The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVNING. THURSDAY DECEMBER 2, 1915. THE HARMSWORTH PRESS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144852, 2 December 1915, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVNING. THURSDAY DECEMBER 2, 1915. THE HARMSWORTH PRESS.

It would hi? wrong perhaps to charge the Harms worth press with intentional disloyalty or with pro-tlerman leanings, yet it is difficult to reconcile its attitude with perfect loyalty to the country, Hor is it to be wondered at if our Allies interpret that attitude as a sign of weakness on the part of England. They may not be able to read between the lines and see the motives which impel these newspaper's to belittle the direction of the war. If every word of the j'anit-linding were time it would still he. mischievous and sometimes almost treasonable to publish it abroad so that the whole world may read of the occasional inefficiency and blundering

of the British war machine. We j do not hear of leading German newspapers pointing to the blunders of the German War Council or to the weakness of the Gorman position at this spot or that. This is not because there has been no bluudcring and there are no weak spots, but any German paper which dares to speak out is speedily brought to book. But, says someone, what about the boasted freedom of the press? Freedom of speech and a free press are among the most cherished of Britain's possessions, and it is because they are of such value that they should be carefully guarded against snob flaming indiscretions as the Hannsworth papers have been guilty of. In past wars, it has been established beyond doubt, much barm has resulted ito British arms by the publication of war" correspondents' letters and cables giving information which it was necessary to keep, if possible, from the enemy's knowledge. Knowing this, Lord Kitchener, when the present war commenced, look steps to prevent the same thing happening | again. Yet within a few weeks ; of the opening of the campaign i a British battalion was lost, it has j been stated, owing to its position j being indicated to the enemy by j a map in one of the Hannsworth papers. Possibly that story may not be true, but we can well believe it sifter being told by Sir John Simon that the Daily Mail on October Jl published a map headed ‘The Road to India,’ which was made use of by Germany among neutral nations in the Last to influence them and make them think that Britain was “in trembling fear of Germany.’’ While (he German press is compelled to suppress anything that is calculated to weaken the confidence of the nation in ultimate victory, Lord Koi't helijfe's papers are almost daily furnishing it with matter wliirh it uses to show that Britain is rent with internal dissensions, that her military authorities are a set of incapables, and that Germany has only to persevere a little longer to bring her to her knees. According to Sir John Simon pro-Geiman papers in Spain are regularly supplied with such matter from Beilin, ninetenths of which conics originally from the. Korthclitfo papers, which set themselves up as experts on naval and military strategy and tactics. And where do they get their opinions ? Presumably from such men as Mr. Ash-mead-Baiilett, who, brilliant journalist though ho may be. bad recently to confess than when he found himself on a sinking ship he donned a life-belt which ho forgot to inflate. Could a man who lost his head over so comparatively small a matter be trusted with the conduct of a military, campaign ? Quite likely he would send big guns to the front without shells, or shells without the gnus. The Times the other day replied to criticism directed against itself by stating that it bad been complimented by the Czar upon the excellence of its war articles. Perhaps so, for it does publish some excellent articles, but it cannot deny that it publishes much other matter that sewos no useful purpose in England but is seized upon by Germany to discredit Britain in neutral countries and to hearten up'the Gorman nation. It is quite time The Times, the Daily Mail, and the other Hannsworth papers were brought up with a round turn.

News from tho various seats of war is scanty iu the extreme, so tho cables are employed in tho dispatch of messages relating to Lord Northcliffc and his papers, of which New Zealand newspaper readers are becoming very impatient. Of tho little war news that is reaching us tho bulk is obviously untrue or imautheutic. Wo have cables telling ns that tho Serbian army is non-existent, others that it is still unbroken. That jt has suffered severely there is no doubt, bn.t there is no reason to think that it is yet done with. Tho assistance of the Allies was too long deferred, hut there is every hope that they will yet be able to chock the Anstro-Gorman and Bulgarian advances, and eventually to help tho Serbians to clear their country of the enemy- Neither Austria, Germany, Bulgaria nor Turkey is able to main-

