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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144712, 22 June 1915, Page 2

It is sometimes said that tho present war is tho natural consequence of the policy of Bismarck, but this is far from the truth, as it was the one object of Bismarck to prevent Germany from finding herself engaged in a war on both fronts as sho is to-day. Bismarck’s letters show that the thing he dreaded most was that Germany should bo led into a war to further Austria’s ambitions in the Balkans. This could be shown by many quotations, but tho following, from an article ho wrote in a Hamburg papor on January 15, 1893, will suffice: —“The purpose of the Aus-tro-German treaty of alliance,” *he said, “is in no way to strengthen Austria in tho pursuit of a purely Austrian policy in the East. Germany has no interests in the East. Besides, if she supported Austria’s Balkan policy she would defeat the purpose of the treaty, which is to preserve tho peace. If Austria was entitled to tho support of Germany’s bayonets if engaged in tho East, a collision with Russia would become probable.” It is because the Kaiser has thrown over this policy and supported Austria, first when she annexed Bosuia and Herzegovina, and lost year when she threatened Servia, that Germany is now involved in war. Bismarck also foresaw that Italy would npt join Germany and Austria in a war like the present. In 1892 ho wrote: —“England’s attitude towards the Triple Alliance depends, not on the Heligoland Treaty, but on Italy. If England is opposed to Germany we can never reckon on Italy’s help: Italy cannot run tho risk of being isolated in the Mediterranean, and of being . defeated by France. Hence she must be certain of tho protection of the English fleet in case of need.”

Another item in Mr. Beauchamp’s report which is worthy of more than passing attention is his suggestion that a scheme similar to that under which tho Now Zealand Government is now buying frozen moat for tho Imperial Government might bo effective in putting a stop to operations by the American Meat Trust in tho Dominion. There have been repeated rumours that tho Trust is endeavouring to gain a footing in New Zealand. If it succeeds it is certain that a considerable share of tho' profits derived from this important branch of our industry will go to the United States, and it is even possible that when it suits the Trust to bring it about there will be a very serious decline in tho values of our surplus meat. The war is teaching us many things; among others, that the State can safely control the moat industry ; and it it can step in now' and prevent exploitation by Brftisn speculators it can do so also to prevent tho American Meat Trust from exploiting the producers. Mr. Beauchamp sounds a note of warning with respect to the formation of new' companies for the purpose of establishing new works. There is, however, no sign yet that this is being overdone. There is room in New Zealand for a far greater number of cattle and sheep than it contains at present, and there is no indication that the demand for frozen meat is likely to be overtaken in the near future. The high prices now being obtained are likely to encourage enterprise in this direction, with the result that' next year the existing freezing works are certain to bo overtaxed unless several new works ■. are ready to relievo, the situation.

A Melbourne message states that tho price of butter has been raised one jicnny wholesale, and is now Is lid per

A Wellington telegram states that a Gazette extraordinary contains an Or-dcr-in-Council prohibiting the export of potatoes. The Mayor has forwarded to the Hospital Ship Fund a further payment of £7, being £6 received as proceeds of Mrs. Whithorn's afternoon, and £1 proceeds of sale of a shawl given hy Mrs. Elwin, per Miss Hamorton. In the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., judgment by default was given for plaintiff in the undefended case of Walter Little (Mr. A. H. Johnstone) v. Brandon Haughten, £7 (costs £1 3s 6d). In the Judgment summons case of Antonio Bartlett (Mr. A. 11. Staudish) v. John Coleman, defendant was ordered to pay the sura of £2 14s 6d on or before June 20 in default three days’ imprisonment. F. J. Eggleton was also ordered to pay M. Burke the amount of las forthwith, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. General G. Roblay, who wields a facile pencil, has drawn many pithy Eost-oards upon the war. Wo have een shown an excellent one which Mr. TV. F. Gordon received to-day from the artist. It has tho figure of a New Zealand trooper holding a tewhatewa, and bears tho following legend:— If I’d as many soldiers as X could tell I’d send the old Kaiser to tho Dar- - dan-ell, I’d stick him there without any fuss To show him ho is not tho Boss-tor-us. Messrs. Angus and Robertson, Ltd., of Sydney, forward us an excellent little handbook entitled “The New Company Drill Simplified, with Squad, Section, and Platoon Drill.” It is illustrated with numerous diagrams showing positions of company, platoon, and section commanders, and nil movements in squad drill, platoon drill, and company drill as laid down in Infantry Training, 1914, with detail for all movements. The anther is Lieutenant R. Stupart. who acknowledges assistance given him by a number of officers. A careful study- of tho little book should prove helpful to both officers and men undergoing military training.

