has told us that ' the nation that trusteth- in the sword alone shall perish by the sword.' And I for one thoroughly believe the Almighty's words in thlis, as in all else. As sure as we now sit here, Germany is utterly doomed in God's own time, for she has signed her own death-sentence by her awful crimes and horrible acts against defenceless men, women, and balv-.. "Two tremendous things will smash Germany to pieces, viz., that spirit of ' Hate ' which she has nourished and encouraged against all other nations sq much, that to-day it has turned against her own self in such a wave of indignation as the world has never before known. And every land,, every nation outside Germany and her equally blood-guilty and criminal adherents is eager to see them overthrown. "Second, their astounding lack of the sense of humour, the failure to see the jokes, the quips, the lighter sides of life and things, must in due course tend to destroy any nation that ,is the victim of such a want. When a nation puts men in gaol for a joke on an officer ; • for a. humorous cartoon anent its monarch ; for a pleasantry about >a. State official — such a nation cannot endure long a,s one of the ruling peoples of the world. For the saving grace ol humour sweetens life, lightens toil, gives rest and refreshment to hardworked men, keeps a people in good health and spirits. And the nations who have not got it will sooner or later go down before those who have !" It was most cheering and interesting to hear this line old veteran, this man who, in India itself,' amongst the famous races of the East, in the India Olflice at Whitehall, and in other places and ways has for,the long space of over sixty years made himself such a power for good, give vent to his splendid optimism. It made one wash that all the "dismal Jimmies" of Britain could be subjected for" an hour to his enlivening chat and presence. Such a n hour of brave General Sir William Birdwood's uncle would do all the pessimists from Joha O'Groats to Land's End a power of good.

VICTORIA CROSS HEROES. Although som~e> 50 winners t of the Victoria Cross havevb'een killed.in action during the past IS months, the diamond jubilee of the famous decoration sees about 250 recipients of the honour alive, J a ' larger number than has figured on the list of survivors for many years. In-., all, 669 V.C.'s have been bestowed in the 60 years that have passed since Queen Victoria founded the award "for valour," and of this total 1147 have been given for individual heroism in the present conflict. The Indian Mutiny produced 182 Crosses, and and opera- \

tions in the Baltic and Crimea, which were closing when ,-the medal was instituted, resulted in the com-i ferment of 11!.: !

A MARQUIS IN THE RANKS. As far as I remember, says a London correspondent, the Marquis ■= q*' Bute is the first man of his rank, at least within modern times, to enlist, as a private soldier, though we hav e had the case of an earl when Lord Crawford joined the R.A.M.C. Lord Bute has joined " The Devil's Own" under the rule by which no one without real military experience can obtain a direct commission except, of course, through Sandhurst or the "shop." Lord Bute' has plenty of warlike ancestors among the Stuarts and the Crichtons, , though it is rather curious that since the first creation.of the earldom' in 1703 none of- the holders of. the title, have had any military distinction. His broth.er, the late member for Cardiff, fell in action last year. \

SOLDIERS AND MORALS. WITLESS GIRLS. CHAPLAIN RENTOUL-'S BUTTONS. At the monthly meeting of the National Council of Women (Melbourne) Chaplain Captain Rentoul, in an address, said that many of our - soldiers were at the most dangerotis age of youth, and these thousands of young men were thrown into the temptations of a great city. The State ought to stand "in loco parentis" to them, especially those who were separated from their own people! There never was a liner body of men as those which comprised the Australian fighting forces, but where there was a large body of men there was clanger. The danger was mostly connected with what he described as "witless young women" rather than the ordinary women of the streets. What always astonished him in Australia was the lack of parental control over young girlhood. The. Nation Council of Women should teach those witless girls. There seemed to be some extraordinary attractions in buttons and a uniform. He found that even he himself when in uniform had received notice that had never been his before. (Loud laughter). Women police authorised by the State, and endowed with authority, were badly needed in this State, and if the National Councilwould again approach the Government on the subject it would, receive the support of the clergy. (Applause). No one could accuse Lord Kitchener of being a wowser. He was a, man, and his advice to soldiers was—"(l) Don't drink. (2) Be .courteous to all women, but not familiar." (Applause!.