The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1915. A “CHINESE” PUZZLE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144856, 7 December 1915, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1915. A “CHINESE” PUZZLE.

Anyone who tries to follow the progress of the war and of tho various international negotiations must he somewhat bewildered just now by tho strangely conflicting cables that are sent. Did wo know the exact source of some of these cables we should be able to judge perhaps of their truth or falsity, but when they come from neutral countries it, is difficult sometimes to estimate their worth. Balkan news is particularly unreliable, and this is the chief centre of interest just now. So far as the cabled information enlightens us, the attitude of Greece seems still to be extremely doubtful, for according to Dr. Dillon, who is usually well-informed, there is consternation in Rome at Greece’s refusal to give the Entente the guarantee required, and the conviction that the Allies’ prospects of success are vanishing is growing throughout Greece. Of course Dr. Dillon’s information as to opinion in Greece is secondhand. Being in Rome he is able

to gauge public feeling there, but he lias to depend on others for his information about Greece, and in the present condition of things there opinion may well change from day to day. Yesterday’s cables gave the impression that the Greek press is being heavily bribed by German agents to publish whatever stories they choose to furnish. Of such is the report that 200,000 Germans have arrived on the Greek frontier, a palpable He. To-day a London cable, apparently repeating a Salonika message, says it is believed the Austro-Germans in Serbia now number 70,000, while a German paper estimates the AngloFrench forces on the Balkan front at 80,000, in strongly defended positions. Assuming that these two stories are equally reliable—or unreliable—the position of the Entente Powers is not so bad as the Greek press is asking its readers to believe, and all the time the allied forces are being strengthened by new arrivals at Salonika, besides which, every day which passes brings Italian assistance nearer to Serbia. The Serbian armies, there is only too good reason to believe, have practically had to withdraw and leave the enemy in undisputed possession of the greater part of thencountry, but it is still a force to bo reckoned with when it is reorganised and stiffened with Italian and other troops. Baron Sonnino's statement and the Italian Chamber's almost unanimous support of the Government’s policy are sufficient guarantee that Italy will now act quickly and vigorously. In the meantime Austria and Germany are not in a position to force (ho pace in the Balkans. Though Serbia is for the most part in their hands we have no news of the advantage already gained being followed up with much vigour, the fact being that they cannot spare from other fronts, while the means of transport through Serbia are very meagre. Russia is keeping the enemy fully engaged in Bnkowina and has also possibly already invaded Bulgaria, though we have no positive evidence of that. Probably the movement has been delayed by the necessity of providing against an Austro-Geniian advance through Bnkowina. In the absence, however, of reliable information one can only speculate and hazard the opinion that although up to the present the German plans to force a way through the Balkans io Constantinople have not been effectually checkmated they arc being checked sufficiently to give the Allies time to gather sufficient force to turn the lido definitely in their favour. Germany's last chance is to break through on this front, and if she succeeds she may receive such assistance from Turks, Arabs, and others as will enable her to carry on the war for a long time. For this reason one finds it difficult to endorse the opinion of the Daily Mail that the energy spent on the Gallipoli Peninsula should have been used cm the western front. The final issue is likely to be decided there, but if the Near Eastern door had not been strongly guarded by the British, French, Australian, and Now Zealand forces it is practically certain that Germany with the assistance of Turkey and some of the Balkan States, would have caused very serious trouble in Egypt and quite conceivably might have carried the campaign further east through Persia to the Indian frontier. That is a' danger which had to be guarded against very carefully, for it is hard to say what might have happened. As it is, there is every rbaaon to believe that Germany is already checked in that direction and that very soon all danger will be removed and Serbia will be reconquered by the Allies. When that door is effectually barred it will be time for General Toffre to smash through the western door, which he is well able to do when the proper time arrives, tho Prince Oscar’s opinion notwithstanding. Just now his policy is to keep as many Germans as possible on that

front. Germany may be likened now to a colony of rats, whoso last bolt-hole is being stopped. When it is stopped the cordon will be gradually drawn tighter and the end will be,in sight.

