COMMONWEALTH.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144484, 19 September 1914, Page 3

COMMONWEALTH.

CAPTURE OF NEW GUINEA. GERMAN DECEIT, LEADS TO UNNECESSARY BLOODSHED. (Received Sept. 19. 11.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 19. ’The censor.-, having removed the prohibition on the publication of the movement .■ of the Australian fleet in the New Guinea area prior to the capture, the. Herald states that it transpires that the town of ii about was twice captured. The town ohered no resistance when tho Australian warships visited it early in August ami the German flag was hauled .loin by the residents. The first visit was made while the warships were s*. arching tor the whereabouts ol a German cruiser. After .sweeping tho approaches lo Simpsonhaieii Harbour lor mines they entered early, in the morning prepared to attack the enemy’s ships, bn. none were there. As ! the chief object of the Australians was the capture of the Gorman warships and the destruction of tho wireless stations they could not then afford lo land a force to hold the town. Tho G ovomor informed the party that there vero »o wireless stations, fortilica'iions or men. The Australian, ships then loft and found that the Gormans at Ruhaul had meantime boon busy. Trenches had Teen dug, roads mined, a wireies station erected and of her preparations made, which ueec>Ksi fated iho sr-mml attack and consequent los •? of life. Tho M.cndcl adds: <: We understand ni .;<kk! authority that when tho first ■ vr i w;iA made a number of Gorman • souliers v. .to cuneeMod on the Gorman nnu.T'liam ■'(■■n I non : u harbour and it is • .sumd«od .hat alter the departure of ! tho d usiraiians. these prepared lor resDnTio- (ho landing of tho expeditionary • fore• *, ? * It also suite* Dm: Admiral I P.iUv ivao’.vfd i-*unn'.ers from tho I Governor > * German New Guinea that i dmv would in- on ;vsistnnee to tho ex--1 pc<tU!o:iavy have. ’ THE SEIZURE OP WHEAT. (Received Sept. 19, noun.) SYDNEY. Sop*. 19. It is understood that a portion of tho seir.'d wheat was sold under contract prior to the issue of the proclamation, and wilt be released, but this includes coin reels for delivery outside ' tslraiia. It is announc'd that the price fixed for flour is the wholesale figure. The inverstaie conference is arranging to fix as tar as possible a uniform basis of prices. AIVARDS NOT TO BE ALTERED, (Received Sept. 39. noon.) SYDNEY, Sopt. 19. In the Arbitration Court". Mr. Justice Heydon. in refusing an appeal against an award, said he did not intend at present to interfere with tho awards. Referring to the dislocation, of trade and, unemployment caused by the war. he declared that Ift h e Government employees considered it their duty to tax themselves, it was not the time tor employees to have wages increased. They, too. ought to conic lo the rescue. NOTES ON THE'Sm'ATION. According to military critics the Germans like to onorate with throe armies, so that at a "suitable moment two of them can unite and strike a crushing blow at a desired point. In the attack on Franco one army advanced through Belgium direct on Rafis, the centre army, under the Grown Prince, followed the line of the Meuse, and tho third ulong the eastern Iroutier of Branco from Mot* to the south of Strnssburg. Wben tho eastern army had nearly reached Raids it was swung east and south to meet the central army under the Crown Prince, and tho two made a strenuous attack on tho French line south of Verdun. This crushing blow failed and the right flank of tho eastern army got a severe hammering from tho British and 'French forces. The. two jinnies have now taken up strong positions on tho lines of the Oise and Alonso and it will ho a serious undertaking to move them back. The first great battle has finished and the second is now doubtless in progress, in their retreat, the Gormans will have jiinctioneil with tho army of General von Bulow which was near the Oiso and will he supported by tho troops which were recently besieging Maubougo. Thr.so will strengthon the right, which has had a severe slinking recently. There are reports also of Gorman reinforcements from the direction of Liege. Li East Prussia the Russians have retired and the Germans are hurrying forward largo bodies of troops, probably with the intention of operating on the flank of the central Russian army when it begins its advance towards Roson and Berlin. Offensive action of this kind, is far more in accord with German strategy Ihsci a merely defensive attitude. It is cmito possible that a, rand advance from East Rrussiu will be the German reply to the slowly developing attack from Central Roland. One cannot help regretting that tho cable man did not send us a verbatim report of Lord Kitchener's speech in the House of Lords instead of some of tho wonderful and incredible stories that- we are receiving. For example tho report of a train load of German dead arriving at a Berlin station and horrifying all tho indies on the platform is beneath contempt as an invention. . The following is the text of a resolution passed by a meeting or tho Maoris mentioned therein:—'‘Moremere, September 16, 1914.- To Dr. Maui Romaic, Wellington. Sir,—Greeting to you and your friends the Ministers and the Government who are gathered afc the Parliamentary House o? thin Dominion. Crooking! Greeting! This is to direct you to cause the- trustee to pay to the Covcrnuieu i Is in every £1 of the rent received by tho Maoris of Taranaki, Waitotara ?<, Parininihi; money to assist Hie peop! under King Goorve V. in their war against the Gormans in Europe.—To Ropiha Te Rangi Haukori, chairman oL-thc meeting.”—JELawera Star,