NOTES ON THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2222, 7 August 1914, Page 4

NOTES ON THE WAR

.Them is stirring news to-day from the centres of conflict, both _on sea arjH on land. No confirmation has como to hand of the reported naval engagement off Elamborough Head, but instead there is the reported capture of two German cruisers and the sinking of a German, gunboat.' This 'engagement took place in the Mediterranean, off Algiers. The German, vessels had been bombarding. Bona, a.seaport town in Algeria, and apparent!/the French Fleet,came upin time, to'.overhaul and capture them as stated. . The big German cruiser Goeben, which was one of the three cajptured warships, is livery'fine cruiser of the Dreadnought type. ■ . Some idea of her qualities may be obtained from the fact that ehe has a-displacement several thousand tons'greater than that, of the warship New Zealano\ ,presonte'd;to the Mother Country.by the Dominion, The Goeben was more heavily armed than the New Zealand, carrying 1 ton llnnch guns, as against eight 12-inch ginis o% tho New Zealand. The captured vessels will no doubt be overhauled and added to the strength of-the French Fleet, which is stated to have taken them. Another sea incident was the sinking of a German merchant vessel equipped for mine-laying. This'vessel apparently had been dispatched on the dastardly task- of sowing with floating mines the''waters in : the vicinity of the Thames, over which British vessels would be likely to pass." Fort'unately, the British scout Amphion arrived on the scene," and. tho German vessel was torpedoed; and sent to tho bottom. • The big German passenger, and trading steamers specially equipped for. "Harassing msrchanfc vessels and for mirie ; laying in time* of war-are a very real menace to shipping: of all descriptions. Reports of ,the capture of German trading vessels are beginning to come to hand, and some of these will prove rich prizes to-their cap torsi

The land engagements are still more important, and from all sides come of German reverses. It is not wise to be too sanguine concerning the .'effects of these, but in Belgium aileast the'K.viSEß s troops appear to'have been taught a sharp lesson. » v The' German forces seeni to have made a most : determinedattempt to ; force their way through' Belgium'"to the French .[frontier. Their chief movement, apparently, Was in the vicinity of the fortified town of Liege, and they are reported to have been repulsed by the, Belgians after . desperate fighting. Details. necessarily are-meagre,' but the German losses were'severe:.- At, (south, and across the' French border,'a minor encounter with Trench' troops is reported, the Germans; falling/back. after los-" ing some 130 men by. casualties., and capture. On the Russo-German frontier moro fighting .has taken place, and the German forces arestated to have retreated, devastating the country as they went, ,with the object, no doubt, of embarrassing'' the enemy. While ' too much importance Should not ''be attached' to these engagements,, the: delay "of the advance of the . German fqrces through Belgium is a material.factor in the: campaign.;, Jt is,.indeed, a day of good,tidings. '

>. : . The violation, of. the neutrality t)f Belgium has already .cost Germany dear, and must prove even more costly, but "she still' presses on, ruthlessly disregarding her obligations where ,it: may" seem to serve her' pur-, pose. Now, in pursuance of her remorseless policy, ';■ she is trampling under foot the treaty rights of Switzerland.-. Thd-Swiss, however, are. a .brayo ahd.high-spirited- people, and/ like the -Belgians,' they . are determined not-to'tamely submit to their' country being overrun by the Ger-' man army.'./. They have mobilised their forces, and they will probably give the Kaiser's, troops a good deal of trouble.' The history of Switzerland shows that the Swiss have had to fight desperately for.their national rights ; and-independence on many occasions. ;. It has always been a,hard country' to subdue, both on account ,of the ruggedness of the land-and tho sturdiness.of the people. I. '-> /: -"' ■■ ■■ ■- '■ '" .. '

; The war abroad Has made peace at •! Home, as,far as the' British Empire is'concerned.. A, few weeks ago-'tho whole Empire '.was* watching', tho trouble in Ireland with/many misgivings, and the danger of civil warwas.very v real. .•■':■.-: Then 'with striking rapidity the international crisis developed.-. One nation after another became embroiled,' until at last Britain was forced into the fray. But even before the actual declaration of war. political discord and party strife ceased: in ;the presence of a common danger: ' All agreed that the safety of the Empire must bo the first consideration. 'In Canada, ini Australia, and in ,N'ew_Zealand.Governments arid Opposition have been working.harmoniously, together, in order thai; we may face bur foes as a united nation. Those who thought that Britain's hands would be tied by the'trouble in Ireland must-now see v that they made a great mistake. Mr. Redmond's patriotic speech in the House of Commons will probably do more to settlo the Irish problem than any amount 6f force or argument. The barrier of bitterness has been broken down, and with goodwill on both sides, the difficulties are not likely to prove , insuperable. There have been one or two discordant voices here and there, but taken as a whole the Empire has been wonderfully , solid and practically .unanimous in its support of the Imperial Government. The tru'ee between, I(hb Nationalists and -the Ulstermen is'a striking; illustration of the spirit of unity which pervades the Empire: , - ■•

In view of the.natural feeling of anxiety which must prevail as long as the war continues, -it is surprising that anyone_ with sufficient intelligence to realise the seriousness of the situation should be so foolish as to increase the strain'either by inventing or spreading/sensational stories of victory or disaster. - The whole community should sternly .set its face against this sort of thing. At such a time as the present idle jesting as to the progress of the war is an : exceedingly contemptible form of wit and it may do a great deal of harm. During tho last few days the city has been filled with 'the wildest rumours for which there- has not been the slightest foundation in fact. Many people who arc not in a position to ascertain whether these 1ports are true or fake havo had their-anxieties greatly increased, and much unnecessary alarm and ex= citoment are caused. The wisest plan is not to place any faith .whatever in any of theso rumours, but to wait for authentic ' information. Hearsay stories should be entirely ignored, and not tbe slightest encouragement .should be given. to.the stupid and ir-

responsible people who spread alarn> ing reports in the hope of creating a momentary sensation.

The disorderly demonstrations of hostility to Germany which have taken place in Melbourne and Sydney are- much to be regretted. It is to be hoped that nothing of the sort will take place in New Zealand, for patriotism of this type is a very, shoddy thing; It would, of: course, be a mistake to pay.too much attention to such outbursts. In every large community it is 'always possible for misguided individuals or a crowd -of irresponsible young men to do foolish things in times of excite 1 ment, and it would be quite unfair to suppose that the rowdyism which has occurred in Melbourne.and Sydney meets with-the approval of any* considerable section of citizens. Still the possibility of such incidents shows that'wc. should resolutely endeavour to hold ourselves in hand, and keep our feelings under control. If the war should, develop into a long and hard-fought struggle, _ a spirit of self-discipline and quiet resolution will have more sustaining power than wild words and noisy demonstrations. '