CURRENT TOPICS

Southland Times, Issue 17657, 15 February 1916, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS

ENTHUSIASM OF FRANCE. "The people of France realise that they are at war. . . . The increase of production of munitions is due to one cause, ami one only, and that is the patriotic enthusiasm which exists there.” This is the keynote to a report of exceptional interest which lias been drawn up by the British Mission recently appointed to inquire into labour conditions in the munitions factories of France, where, although one-eighth of the land and fiveeighths of the former metallurgical productivity are now in enemy hands, an enormous increase in the output of war material has taken place. “It is evident.” says the report, “that as the war lias proceeded the French nation lias settled down with a determination and feeling of set purpose to the fulfilment of the task allotted to it. There is ne question but that the nation is at war, and the dominant sentiment not only of the men, but also of the women, is to carry the war to a successful termination. Everything else is subordinated to this determination. Women, of whom many thousands are employed in munition factories, work with- a pood will which is most impressive; this spirit is also evident in the case of male workers. The men have apparently welcomed the introduction of women into the factories, and are doing everything they can to instruct and co-operate with them in Increasing the output of munitions. Not only have the women been introduced for the purpose of increasing the supply of labour, but also of freeing the men for service In the army.” BRITISH AND GERMAN NATAL GUNS. The relative advantages of the British and German big-gun designs have been decided conclusively, says the World's Work. The British wire-wound principle of big-gun construction has been a favourite theme of ridicule in Teutonic artillery circles. The Krupp casting method was maintained as far superior, inasmuch as the weapons had longer life, end therewith greater power pressures and muzzle velocities were possible. The advocates of Kruppism urged that the British guns could only fire some 40 rounds with complete accuracy, where the Krupp guns were safe for 200 rounds or more. So much for theory and speculation. Now for practice and experience. It is admitted that erosion is very severe in our wire-wound guns, but wc have proved that the weapons can be rendered as good as new cheaply and quickly owing to our method’ of replacing the rilled section. Moreover, the guns are reliable for gome 85 to 300 rounds, after which limit deterioration does become manifest. On the other hand, the Krupp cast gun, instead of holding out for 200 rounds, is scarcely dependable for 300 rounds. Kc-riiling the Krupp gun is an expensive, prolonged, and somewhat delicate operation, so that the period of inactivity is far in excess of the wirewound ai-m. But it has remained for the stern experience of war to shatter the shibboleths of Kruppism upon which the German nation has been reared sfi diligently. WORK OF AIRCRAFT. Tlie work of aircraft during the year 1035 is reviewed by Mr H. Massac Buist, who tells us that during 12 months the long-range, multi-engine, large scale, weight-carrying aeroplane has been standardised and successfully employed. Moreover, in the same period the ordinary size, single-engine aeroplane and hydro-aeroplane have been employed to operate with all manner of missiles, including the large varieties of bombs of such weight that 12 months ago we thought they could be handled only from airships. To-day, too, bomb-dropping has been reduced to a real science, with the result that accuracy of aim no longer depends either on the element of luck nr on the mere instinct for markmanship of the man who discharges the missile. One result lias been to develop the tactics of massed attacks by aeroplane, which were only beginning to be evolved and practised a year ago. For this reason a high premium has been placed on the evolution of anti-aircraft guns which, from the airman's point of view, were practically negligible weapons 12 months ago, but which to-day are very efficient ones indeed, in that aircraft are no longer masters of the air in regions where anti-aircraft devices are available, are manned by adequately-trained personnel, and are employed on scientific principles.

SERBIA’S NEW TEAR HOPES. Serbia’s New Tear hopes were voiced by M. Cheddo Miyatovich, late Serbian Minister for Foreign Affairs. Notwithstanding that their entire country is occupied by the enemies, he said, the Serbs enter into the New Tear with unshaken faith in their allies and with hope in their victory, which will secure to Europe an honourable and lasting peace, by that victory we hope to realise our national aspirations. The Serbian nation, of course, counts on the Allies’ victory as a certainty, and is ready to co-operate with them towards the attainment of that victory whatever the cost in blood and other sacrifices may be. We have no doubt that whenever the time for peace negotiations arrives, and under whatever circumstances those negotiations begin, the first words of our great Allies will be The re-establish-ment of Belgium’s and Serbia’s independence, with full restitution of their teiritories. If I had been authorised to express a New Year's message from Serbia to Great Britain, I would formulate it in this way ; e have faith in voui have, faith in us, and, trusting God, let ns march to victory 1”