General Joffro is a silent man, hut the interviews with him that have been published have given the public all over tho world some share of the feeling of prido and confidence with which ho is regarded in Franco. The interview which appears in another column is probably the best that has yet appeared, because Mr. Owen Johnson was able to secure answers to questions which are of special interest not only to the people of the United States, but to all democratic countries in the world. Had Mr. Ford taken tho trouble to read and understand General Joffre’s statement that “pence to-day would be a crime’ 1 he might have spared himself the expense of fitting out bis expedition, though his three secretaries and ten stenographers might have missed a pleasant trip. General Joffro pointed out tho fact that peace now would only mean an armistice during which the nations feverishly prepared for tho now conflict that would be certain to come. The general’s reply to idealists who fear that proper preparation for tfar is an incitement to military adventure was particularly happy. Ho pointed out that the fear of so-called militarism arose from a study of the conditions existing in Germany', which wore totally different from those of a democratic country like France. Tho Germans regarded their soldiers as machines, whereas the French treated them as human beings. In Germany, ns the French commander put it, tho officers were a sort of Brahmin caste, whereas there was no social gulf fixed between the officer and man in Franco. Tho army was the army of tho people, and not that of tho military caste, us In Germany. In these conditions militarism, in tho had sense, could not possibly become a danger. Hitherto tho British army has been in a mean position botwcon those of Germany, and Franco. There, have been some signs of an officers’ caste, but the relations between officers and men have always been excellent. Tho Dominion forces approach more nearly to tho French standard of good fellowship, and it seems probable that the present war, with men of all classes in tho ranks, will do ranch to bring about a change in British methods.

Tho duty of collecting agricultural statistics, which has for tho last few years been done by other agencies, is to be undertaken by tho police force. It is understood that the police will commence the work in February. The first completed returns from tho National ffcgisier may be in tho hands of tho Minister for Internal Affairs today. They will show approximately tho number of men without dependents uho have expressed their willingness to volunteer tor active service. 'J no completion of the whole register may bo accomplished this wool:., Tho Sydney Cricket Club has decided that any member of eligible ago for enlistment and single shall be loit out of any team unless ho gives sufficient reasons for not enlisting. This action was'taken us the resmt of a leading member saying ho would not take part in matches with players of military ago eligible for enlistment. In a telegram from Danimvirko on Saturday, with reference to the lire in the Cnlo do Paris, it was represented that Mr. Westlake, of Pnhintuu, was tho owner of the building. This, the association is informed, was wrong. There was no intention to suggest Hint Mr. Westlake hud anything to do with the fire; but, as the mention of Ins name may have given that impression, the association desires to make the position clear and to express its regret that the message should have appeared in a form calculated to cause annoyance to him.—Press Association,

Referring to the returns which farmers nro now askod to make for taxation purposes, Mr. J. Anstoy, M.P. (says tho Timaru correspondent of the Christchurch Press), said ho know one farmer who had spent four hours trying to make his return out, and at the end of half a day bo" camo to tho conclusion that, by simply doing ns tho return asked, it was impossible for any farmer to show the true results of his year’s working. There was no column for hank balance, no column for expenses, and tho column wherein breeding stock had to bo shown was so sot out that horses, cattle, sheep and pigs must all bo jumbled up together. As a matter of fact, tho farmer referred to hud made a substantial profit last year, but his return, filled in ns tho Government required it to bo filled in, showed a loss of £4 on the year’s working. Tho amount of wool estimated to have been purchased by American buyers since tno opening of the season is By,UUU bales. Xne skipping of this large quantity does not seem to have greatly troubled tbo buyers, as tho available space in ships leaving hero has not yet boon liliod (reports Uio Auckland Star). Most of tne wool is being stored both in Auckland and in soutiiern centres. The Union Company's Kauri is to leave hero for San rranoisco in about tho middle of December, and tho F. and S. Westmeath is to load for Boston and’ Now York. She is due to arrive boro about tho end of December. One of the vessels which was to have taken wool from New Zealand was destroyed by fire while on tho way here. Tho C. and D. ships. Star of India and Ncrehana, will leave here with wool for London on about December 2 and 20 , respectively. Tho Bhaw-Savill boats Corinthio and Athemc should leave here iu about the second week in January. The New Zealand Shipping Company have their direct steamers, which will convey a quantity of wool Home. The freights New Zealand-London are not reckoned to be inadequate for the carrying of wool. The American buyers appear to fear the prohibition on export of wool, and. aro buying all that is available. In spite of the eagerness to purchase, the question of shipping does not seom to bo an immediate concern to them. H. Dompsey invites tenders for nine acres of oats at Puketotara.

