GOOD NEWS OF WAR

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1939, Page 14

GOOD NEWS OF WAR

HOPE OF ITS EARLY CLOSE SOUTH AFRICA JOINS UP The cable messages during the period 9-16 September, 1914, were the most encouraging New Zealand had received since the outbreak of the war. From France came further news of the German defeat in the battle of the Marne. Russia was beating the Austrian forces in Galicia, the Montenegrins were biting the heel of Austria in Bosnia, South Africa decided to fight with Great Britain, and Italy gave indications that if she was not yet prepared to join the Allies she was determined not to fight in aid of Austria. Knowing now the long struggle that was to follow the victory at the Marne there is melancholy disillusionment in reading the messages received and the opinions expressed in New Zealand 25 years ago. Belgium's resistance was then as pertinaceous as that of Poland during the past fortnight in spite of appalling losses of life and property. In the Liege area alone 27.000 Belgians were killed and the story of ruthless treatment of the civilian population was but a forecast of similar German conduct in 1939. The gradual conquest of former German colonies in Africa was reported, and there were rumours of famine, and of industrial and political unrest in Germany as a tesult of her defeat in the battle of the Marne. A speedy rnd to hostilities was considered not only possible but probable. German merchant vessels were ordered to leave American ports and return home despite risk of seizure by the British navy and there were other details quoted in support of Ihe presumption that Germany would soon ask for peace. By the end of the week a soberer tone in the messages from Europe is observable. It was pointed out that the German retreat from the Marne had been orderly. The German losses were severe and the drive on Paris had been haljed. But Germany's war machine still functioned r.nd was capable of swift rehabilitation. There came on September 16 the first intimntion of the Russian defeat in East Prussia, a defeat that was much more damaging to Russia than the Marne defeat was to Germany. It became evident also that the Austrian army was still a capable fighting force rearly and able to resist and to overwhelm Serbian efforts for freedom. Outside the war the most important happening of the week was the opening of the Panama Canal. The completion of this gigantic work was overshadowed by the war. but New Zealand and other countries in the Pacific have lons since learned the great valuc of the canal in international intercourse.