The Sun MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1914. THE GERMANS AT OSTEND.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 218, 19 October 1914, Page 6

The Sun MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1914. THE GERMANS AT OSTEND.

The occupation of Ostend by the Germaiis Avas only to be expected, particularly as Antwerp hail previously been acquired. The German forces-are.-now in possession of practically the whole of Belgium, - but while they have achieved this success, they must be hekl to have, failed in their campaign so far, inasmuch as they are unable to successfully re-invade France. That was the first and- great objective of the German legions when they were entrained ( early in Aiigust. All the plans in the German War Office were concerned with that enterprise. France was to be definitely and swiftly overwhelmed—that, and nothing else, was the priimiry task. In the attempt to carry out this plan of campaign, the Germans have fallen far short of their objective. They, have overrun a nation whose only crime was to try and enforce the right to shut its own doors to the most' ruthless tyrant of modern times. That required no great'feat of arms, considering the unexampled preponderance of the German armies, and the fact that what little help the Allies could give to the harassed Belgians was both illjudged and belated, as witness Namur and bloody Mons. But the occupation of Belgium was not what the Hoheiizollern set out to compass. Pa;ris, with France to follow, was the goal,''and that goal lias nrt; yet befcn reached.Herein lies the fact of German failui-e. The Kaiser 's western armies are locked up in north-east France, and, if the sigijs hold good, they are destined to be evicted altogether in the not distant future. There can be no successful 'invasion of Russia while two million Germans are needed to bar the way of the Allies —maybe to Germany itself. And if there can be no successful Teuton invasion of Russia now it will never be practicable, since the Russian mobilisation is yet to be completed, and the winter (with the wolves) is approach-, ing. The acquisition of Ostend has therefore no particular significance that can be detected. It may scare timid people" across the Channel, but the British Flying Corps and the British Fleet can be trusted .to afford England all the protection she will require against invasion. It is a little difficult to know just how to appty the contributions to the Poor of Britain and Belgium Fund to the best advantage. The donors will no doubt be in agreement that the money should be used in the way that will provide the maximum amount of relief, and it seems to us that a good deal depends on Where foodstuffs can be bought cheapest. Enquiries from the High Commissioner should settle this point without very much delay, and if it is found that food can be bought in England cheaper than in New Zealand, then Ave might very well make the ' further sacrifice that sending the money out of the country involves. There is no question, as Mr Duncan Rutherford has pointed out, that many gifts lia\'e been made on the understanding that produce was to be purchased and shipped from New Zealand, and it is also perfectly true that New Zealand is not in a position to remit large sums of money abroSp, but the circumstances are exceptional. The appalling treatment of the unfortunate Belgians by their ruthless German conquerors Avarrants us in doing our utmost to come to their aid, and we do not think anyone who has made a contribution in kind will take any exception to the committee's action in converting it into cash, and remitting the money, if by that means more good will be done. N'or do we think anyone would object to a variation in the proportion in favour of the Belgians to the extent of at least half the amount collected.