The Mayor (Mr. Burgess) reports that the carnival watch stopped at 16 minutes past 10, and as Mr. Hayden guessed that time exactly he is the successful winner. As a result of the Manawatu A. and P. Assoc.ation/s fine effort in holding a patriotic show, tho sum. of £3Oll was raised, and tho money will 'go to the Pick and Wounded Soldiers Fund. , Tho Salvation Army has decided to inaugurate a Soldiers' Club aud Institute at Rotorua for tho benefit _of wounded soldiers who are convalescing there. Arrangements are now in hand. Tho hospital ship Mahcno, which is bringing back to Now Zealand some 300 wounded men, left Suez on tho homeward voyage on November 29, and is due in New Zealand about December 20. Glonalvon, tho strango-looking house in Jennyn Street, Auckland, originally built as a home for the Admiral of the Australasian squadron when visiting Auckland, has been pulled down to make room for street improvements. Tho Paris Journal reports (according to a delayed cable) that a soldier whoso brain had been partially amputated by Dr; Guipin has been examined at tho Academy of Science. The patient, who was 22 years of age, recovered completely, and appeared to suffer no illeffects from tho operation. It is stated that the success of such a surgical operation depends upon the speed and boldness with which it is performed. An examination of officers of tho territorial force and unattached list is to be held in Palmerston North during the third week in February, 1916. Tho names of those N.C.O.’s of the territorial force and senior cadets, and also schoolmasters of secondary schools who arc eligible and desirous of presenting themselves for the first appointments to commissions examinations, to bo held at the same time, are to bo forwarded through officers commanding units or group commanders, so as to reach district headquarters, Palmerston North, not later than December 10, 1915. In a court case concerning the illicit use of gas at Wellington, tho solicitor for tho Gas Company stated that 'The suspicions of the authorities were aroused by tho fact that tho consumption was tho Samo every month. Or-

dinarily that would bo an impossibility.” This led to a correspondent writing to tho Evening Post stating that last winter (1914) ids gas hill was tho same oven to the pence for three

months, in succession. This winter it was the same, and for tho like period. This reminds us that soroo years ago some, consumers in a town not a hundred miles away found that their gas hill wont on just the samo oven if their houses were shut up for the month, and tho amount scarcely varied. The recent award, by selection, of three Victoria Crosses to an officer, a non-commissioned officer, and a private of the Ist Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers is in accordance with the original warrant of 1836. By that it is laid down that, in the event of a gallant and daring act having been performed by a squadron, ship’s company, a detached body of seamen, or marines, not under fifty in number, or by a brigade, regiment, troop or company, in which tho officer commanding such forces may doom that all are equally bravo and distinguished, then ho may direct that one officer shall be selected by the officers engaged for tho decoration, and in like manner one petty or non-commis-sioned officer and two seamen, or private soldiers, or marines. The first occasion on which the Victoria Cross was so awarded was in September, 1857, when Private John Divane, of the 60th Rifles, was chosen by the privates of his regiment for distinguished conduct at Delhi.