M. Maurice Verne describes in 1-c Gaulois. a visit he was able to pay to the Krupp Ordnance Factory at Essen in January. For many months work has been continued day and night. At fixed hours a halt is called, and the workmen rush to slake their thirst with coffee, which is lavishly supplied by the authorities. At other times milk is distributed with equal Kberalitj'. A Times correspondent states,;—“A number of doctors are always on duty, going from one set of furnaces to another, to see the effect produced by the noxious gases set free, and to administer such palliatives or remedies as are required, for it frequently happens that the workers are unable to retain solid food. In extreme cases hypodermic injections are resorted to in tho case of tho most exhausted. It may bo as well to add that tho feverish activity and eagerness of the workmen are stimulated or sustained by the knowledge that at the end of each year, or half-year, they will all receive their share of the profits of the great Krupp Company.” An interesting reference to the quinnat salmon was made on Wednesday by Mr. 1.. F. Ayson, Government inspector of fisheries, who is on a visit to Auckland. Ho has recently returned from the South Island, where ho had been assisting in the netting and collection of quinnat salmon eggs. These fish, he said, were now established in the Waitaki River, and .they run up from the sea in large numbers every year to spawn. They come in from about the end of March, or the beginning of April, until the end of May, and as many eggs as possible arc collected. The fish came in this year in much larger numbers than in any previous season. They first commenced to return from tho sea in 1907. The object in collecting eggs is to stock other rivers, and the Government officers are now stocking one of the large l ivers on the west coast of the .South Island, It is expected that tho salmon will spread -into other suitable rivers. It is doubtful if.tho rivers of the North Island are suitable for salmon, as the fish seem to prefer rivers rising in snowy mountains, lu time the officials nuiy experiment with some of tho North Island rivers.

Tho social and gift sale in the Korn Hall on Thursday night, in aid of the Belgians, were most successful, and the settlers of tho district arc to bo congratulated on the fine result of their efforts. The hall was crowded for the social, tho music being supplied by Mr. A. Good (piano) and Mr. Morris (violin), songs being given by Mr, D. Paterson and recitations by Messrs. P. Pa ill ano Bnglefield. Messrs. W. Maco and J. Reid were M.C’s. for the dancing, during an interval iu which supper, provided by the ladies of the district, was dispensed by tho ladies’ committee. The sale.produced just on £4O, a miscellaneous assortment of goods being submitted for sale by the auctioneer (Mr. C. Fairbrother). Drapery and goods presented by Messrs. Hallenstoiu Bros., F. Plumtree, Hookham, Cede and Thomson, S. B. White and Sons, Calvert House and C. 0. Hawke all sold well. Cash donations amounted to about £l4, and several guessing competitions during the evening added £2l 10s to tho fund. Members of tho committee were: Gentlemen, Messrs. P. Haill (chairman), A. Looney, 33: Looney, G. Morton, H. S. Watson', F. Area, J. Hanson, C. Krutz* G. Meredith and E. Meredith; ladies, Mosdamos E. J. Rowell, Watson, Area, Morton, A. E. looney, A. Looney, K. Bishop, Krutz, and Misses Ralß (2), E. Rowell, A. Watson, V. Bishop, G. Bishop* G. Smart and C, Rowlands. Mr. H. J. Englofield mad© an efficient general secretary, and Mrs. E. J. Rowell acted in a similar capacity for tlie ladies’ committee. Mr. Englefield has .forwarded tho balance-sheet, which shows the total takings to be £79 10s. The expenses were only 17s, leaving a net balance of £7B 13s, which lias been banded to tho Mayor’s Fund for the Relief of the Belgians. There is still a sum of £2 to be collected, but this will be added to the proceeds of the next patriotic function. Tho usual fortnightly short-night danco will be held in the East End Pavilion on Thursday next.

The daintily dressed*'woman is particular about her hosiery at all times—■winter or summer. The pleasing styles now showing at Morey’s arc priced so attractively that the demand is great. Turn to the advertisement now.

