Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, l5th APRIL,1918. THE WESTERN PIVOT.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, lsth APRIL, 1918. THE WESTERN PIVOT.

The titanic struggle now proceeding on the western front, gives point to tlm oft-expressed opinion that in that quar- ! ter the deciding issues of tho Great War' would be fought out. Circumstances have so fallen out in other theatres that the enemy lias been abb to concentrate with giant strength u . the West, bent upon winning a victory at any cost in men. ,The organisation of* the enemy has been formidable iideed. When the present, battle opened over three weeks ago, it was clear tliaC the Anglo-French defensive would have to meet a blow of tremendous strong!l , But; tlie rush has been gathering ir force, till it is now overwhelming." For this decisive hour there lias been greal preparation on the Allied side. The pre pnrations of the enemy did not go unto viced nor unheralded. The British Coinmanders knew of the force gathering against them and had divined even the location of the attack. It- will be remembered that Colonel Bepington spoke out very strongly on the outlook and as a result of his differences of opinion with the war policy regarded by the London Times, be transferred Identical correspondence to the London /Morning Post. The last mail Ims . brought interesting particulars of bis J writings is late January, and the following summary of bis war views a>the time is supplied by a London corres pondent to a Sydney paper. They are of particular, interest in the lighl of the present course of events on the battlefront“ Colonel Bepington does believe in the Mesopotamian campaign,} (the Palestine campaign, the Balkan campaign, or the East African campaign. -If he could have bis way all the Allied forces engaged therein would be brought home and launched on the Western front, where and where alone, be believes the war is to be won or lost. What would happen, as a result, to those campaigns does not appear, but this distinguishel exponent strategy is quite convinced that 'all . tli: British soldiers fighting in these remote fields are urgently needed in Franco, and not only they but thousands of flu* men who are no.-,- to he called up for the naval forces, and those who are to be drafted into shipbuilding yards for non-combatant service, Not a me*, of them says Colonel Bepington; should be anywhere but on the Western front, where, he believes danger of the gravest is imminent. Not only so, but, lie urges that for this year vpuths of 13 should be sent into the line at once, and not kept until they are 19. For, he argues, of the 430,000 to 450,000 men which the coming comb-out under the new Man Power Act will yield the Army will get not more than\loo,ooo, the remainder being absorbed by the navy and the air service. The 19-year-old class d'le now for service will yield 240.000—tho total result being an increase of 630.000 men. whereas 1,500,000 arc needed, if bis theories are correct, to meet, the mass of Germans assembling in the West —-a mass numbering on hiestimate two hundred ■ or-

two hundred and twenty divisions." And. in the course of his argument, Colonel Rcnirigton is very severe. indeed, in his criticism of the Government’s failure to keep Sir Douglas Haig adequately supplied with men. and says that the statement of the Coni-mnnder-in-Chief in his recent despatch “that drafts did not reach him in time to be properly trained, and that lie had to light 131 German divisions wiin half that number, is the most damning indictment of the War 'Cabinet that any man .could have made.” Altogether this expert’s figures make salutcy reading for the easy-going optimists among us. and for the matter might even imnress anti-conscription Australians—if they could he prevailed upon to think in terms of the tremendous, facts Great Britain is faring.”—Colonel Repington clearly foresaw what is now transpiring in the West, and certainly the danger is very grave. To Ihe last it. would appear Sir Douglas Haig has not. had enough men ready at call to fill the breaks made by a giant offensive. What happened in November last before Cambrai, might have been enough but not till Germany h-d struck the blow and won the initial a '}■ vantage did reinforcements begin *<> pour across the English Channel. The situation at this distance is complex and not understandable from the point of view of the want of military forethought, but evidently the Empire >t large is to pay dearly for what appears to be the very serious mismanage ment of the campaign.