Apart from tho ruthless, foolish slaughter of birds perpetrated with pearillcs, tho murderous little weapon figures so extensively in serious accidents, frequently attended by loss of life, that tho authorities (says the Sydney correspondent of tho Press) Joel called upon to take, roslriotivo action. Out of 586 accidents due to the careless use of firearms which have occurred in Now South AVales during the past four years, 314 were pea-rifle accidents. During tho past six months tho uea-riflo has figured in 05 out of 123 accidents. In other Stales matters are as bad, if not worse. It has just been tnado an offence under tho law of Victoria to soil a pea-rifle or ammunition to a person under 18 years of age, and nrosccutions .have already been sot on foot under this law. Recently a salesman in a Melbourne hardware establishment was lined £2 for having sold pea-rifle cartridges to a boy.

A most amusing story, which also indicates how easy it is to arouse suspicion against persons whoso acts would pass without comment in normal times, was ■ related to a Wellington resident while on a recent visit to Plimmorton (states tho Now Zealand Times), It appears that a certain family living there was in tho habit of obtaining meat from a. man who keeps sheep on Mana Island. For lust Sunday a joint had boon ordered as usual, but tho shoopman found that ho was prevented from leaving the island by tho bad weather. To explain the absence of the expected leg of mutton' ho dispatched a message to the mainland by carrier pigeon, and firmly believed that ail was wall. Unfortunately, tho bird was espied by someone —either a practical joker, or a person with a bad attack of spy fever—and word was hastily sent to tho authorities that “carrier pigeons were being used for communication between Mana and tho mainland.” Tho. story urns believed, and a posse of police'was sent off to investigate tho mysterious happenings! What they said when they discovered the weather-bound sheep farmer and his leg of mutton is not to bo recorded. A French soldier, Louis Chaasuvort, tells a thrilling story of his escape from a German prison camp to tho representative of the Petit Parisian. He has just reached Paris, having covered 260 kilometres on foot to tho Dutch frontier. He only ventured to travel by night, tho journey taking over a fortnight to accomplish. A year ago Louis Chassuvert was wounded in Belgium and made prisoner. In the camp to which ho was sent the men had to work in quarries or in wood-cutting from 7 a.m. till 5 p.m., with just half an hour for the mid-day meal. “At midnight on August 28,” relates the soldier, “I left the camp. For a few seconds I hid in a sewer, and then made good my escape. Several times I narrowly avoided being captured. Tho first time peasants discovered me, but I managed to escape in tho dark. The second time I was pursued by the entire population of a village, and after having knocked down several of my pursuers I found a haven of safety in a bean field. Finally at 40 kilometres from the frontier I was seen by a chasseur, who fired twice without hitting me. I knocked down a woman who tried to stop me, and concealed myself in a wood.” The Railway Department invites applications tor persons between 18 and 30 yeare for positions as junior porters and traffic labourers.

In Wellington on Monday the Supreme Court was occupied with the hearing of a claim by J. J. Niven, Ltd., of Napier against the Salvage Association of London for £7097, or half the value of the gear salvaged from the Star of Scotland, wrecked at Gisborne, and £I7OO for a breach of agreement. Defendants denied-liability, but were prepared to pay £4OOO. Mr. H. C. Robinson, who organised the unity platform in Masterton, on Monday received the following telegram from Captain Donald Simpson, from Gore: “Your suggestion the only solution: keep pegging away.” Mr. Robinson has replied ou behalf of the platform: “We know that New Zealand has the heart and we will do our best to help start it.”

The Imperial Government Supply Branch on Monday reached six million pounds sterling in payment for meat. The precise amount is £0,033,974. This is for 208,160 quarters of beef, 2,109,479 carcases of mutton, and 2,402,669 carcoses of lamb. Of that quantity of meat the following has arrived at its destination ; 249,868 quarters of beef, 1,568,261 carcases of raut&n, aud 2,337,975 carcases of lamb.

The Hon. Mr. Russell states that there is a great rush ior passports under the new regulations, something like 600 applications coming to hand in a fortnignt. 'Every application had to bo inquired into by the police and the passports had to go to tho Governor for signaturv, therefore applications should reach the department at least a fortnight before the document is required, and longer notice should be given where possible.—Press Association.