tain its strength. All have suffered very heavy losses in the Balkans which the}’ cannot repair. Tho Allies, on tho other hand, are in a position to keep on strengthening their forces, and soon they will bo in the superior position. Russia, with a long Ront to hold northwards, cannot mobilise a really great army for a Balkan campaign in a week or two, but she is massing men on the frontier as rapidly as possible, and in a short lime she should have sufficient force there to satisfy Ronraania that there need he no fear of defeat. German Intrigue is endeavouring to keep Ronmania neutral, and so far has succeeded, but Russia’s weight is likely to turn the scale very soon. from the northern Russian front there is absolutely no nows; probably weather conditions prevent much movement. The Italians have not yet actually raptured Corizin, hut it is only n matter of time, for it must he almost untenable now. The only news from tho west is of a lurther bombardment between Osteud and Zochnigge ami of heavy* firing on the Flemish front, resulting in many train loads of German wounded being taken to the

One thing which few persons realised before tlic war began is the enormous number of men required to keep an army in the field at full strength. We understood that in countries like France and Germany, where compulsory military' service is in force, every man of military age went to tho colours when the army was mobilised, and eoneludrd that, tho whole of this army was put in the field. This, of course, is not the case, or there would be practically no army left in twelve months. The fart is that every man belongs to a certain class, according to his years of training, and tho active army consist* only of tho younger classes. If the cider men are called up on tho declaration of war they are simply put into camp to be trained ns reinforcements for the active army. In Germany not more than 50 per cent, of the men who become available for military service arc actually trained, so there is a good surplus of second-class material apart altogether from tho men who have undergone military training. Theso have to be trained from tho start. Lord Kitchener was quite aware of tho facts of wastage, and from the beginning of the war provided to meet them. Tins was why tho original force sent by New Zealand at first was, comparatively speaking, so small. Tho Secretary for War knew that it was the steady supply of reinforcements to keep np (ho fixed strength that was the difficulty, not sending tho original body, 11 is calculations have probably provided for a three years’ war, and those seems reason to believe that Germany did not look so far forward, but soon after tho beginning of the war had forces in the field which sho could not hope to increase, and for which reinforcements would fail long before three years had elapsed. At present the Dominion is providing reinforcements at the rate of 15 per cent, per month, and, except under most unfavourable ciiciiinstanees. this should gradually increase our numbers in the field, in accordance with Lord Kitchener’s intention at the beginning of the war.

In the Dominion there is no mystery aheut the size of our forces. The other day Mr. Massey told us that on November 0 we had sent away 28,C00 men. Putting our reinforcements at 15 per cent, a month and assuming 2500 men go into camp, we. are maintaining, a foreo of 16,000 men at or over full strength. In Britain nothing of this sort is known. In the House of Commons at the end of September Mr. Asquith was pressed to make a statement on conscription, but refused to discuss tho question until tho data supplied by tho National Register were available. Captain Guest, who poses as a representative of tho views of tho men at tho front, refused to bo silenced, and made a'strong speech for conscription. Ho estimated that 70 divisions (1,100,000 men) were required in tho hold, incidentally remarking that there ..were 12 divisions at tho Dardanelles. Ho put tho wastage at 10 per cent, a month, and demanded that conscription should ho introduced unless tho Government could guarantee an enlistment of 20,000 men a week, This-wouhl provide an army of 2,000,000, including 500,000 for homo defence. His chief complaint was that tho Government was not providing for wastage. If Captain Guest had taken the trouble to find out what was being done by tho Army Council in New Zealand ho might have concluded that exactly the same was being done in Britain. ■Whether tho men required there can be abtained without compulsion is as uncertain as it is here, but so long .as they are compulsion will bo unnecessary. So long as the rein! orcein cuts, which are not called by that name in Britain, come in all is well and there is no reason for an immediate change. "Wo have been told that 30,000 mon per week aro needed in Britain, which would allow for Captain Guests army of 2,000,000 with a wastage of 15 per cent, as here. Whether it is worth while to conceal tho facts so carefully is a matter which must bo left to the military authorities.

