The Waipawa Mail Published Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sturdays SATURDAY, APRIL 22nd, 1916. CURRENT TOPICS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7711, 22 April 1916, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail Published Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sturdays SATURDAY, APRIL 22nd, 1916. CURRENT TOPICS.

Russians on the West. The report that a Russian army has been landed at Marseilles to co-oper-ate in the Western campaign opens up an interesting speculation as to how it got there. So far as we know all the Eastern routes are closed, with the exception of the Siberian line. Transportation via the Baltic Sea is out of the question by reason of the danger from submarines and mines. This only leaves Archangel as a possible port of embarkation. If a Russian force has landed in France, as stated, it is more than likely that it has been accomplished with the assistance of Japan. But it must be borne in mind that the report is not authenticated, although it is stated that Joffre has issued an order of the day welcoming the allies. In the early stages of the war we were furnished with a very circumstantial story of a large Russian force being sent through England to the Western front, but according to official denials it was pure fiction. This may be a repetition. Cabinet Crisis. Realising as we do in this far away outpost of the Empire how necessary it is to the welfare of the nation, to the whole civilised world, that the Allies should triumph in the great struggle, it is difficult to understand the feeling that makes for internal trouble in England, right at the heart of the conflict. It is pitiful to read of a possible split in the Cabinet and an appeal to the country in such times as these. The seriousness of the position may be gauged from the fact that it has been found necessary to convene a secret session of the House of Commons, when information will be divulged which it is hoped will convince those who are causing trouble. Meantime it would appear that the crisis has been tided over for the present, and it is sincerely to be hoped, in the national interest, that an arrangement will be reached which will enable all parties to work amicably towards the attainment of the one object in view. German Claims.

It lias been claimed that if peace were to be declared to-morrow Germany stands pre-eminently in a position to secure the best possible terms in that on both the East and West she is standing far out into the territory of her enemies. German editors boast that the German flag flies over nearly 900 square miles of French, Belgian and Servian soil. The true reply to this, says Mr Archibald Ilurd, is a glance at the map of the world on which the seas are shown:

“The- map of the world shows, that nearly three-quarters of the earth’s surface is covered with water; the seas are the great highways of commerce, and from them Germany and her dupes have been banished, and by us; trade, colonies, prestige—all have gone. From these seas the Allies are drawing strength—food, munitions, and money. Germany has entered into the dominion of an area—for the most part laid bare by war —which is little more than a speck compared with the rich ocean spaces which we are occupying, not arbitrarily, as Germany is exercising her rule, but with every consideration for the interests of neutrals. That is the real picture which is presented to-day,” says Mr Hurd. The reply is sufficient, but to it may be added a bit of geography yet more impressive. Germany has lost all her colonies bijt one—East Africa—and that one she is in process of losing, and of losing in a way which must be peculiarly exasperating to the German mind. General Smuts, an ex-Boer commander, is waging an energetic campaign in East Africa, which promises to pluck from Germany the last of her colonies. Now it must be remembered that when the war began, the colonial empire of Germany was on a scale little less than vast. Here is a table, showing the area of these colonies: — Square Miles. Togo .. .. .. 33,700 Oumeroons .. .. 292,000 South-West Africa .. 322,450 East Africa .. .. 384,180 1,032,330 Kiao-Chau .. .. 200 New Guinea and Pacific Islands ~ .. 96,160 1,128,690 The German Empire itself has an area of 208,780 square miles; France is of practically the same area; Austria is a little larger; Italy about half as large. In losing her colonies, in a word, Germany has lost an area equal to Germany itself, France, AustriaHungary, Italy, Spain, and Great Britain combined! The 9000 square miles of French, Belgian and Servian territory over which the German Chancellor exulted are nothing but a pinprick compared with these vast losses. » * * Railway Service. The official mind which controls the railway arrangements for holidays moves in a remarkable manner. Take the time-table set out for yesterday, for instance, N«t a single train left Waipawa, northward bound, until five

minutes to 12, and many people who would have liked to spend a day at the seaside or at Hastings were debarred from so doing. One can well understand the desire to curtail the service on Good Friday, hut the convenience of country residents should be studied equally with those of dwellertf in the cities. The ordinary 6.50 a.m. train ran from Napier, and there seems no earthly reason why the usual early morning train from Waipukurau to Napier should have been cancelled. If Good Friday is to be observed as a railway holiday well and good, let everyone be placed on the same footing. But if an abridged service is run it should be framed on. lines to suit all classes, not only long distance travellers.