Throughout the province at tho company’s various branch stores the Melbourne Clothing Company holds a stock of the improved “Swanndri” guaranteed waterproof coats. These are stocked in dark grey and fawn shades in both riding and walking cut, and tho price does not exceed 55s for best quality.’" Quality, style, and value aro three groat features when they can he. justly claimed for any particular goods. The Now Zealand Clothing Factory make this claim for their present stock of hats, and when such a particular firm makes a particular claim for any particular Jine, particular-men. may. safely takeKtns&int.*

Mr. J. Partridge, a pupil teacher on the Central School staff, has -volunteered for active service and has passed the usual medical examination.

A telegram from Wellington states that the Prime Minister will go to Palmerston North to-day to attend the official opening of the Winter Show there.

Those who are lending exhibits to the exhibition to be held at the Good Templar Hall are requested to attach the name firmly to each and leave them with some of the committee at the hall between 8 and 9.30 on Thursday morning. Contributions of work, cakes, etc., kindly promised may be left at the same time.

The present pupils of the New Plymouth Girls’ High School, assisted by some of tiro Old Girls, are busy getting up an entertainment to be given in the Theatre EoyaTon July 29. Half the proceeds are to go to the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. Dramatic scenes, fancy drill, tableaux, singing, etc., ought to provide a very attractive programme, and the girls hope that their efforts will bo rewarded by the raising of a large sum of money. At a meeting of the local railway staff held last evening a resolution was unanimously carried as follows: “That a hearty rote of thanks be accorded all artists, school-children, and bandsmen for services, Mr. J. West for ’bus for school-children, business people for donations of material, loan of furniture, flags, ferns, and decorations, Mr. W. h. Wilraot for painting notices and stage background, and Taranaki Herald and Taranaki Daily News for free advertising, all of which contributed to the success of the railway patriotic concert on 17th instant.”

A sister of one of this district’s victims at Gallipoli has been very active all along in collecting funds and comforts for the wounded (saj’s the Oamaru Mail), and, despite the shock of the bereavement, she has not abated her endeavours. In one instance she went to a farmer in this district with five strong, healthy sons all free of encumbrance and pleaded for Some small assistance for one of tho various funds, but met with no response to her solicitations save boorish discourtesy. It is cases of this kind—fortunately few—that raise tho demand for compulsion. By direction of tho local committee of the Now Zealand Society of Accountants, Taranaki branch, Mr. T. L. Buxton, tho secretary, wrote to the _High School Board on Monday enclosing a cheque for £2 2s, to b© used for prices for the senior and junior book-keeping classes at the boys’ school, such prizes to be awarded by tho principal, Mr. W. H. Moyes. The committee hoped that this small tangible proof of its interest in tho boys and their work would stimulate them to greater efforts, and prove to them that tho subject was of practical value.—A vote of thanks was accorded tho committee for their offer.

By April 29 the Germans, on the strength of Turkish reports of onr landing at the Dardanelles qn April 25, were celebrating a great victory. ViceAdmiral Kirehotf wrote in the Berliner Tagoblatt: “The whole attack, exhaustively: prepared for months past, lias come to grief at tho very beginning. Such a miserable collection of troops, got together anyhow and partly untrained coloured Englishmen and Frenchmen and colonial rowdies of all sorts, Cairo Australians, Canadians; and so on—may frighten old women, and may be able to rob and plunder, but they can do nothing against serious national forces like those of the_ Turks. The land attack was just as miserable as tho attack by sea. There had been much talking and writing about great preparations, but in reality they attempted nothing serious.” Several small boys, two or three sol-dierly-looking hats, a Now Zealand Ensign, and a whole heap of enthusiasm form the ingredients of an interesting little military drama which is beingenacted daily in the vicinity of the Gore Dairy factory (says the Ensign). The principal actors, are some eight or ten lads k their ages ranging from about four to nine years, who are employing their , term 'holidays enthusiastically going through a course of “military” drill. One of the oldest of the boys, hehattod in a discarded but full-sized soldier’s headpiece, acts as general commanding the forces, and shouts his orders in shrill treble, the little company going through a series of manimivrcs, in which “form foul's,” “hands on hips,” “arms upward stretch,” “knees bent,” and “heels raised" seem to bo of vital importance. A small Scottish boy was summoned to give evidence against Tils father, who was accused of making v a disturbance on the street. Said tlie Magistrate to him: “Come, my wee men, speak the truth, and lot us know all ye ken about this affair.” “Wool, sir,” said the lad, “d’ve ken Inverness Street?” “I_do, laddie,” replied his Worship. “M eel, ye gang along it and turn into the square, and cross the square— : —” “Yes, yes,” said tho Magistrate, encouragingly. “An’ when ye gang across the square'ye turn to the right, an’ up into High Street, an’ keep on up High Street until ye come to a pump.” “Quite right, me bonnie lad. Proceed.” said his Worship“l know the auld pump well.” “Wool,” said the boy. with the most infantile simplicity, “ye may gang an’ pump it, for ye'il nae pump me.” At the King F.dward Barracks, Christchurch, on Thursday night (says tile Press), over 200 officers and men of the local Territorial forces were put through tho MT.aglcn _ system of bavonet fighting bv Captain M’l.aglen. The officers of the different units ot the Canterbury Battalion showed their men a good example by divesting themselves of their tunics anti taking thenplace in the ranks. Tho system ot bayonet fighting as practised is one which must prove of undoubted value in modern warfare, and infinitely ahead, ot tho old system. The meu worked with gretit gusto, and the instructor kept them going hard for over an hour.. At tlie finish he complimented them on tile improvement they had made, and said that it showed that at least ever man who had taken part that ni„ht must be physically fit to stand such a strenuous test.