The third and fourth battalions of the New Zealand Ride Brigade (Earl of Liverpool’s Own) left May Morn Camp on Wednesday night and proceeded to Raugiotu camp, near Palmerston North, where they will complete their training.—Press Association. ‘Tt has been already decided by the Cabinet that certain concessions by way of railway privileges shall he made to returned soldiers,” said the Prime Minister on Tuesday night, ‘'but details of tho scheme have to ho arranged between tho Defence Department ami the Railway Department, and a definite statement on the subject will bo made within a few days.”

Tlic pnhutnkawa is flowering very early tnis year, two trees in Leach Street having boon full of bloom for tho last week or so. The “strawberry tree” (bentliamia) is unusually full of blossom this season, its primrose coloured flowers making a. tine display. A particularly fine specimen is noticeable m one of tlic properties adjoining Ridge Lane.

A Home paper contains an obituary notice of n young man who was recently killed at the Dardanelles, where lie was engaged as a member ol an Australian contingent. It mentions that after leaving college ho became a reporter on the stall of one of tho New South Wales paper, and later joined “a medical expedition to tho backwoods of New Zealand.”

Following .are the Wellington vital statistics for November, the figures for November, 1014, being added in parentheses:—Births 193 (173), deaths (if (fjT), marriages 141 (39). The figures for lhe eleven months ended November 30 were: Births 1017 (195(1). deaths Si(l (35(3), marriages 1171 (btiO). The marriages in the Registrar’s office were 299 and 2f.8 respectively. One of the Bth Reinforcements, writing from ———, says: —“We had a fearful gale, a cyclone struck us and smashed our galley, bakehouse and bathrooms, to ray i.’,.fling ol uorlholes and ventilators, so We pm in here last night fur repairs and to ilr.v Lc Over 99 per cent, of the men, wore ill. \Vc wore allowed ashore, were shown over TaUcrsall’s. and bought some tickets, to say nothing of a case of apples."

J’rivat-o A. Hardgrave. of tho Ninth Reinforcements, who is spending his final leave here, was tendered » farewell by some 70 or 80 friends on Wednesday night. On behalf of those present Mr. It. Bennoch presented the voiing soldier with a luminous wristlet watch. A very pleasant time was men Spent in social enjoyment, songs being rendered by, .Misses Violet and Jean Hurle, Me.Ars. R. Bcnnoch, Lowe and W. Roeb. and a recitation by Mr. Schultz. Tho music was supplied by Mr. Nicholls.

An extraordinary incident is reported is one of the Isle of Man newspapers, in correcting a report that two local residents, father nnd son, had boon killed at tlic front. The proprietor of the Grand Theatre, Douglas, states that while the picture show wan in progress he was called out by a young man, dressed in the uniform of the C'onuaught Rangers, and wearing regulation mourning, who stated that both his father and brother had been killed, and asked that a slides might be put on, announcing the sad fart to the audience. The showman at once complied, only to fine! later on that the whole affair was a hoax. A conference in Wellington of men and women, representatives of the various local educational and social welfare bodies throughout New Zealand, on Tuesday discussed tho question of censorship of picture films. A resolution was adopted that the conference, “while fully appreciating the useful and educational value of tho cinematograph, is of opinion that the class of moving pictures at present exhibited constitutes a grave danger to the moral health and social welfare of the community, and affirms tlic necessity lor strict "supervision by the Government of all films exhibited to tho publnv ’ The conference urged tho appointment of an officer or hoard to inspect and license nil films, also that n list of unsuitable films should he published in tho Police Gazette.

