NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 127, 22 February 1919, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

The final chapter in the history of Germany's bid for naval supremacy is confidently foreshadowed to-day. Tho Allies, it is stated, are demanding most'of tho warships which still remain in Germany's hands, and though the decision to destroy the wholo Hoot has not yet been finally ratified, it seems to be regarded as practically, certain that this* course will be adopted. Ship-breaking on the grand scale is in prospcct, for it is proposed to save useful material and to sink or explode only what cannot be utilised. Germany will be left with a few ships to patrol her coasts, but-the fleet with which she once hoped to defeat' England is now definitely appraised at tho value of old_ iron. There is nothing in the history of • this fleet which any German will ever-be able to regard with satisfaction. At tho outbreak of war, as Lord Jellicoe has shpwri, it had ■ an opportunity of making.a bold stroke for victory under conditions which would not have daunted its officers and men had they been filled with such a spirit as animates the British Navy. That opportunity being allowed to pass, the ..overwhelming' defeat at Jutland and tho final abject surrender followed in natural sequence. The Germans themselves might well concur, in the destruction of their fleet. It has represented only so much, useless lumber ever .since tho fighting spirit of its personnel collapsed, not in stress of-■battle, but because it dared not venture into battle. « * ■' *. * In regard to future preparations for defence by land ancl sea, so much depends upon the ultimate decisions reached at the Peace Conference that such speculations in regard to the constitution of Dominion navies as appear in one of today's cablegrams are partly robbed of interest. It is no doubt to bo taken for granted- that the Dominions henceforth will take a full part in whatever defensive preparations are to make the Empire secure, but if present expectations are realised the burden entailed will be much lighter than if pre-war standards still obtained. In tne circumstances the suggestion that tho Dominions may divide amongst them _ the additional naval iorco Britain has built up during war seems_ to bo rather far-fctched. Local navies doubtless will be developed in all the Dominions, including Canada, but they are likely to be on a more modest scale than if they absorbed the margin between Britain's naval strength befoVc the way and to-day. j '■ * * * I Am. love'animals wilWintcnse- ! ly regret the decision that the Expeditionary Porce horses which wero taken to Halestine and other Turkish theatres are not to be returned j to their native land. These gallant beasts, t'no best of their kind the Dominion could produce, ho.vo done noblo service under 1 desperately trying conditions, and-have well earned all tho shelter and caro that can bo given them ■ ir. their remaining years. Unfortunately the decision not to bring them back s*ecms to have been inevitable. Difficulties oE transport might have been overcome and the incidental cost need not lu-.ro been considered, but the danger of i importing diseases rife ii] the tropij cal and sub-tropical areas of tho I Turkish.campaigns is too serious to be risked. Apparently thero is 110 cscape from the conclusion that the chargers which bore our troopers to victory and all the other horses from I this country which gallantly played their part in the war must be left in the hands of strangers. At least, however, it should be made absolutely certain that nono of these faithful servants will fall into bad hands, and tho Dcfenco authorities should give much more, explicit nssurances on this subject than Jk-.ro yet been offered. It has been stated that as many of tho New Zealand horses as are still fit for army work will bo taken over by the Imperial authorities. As to these no anxiety need lie felt, but other horses are t'n bo sold, it is announced, "with safeguards designed to prevent their, reaching the hands of natives who would treat them badly?' Full information iihould be given as to what safeguards are, more especially since some of tho soldiers

wiio have returned from Palestine seem to be anything but confident that the charts which earned them so well will lie treated as they ought to lie. Some soldiers took the extrciuc" course of shooting their chargers rn.tlici* tlifin lcfivc thciii to an uncertain fate. It would be infinitely better to follow this example than even to run the risk of allowing animals which ha\c established so manv claims to gratituae und kindiy care to end their days under an ownership which- might entail neglect and maltreatment. - '» * Apparently ' s demonstrated to the Minister of . Public Wokks that the problem of securing labour for hydro-electrical development works is not as hopeless as some of his recent utterances suggest. The member for Palmcrston, Mu. Nash, has made a definite offer to find a number of suitable men to undertake the initial' work at Mar. ngahao, and if similar enterprise is shown in other parts of the wide area- the MaugcJiao wnrco will ultimately serve, it should not be long before this work is under way. Mk. Nash has made, a timely suggestion also in urging that if possible some ol the men of the 'Now Zealand Tunnelling Corps should be induced to accept employment from the Public Works Department. RecentlyMr. Evan Parry, the retiring Chief Electrical Engineer, mentioned thatthe difficulty of securing skilled tunncllers was one of the most serious aspects of the. labour problems whero hydro-electrical development was concerned. It should be possible, therefore, to offer members of the Tunnelling Corps employment under conditions profitable to themselves and to the Dominion,