“The Hon. Mr. 'Wigrain’s suggestion that wo should help the Empire by supplying tinned meat for the troops, and that the fanners should grow sheep to suit the trade, is no doubt well meant, but Hr. AVigram is evidently unaware that our mutton is too high a class for tinning purposes,” comments Mr. Edward Newman, M.P. “It has been carefully bred up to meet the demands of the London frozen meat market, and it would bo disastrous for farmers’ to reduce the quality of their stock in order that, while the war lasts, tlio tinning trade might be increased. Besides, wo are serving the Empire and the Army much bettor in supplying frozen beef and mutton which cannat be produced of the same quality by any other country in the world, and let Australia and the Argentine tin their low-class stuff. Tinned moat is always inferior meat as compared with what is exported in the frozen state. Moreover, British soldiers do not care for mutton and would much prefer good New Zealand beef to the Hou. Mr. Wigram’s tinned mutton.”

Miss Hodges, principal of the Girls’ High School, reported to the Board of Governors on Monday that the teachers and girls wished, with the board’s approval, to give an entertainment in the Theatre Eoyal on July 29, half the proceeds to go to the fund for wounded New Zealand soldiers, and any remaining profit to go towards clearing the heavy debt on the magazine.

Writing to friends in Auckland, Trooper Amos described the delight with which New Zealand newspapers are received and read by the sick soldiers, but he pointed out that many New Zealanders are sent to the Anstralian hospitals at Heliopolis and at Mena, as well .as to the New Zealand base hospitals in Egypt. Unless newspapers are specially addressed to these men, they never see a New Zealand paper, as the bundles which are dispatched to the New Zealand hospitals are kept there. The remedy suggested is for friends of the soldiers to address a portion of the papers which they are sending to the hospitals to Mepa, Cairo, and Heliopolis (Cairo).

An Australian was wounded in a peculiar manner during the fighting at the Dardanelles. He explained it as follows in a letter frota the front:—“l had just shot a Turk down about twenty feet in front of our firing-line, and was getting back into our trench, when I struck a rifle with a bayonet fixed belonging to a chap who had just been shot dead. The bayonet was sticking np and my leg came right-down on it. It seemed a mighty funny way to get wounded after the miraculous escapes I had had up till then. I had very hard luck in being wounded so soon, as I had just been provisionally appointed sergeant, in charge of a section on the field, about eight hours before.

A novel experiment in co-operative trading is contemplated by the Auckland Automobile Association. A month ago the committee decided to_ invite tenders for 10,000 cases of benzine, its purpose being to determine whether it is practicable for tho association to purchase sufficient supplies for the^ requirements of its members. Half-a-dozen tenders have been received, and they are now under consideration. The president, Mr. Neville Newcomb, stated that tests had already been made of several new brands of spirit, and no was hopeful that the scheme would enable members to obtain benzine at lower rates than the present market prices. Several other associations, whose members consume in the aggregate large quantities of benzine, are considering tlie advisability of co-oper-ating with the Automobile Association in the scheme. For' Chronic Chest Complaints, Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, Is «d, 2s 6d.