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Press, Volume LV, Issue 16423, 17 January 1919, Page 6

Further -welcome evidence of relief from the tension caused by the war and increased by tho l epidemic is afforded by the announcement that wo are about to revert to very nearly the same postal and telegraphic facilities- as we enjoyed before first the Kaiser, and afterwards the epidemic, interfered with most of our social arrangements and administrative activities. The Post and Telegraph Department is such an important factor in our everyday life that we hardly appreciate it at its full value until its operations are curtailed, as in our recent experiences. "We hope that not only will our old privileges be restored, but that the Department will, as in the past, make progress its watchword. The question of aerial mail-services is obviously one of the first subjects to which it ought to direct its attention. The popularising of wireless telegraphy is another matter in which there is great scono for improvement.

During the war the use of wireless by the general pubilic was practically prohibited, and rightly so. Now, however, its use ought "to- be encouraged, only for revenuer purposes. If the charges were reduced to a more moderate figure, there w>uldi be an increase in the traffic which we feel sure would in a very short time more than justify the reduction. Doubtless, its principal use will bo to communicate with vessels at sea, but we certainly ought to have a wireless service between the North and South'islands. which could bo used to keep up communication when the cables are interrupted.

Nobody who has followed the recent developments in aviation will (Jpubt for a moment tho possibility of establishing the aerial mail service between England and America, which a cable to-day states is considered a certainty in 1920. General Brancker v one of the members of the British Air Council, said last August that Great Britain then had machines capable of flying across the Atlantic, and since then the Handley-Page machine has been developed until the latest type is a huge affair of 1200 horse-power, capable of cany ing at a speed of 100 miles an hour some forty passengers, who would occupy handsomely fitted saloons, heated and lighted by electricity. It could travel without stopping 1200 mjiles, which is just about the distance of the longest "leg" on the trans-Atlantic route, and could, if necessary, alight on the soa and rise again with its full load.

There will be some curiosity regarding the terms on which the Supreme War Council have agreed to renew tho armistice with Germany. So far Germany has failed to comply with several, of the conditions imposed on her originally early in November. This may certainly be due, in a measure, to the disorganisation in the administration which has existed ever since the close of the war, and has lately developed into something like civil war in Berlin. The Revolutionary Government has latterly had too much to do in fighting the extra-revolutionaries to trouble very much about collecting locomotives and stolen machinery, and handing them over to the Allies. Thetransfer has, however, doubtless been delayed by Germany's unwillingness to i complete the transaction.

The terms of the armistice required Germany to hand over to the Allies within fourteen days 5000 locomotives, 150,000 waggons, and 5000 motorlorries, in good working order with all necessary spare parts and fittings. From the first complaint was made that this condition would be difficult to carry out and oppressive in its effect. Erzberger, one of the armistice delegation, said a fortnight after the armistice had been signed that the surrender of so much railway material in so short a time would complicate the food situation in the interior of Germany very. materially. "We have," ho said, "about 250,000 railway cars in Poland, Ukrainia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Boumania, and this portion;

is at present valueless to us. The remaining cars n/i: now* giving maximum soivice. There is car shortage in Germany always in the fall of tho year. This season the shortage is unprecedentcdly large." The railroad equipment had been badly worn by the war and by inability to keep up repairs. Germany was required to deliver on!v good material, leaving her the old. The demand for 5000 locomotives was enormous at this time, when one-third of the locomotives are out of commission. "If," he added, "we were required to deliver only the 1800 locomotives and the 77,00*0 waggons wc took from France and Belgium, our position would not bo so difficult." In view of the difficulties about food, Marshal Foch may see fit to modify some of the original demands. But there must be no shillvshallying over the amended terms, or the Allied generals -will no doubt exercise the power of initiative that they have been given.