Next Sunday after**<m :be beautiful grounds and natural bush belonging to Messrs Sole Bros, and popularly known'as “Aotea” will be thrown open for inspection. With a few days’ sunshine the grounds should prove very attractive. ‘The Citizens' Band will be in attendance, and also a large body of active young ladies. Both combinations are necessary to the success of tho outing, as the band will liven proceedings with many selections, and the damsels fair are prepared for continuous toil in maldng tea and distributing cakes tp patrons prepared to pay. No fixed price will be charged, hut when it is mentioned that the grounds are being opened for tho nurposo of improving tho Belgian anti "Wounded Soldiers Funds tho public need no remainder that cash—like the music and the workers—is a necessity . The value of tho life-saving demonstrations at the East End beach was exemplified on Sunday hist, when a fatality was avoided by the prompt action of those who came to the rescue. The eight-yoar-old eon of Mr. H. Bennoch gut beyond his depth when bathin*»'in the river, and was soon in grave difficulties*. Private S. Tapp, who was standing on tho river bank, noticed tho lad’s plight, and alarmed Mr. P. J. Plannagan and'Master J. Henrichs, who rushed to tho boy’s rescue and succeeded in bringing him ashore. Artificial respiration methods were then applied, with tho result that the youngster soon recovered.

Tlic following visitors have been staying at the North Egmont Hostel during the past 10 days (exclusive of those from New Plyiffouth and Inglewood): — .Messrs. W. J. Williams, F. Williams, M. 13. William's and H. A. Quarte.rmun (Wanganui), K. M. Clarke. I’. D. England and If. IV. Lachlan (Auckland), K. C. Murphv and 11. IV. .Murphy (Tokomaru Bav), K. luglis, ,1. 11. H. highs and T. 13. Lane (Dunedin). J. Mellon (Timaru), JI. C. Melton, Mrs. Mellon and Miss D. Olenny (Napier), Mr. G. IV. I’limsoll, Mrs. G. IV. Plirasoll, Messrs. Bennett and A. S. Tarrant (Christchurch), F. IV. Clarkson and M. Winatanlcv (Invercargill), H. Cock (Nelson). "C. E. Claydon (Sumner), and Miss SI. F. Lcitch (Paisley). Tho celebrated “Flying Fox" line of men’s pure wool cashmere socks at Is fid a pair is having an unprecedented run at the Melbourne, Ltd.’s, sale. For present-day value those socks are “out on their own.”* History is being made every day. Our boys are taking part at the Dardanelles. Their letters give us a slight idea of what is going on just now, so that we long to know more. Just think, if your friend or relative hud a camera which, while small and compact enough to he carried anywhere without tho slightest inconvenience, would take perfect postcard pictures. Wouldn’t those pictures ho interesting. Present your friend with a soldier’s camera, to be had from Fraser’s at 27s 6d. 32a 6d, 37s til, and 455, and wouldn’t he appreciate pictures of home when he is I away I Get a camera yourself. Our I guaranteed cameras from 6s to £l2. "Fraser’s Photograuliic Pharmacy, Devon Street.*

Additional regulations nnner tne war Regulations Act have been gazetted prohibiting tho introduction of liquor into any military camp, and authorising a police sergeant to issue permits for the sale of firearms. The ladies’ tanked tournament which was to have taken place at Airs. Walker’s garden party on Tuesday will be played on the New Plymouth Tennis Club’s courts on Saturday afternoon. The entrance fees (6d each) will bo devoted to the funds for St. Alary’s Homes, Otahuhu. At tho East End social and dance to-night tho opportunity wiii bo taken to farewell Private A. Hardgrave, a member of Hie committee who is now attached to tho Ninth Reinforcements. An attractive programme is being arranged, consisting of vocal and instrumental numbers. Items will l>e contributed during (he evening by Airs. K. Croot, Aliss At. Danks. Misses Violet and Jean Hurle, Captain Allen, Messrs. J. Lovell. 11. Coe and H. Billion.' The committee desire it to be understood that half tho proceeds go to the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, and that, all troopers will bo tho guests of the committee.