NOTES AND COMMENTS

Press, Volume L, Issue 15037, 4 August 1914, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Cirey-les-Forges, where the Germans are reported to have crossed, the French frontier, is a small town of 3000 inhabitants, lying at the foot of the Vosges Mountains. If the Germans are advancing in force at this point, they are making for the gap between the two systems of fortifications, Verdun-Nancy and Epinal-Bel-fort. These towns are fortresses connpcted in pairs by. lines of fortifications some thirty or forty miles long. The gap between Nancy Epitial is about fiffs- miles wide.

It is stated that a Ifreiich aviator dropped bombs near N urei nburg. This may be a mistake. Nuremburg is over 200 miles from tho French frontier.

The Russians have crossed the German frontier at the point nearest Berlin. Russian Poland thrusts itself like a blunt wedge into Germany, ana the river-Warthe cuts the frontier at its It is hero, some 40 miles trom the chief military fortress of German Poiand, Posen, and 190 miles from Berlin, that tho Russians have mado their first attack. Neustadt. tho actual point of attack, is 12 miles inside the frontier. A glance at the map shows the danger to tho Russians of flank attack from West and East Prussia, waicn ruu far up to tho north-west on their right flank, or from Silesia aud Galicia (part of Austria).on their left. The placing of a guard over the Hawkesbury river bridge in New South Wales is one of many indications of the gravity with which the Australian Go verninent regards the situation. The bridge,, which is a very large one,- -.lies (between Sydney mid Newcastle and crosses tbp Hawkesbury where it merges into a bay. It carries tho main railway line north to-Brisbane, and v raiding cruiser might deliver a severe l-low at the country's internal oonir aumi.:atious by destroying it. 'The effect on German trade of the stoppage of German shipping services can he judged by a glance at the figures of German imports and exports. The country's total exports in 1913 were valued at £495,630.000. and imports at £-534,750,000. Great Britain

is Germany's' best customer, the exports to that country last year being worth £80,511,000, while British exports to Germany were valued at £40,695,000. Germany is. Great Britain's best customer i among foreign countries, and with the exception of India, tho best amone all countries. Even-if peace is preserved between England and Germany trade will fall away and tho loss of German markets will cause a good deal of unemployment in Britain. - The Linden (41So tons), Luneberg (5819 tons), and Ulm (4706 tons) which are mentioned iv our cable news as leaving Newcastle hurriedly, are all owned by tho German-Austra-lian Steamship Company. The Linden was the first steamer of the recentlyinaugurated German service-from Continental to New Zealand ports. She arrived at Bluff in June, and after visiting Lvtteltoii and Auckland, went across to 'Newcastle to load coal for Java. The Luneberg and Ulm were both loading coal ot Newcastle for Eastern ports. At the present timo several German steamers are on their way to New Zealand ports. The German-Austra-lian steamer Wisniar, 4686 tons, Captain Schroder, left Hamburg on June 25th, nnd is due at Bluff about Aueust 10th. Tho Hansa Line steamer Stolzenfels, 5553 tons, running under charter to the and A. Line, is at present in Sydney, on her way from New York to New Zealand ports. The Wildenfels, 5512 tons, also under rharter fo the U-S. and A. Line, left New York on Juno 29th for Melbourno, # Sydney, and New Zealand ports, and is due at Melbourne about August 18th.