In connection with the slip in the Panama Canal, Lloyd’s Register states that advices from Panama are to the efloct that the great delay in clearing the slide is duo to tho fact that the slide occurred ai a point in the Culehra Cut between the (hedging fleet and tho dumping ground in ,the Gatmn Lake, about five miles distant. This moans, that tho dredges have to cut their way through the slide, dumping their spoil in the channel behind them, until they 1 can got on the same side of tho slide as tho dumping ground. ' Then they will have to dig their way back through tho spoil which they have already dumped in the channel, doing double work. It is expected that when the slide is finally cleared away tho conditions will bo permanently improved, but the canal will not bo open again before the end of tho year. The soldier's official religious persuasion has been the subject of'many stories, iiwo is ah old-tune story by Fiolrt-xMarshal Sir Evelyn Wood:— When I went to Aldershot in 1887, Sunday was a show day in stables, which gave rise to a Horse Artilleryman’s curious request. A young soldier going up to his commanding officer said; “Please, sir, I want, to change my religion.” “What’s up? What do you want to bo?” “I want to be a Roman Catholic.” “Priest been at you?” “No, sir; no priest.” “Woman?” “No, air.” “Well, I shall not allow you to change your religion.” “Please sir. any man may bo any religion he likes in tho army.” “Y r es, but I have you noted as being a Church of England raau, and I donH mean to allow you to change your religion without giving me some reason.” The man then admitted his real object. .“Well, you see, sir, a Roman Catholic goes to church at eight o’clock, and I think if I was a Roman it would give mo a better chance with my ’arnoss.” Passengers on a Caulfield-bound train on the night of the 18th inst. (says a Melbourne paper) witnessed a sensational incident. Mrs. Mary Laytber, of Hawksburn, entered a compartment with her infant son. Tho child was seated in a' go-cart, which the mother left standing between the seats. When tho train had nm about a mile, its motion set the go-cart moving backwards towards tho open door, and before the astonished mother could grasp tho handle the cart tilted upwards and disappeared through tho opening. Tho mother screamed, and leapt from tho train, which was then travelling at a high speed. Those who witnessed the spectacle feared that both mother and baby must have been killed by the fall. When Richmond was reached many passengers _ ran back along tho line, and, to their astonishment, found tho mother tightly clasping her crying baby. Doth had had wonderful escapes. As the go-cart struck tho ground tho baby rolled unharmed out of it, and escaped injury altogether. Tho mother fell partly on ifjr face and partly on her left shoulder. Her faco was lacerated, and her nhoulder joint suffered slight injury, but she was able to limp olf without assistance, carrying her baby. The Melbourne, Ltd-, announce the arrival of a shipment of ladies’ umbrellas to sell at 3s 6d mid 4s 6d. Thcso umbrellas wore bought “job” by the firm’s London buyer, and the value is extraordinary, both handles and covers being first-class.*

We draw our readers’ attention to the sale of house furniture and effects to be held in the Brougham Street Hall to-morrow afternoon by Messrs. Webster Bros., on account of Mrs. Cory and another lady, who aro giving up housekeeping. Among the list of articles to bo sold to-morrow are some pretty and modern pieces of furniture, and though the list is not a very big one the articles will he found to bo well worth inspecting. History is being made every day. Our bo.is aro taking pari at the Dardanelles, Their letters give us a slight idea of what is going on just now, so that wo long to know more. Just think, if your friend or relative had a camera which, while small and compact enopgh to be carried anywhere without the slightest inconvenience, would take perfect postcard pictures. Wouldn’t those pictures be interesting. Present your friend with a soldier’s camera, to ho had from Fraser's at 27s 6d, 32s 6d, 37s Gd, and tos, and wouldn’t ho appreciate pictures of homo when he hi away I Get a camera yourself. Our guaranteed cameras from 6s to £l2. Fraser’s Photographic Pharmacy, Devon Street.’