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Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15454, 17 September 1914, Page 6

Proud as we must be of British successes in the field it seems early yet to compare Sir John French -with the - Duke of Marlborough, as admiring' Danes have done. Marlborough fought over the same country as Sir John French lias done, in Belg'ium and the north of France. He loved delivering swift, decisive blows, showed great tact in dealing with Dutch, Prussian, Hanoverian and other commanders who were under his authority, and was considerate of his men. A comparison of military methods and ability may be v possible when the present campaign in France has lasted longer and we are allowed to know something of its inner workings. The resemblance' which the Danes have already noticed between Sir John French, and Marlborough must be based on very broad likenesses, like the comparison which Fluellen made between Alexander the Great and Henry Y. One of these heroes was born in Macedon and the other in Monmouth. In both countries there were rivers, and there were salmon in both.

2STot only. Lave tlic Germans of German South-west Africa failed in _ their attempt to induce the neighbouring- Boers to rise against- British rule—which is, in fact, more Boer than British in South Africa—but already- they are being forced to defend their own country from attack. A German fortress —so-called— in ISTamaqaxaland, the southern part of German South-west Africa, has been .surprised, and since there are only about 13,000 Germans in this colony we can expect to hear soon that it has changed its name. This territory., with an area of 300,000 square miles, is more valuable .than the majority of German colonies, of which it has 'been harshly said that the fertile ones are not habitable (by while men), and the habitable ones are not fertile. A great deal -of its area is cultivable, though it is not likely to realise the dream of the German Colonial Minister. Herr Dernburg, who thought that it would be the future rival of Canada and the Aro-cniine. The native tribe of ■(he ITerreros gave Germany much trouble in this district a few years ago, being only subdued at a cost of 32 million pounds, after a protracted, war which was not flattering to 1 lie military self-complacency of the Germans.

Since Germany Las spent nearly one hundred, million pounds in ilie last twenty-five years on her colonial empire, only-to see it now everywhere slipping from her grasp, it is possible to understand the envy of Great Britain's worldwide colonising glory betrayed by the German Chancellor in his latest utterance referring to the war. Germany, however, must bear the blame herself for putting all her colonies in jeopardy by forcing the greatest naval Power into war with her in defence of treaty rights and solemn obligations. It is doubtful if her own colonies would ever have been bound to her by the bonds of strong affection and • esteem which, in the case of the British Empire, she has failed utterly to understand. Every one of the British colonies was expected by the German wax lords to desert Great Britain in her peril. Mr Kipling wrote:

If England was what England seems, And not the England of our dreams, But only putty, brass, and paint, How quick we'd chuck her. But she

ain't. The Kaiser would seem to have read, marked, learned, and inwardly digested those words—all but the last three words.

The . fact that» the Imperial Government has agreed to accept the services of 200 Maoris for service in Egypt should be pleasing to the native people, who have been anxious since the war broke out to give practical demonstration of their loyalty. We can see no sentimental reason why they should not be used for service at the front, since Pathans and Gliurkas are being sent there. It is fair to remember, however, that the Indian troops who have gone to Europe are all liighly trained soldiers, while the majority of the Maoris, it has been said, live in remote districts, and have not even come generally under the training of the Territorial scheme. ISTo -doubt. i,n Egypt the Maoris will be able to do useful service for the Empire.