Tiie course of events on the hattlc-fron! are serious enough in all conscience t» bring people to understand the gravity of the situation crested by the p"o:v sent, turn of events in France. As a ! reminder of what the conditions of life in London are for were in January Irisn. a lady’s letter to an Australian paper throws a flood of light on the domestic . position some three months ago—and it must be growing more and more acute week hv week. Hero is a non picture of the home life in England:—“T as. sio'd yon it is no light task to he the housekeeper of a family i|nst now. The answer “is in the negative” for nearly everything one asks for. Queues «■’ people in the streets move in slow pace in front of the meat, margarine, ."'id bnttershops. Tt. is distressing to see the unfortunate women, most of whom .bringing children with them. The Salvation Army looks after the babies in perambulators who have to he left outside when the mothers forage for their food. But this is due in the

present time to tlm U-Boat campaign. But tho evil runs much further back. We have too long allowed foreigners to feed us and the once supreme control of the seas has been terribly discounted by the submarine warfare. Life never was so difficult, and though we rub along content to endure the prcscut conditions of food troubles for the sake of the really fine supplies sent to the front, it will not be so cheerfully borne when Ihe glamour and excitement of thf war

are over. It will he one’s duty to economise and so' forth, but I am afraid it will not lie an economy without tears. One good effect, however, will he the jesult that owing to substitutes we shall have learnt a great many new dishes and ways of using hitherto unused foods. Meat- is terribly scarce. Two meatless days are necessary to c-ope with the reduced quantities; wo ring changes on farmhouse eggs, dried eggs are wonderfully good, and rice for breakfast, fish ,is absurdly dear, but the risk run by fishermen i s so great that it has to be met by the high prices the food control allows. In fact,sit is increasingly difficult to arrange the simplest of household menus. Few afternoon-teas are* now given, and dinners as an opportunity of seeing one's friends arc impossible.*’

The foregoing is only one side of the picture of experiences the people of j London are passing through in these days of strange happenings. Fyom ano- . tlier source we have another picture of life in London. This time it is of an airraid. The story .runs:-—“The air raiders came last night. It was a night of wonderful beauty, with the moon at the full in an unclouded sky—just such a night as would surely tempt the flying marauders. And shortly after 8 o’clock the- calm of the night and all London beneath it was startled by loud shouts of noise. It- was the -warning of us by rockets—and within a little while distant guns were booming, ana shortly following them nearer, guns in violent harks and high above the guns the crash of falling bombs. They bad managed to pierce through this’timcin the first batch five aeroplanes of fifteen Imd crossed the Channel and Inter one of tho second relay. The trouble extended over a period of five hours, the all clear bugles sounding a t 1.15. a.m., and aIT tube stations - wore crowded, thousands refuging in there alone. But many of the fixtures of the night- were in progress at, the begining of the raid, and.would not be interrupted by it. Theatres played to large audiences though explosion upon explosion roared in from outside. General Smuts lectured on East-Africa, quite unruffled. The House of Lords resuming business after dinner hour took up its work in the middle of the bombardment—and at many other places people saw the thing through. Many bombs seem to have fallen about us, the casualties so far recorded number 47 dead and 169 injured almost all in London.”-—The only comment to pass on this is the wonderful cheerfulness in which the Londoners meet their trials and troubles with tre. i-edy all about them, they do not- neglect rither their duty or their carnivals. Tt is typical of the spirit of tile race, and 4 hat spirit maintained will defy even !he darkest days and carry us through the valley of despond till we reach the hilltops and are in the clear sunlight of peaceful happiness once again. Resolutions. resource and unflinchinrr .courage will hasten the passage we have" yet Jo make till wo reach the golden goal of peace. „

Messrs W. Jeffries and Co. offer to t prices for 10,000 rabbit skins. Applications are invited for draughting eadets for the Lands and Survey Department (eight vacancies.) A dance u ill bo bold in the Supreme Mall to-morrow (Tuesday) evening at 8 o’clock. Music by Mrs Helling. Admission Is plus tax.—Advt. Cabled advice lias been received by the .Minister of Defence that one of the Now Zealand (hospital ships, which is outward bound from New Zealand, lias reached a port of call; all well. In the House of Representatives-or. Friday afternoon, replying to Mr Dickson (I’arnoll) the Prime Minister said if it was necessary that the* Government should intervene to regulate the .price of hut tor it would do so. The Government was framing regulations to deal with the whole position - and these would he gazetted in a few days. At a sitting of the Military Service Board at Wellington, Captain Walker, military representative, said that in view ol tlie present condition of things tlie question of the. exemption of clergy men may he reconsidered. He had no doubt that a change was pending, and it was not unlikely, that clergymen would be conscripted for non-confbat-ant work.

The annual meetings of/householders lor the purpose of electing school committees, will be held on Monday, April 22nd, commencing at 7.30 p.m Tlie members of the School Committee< elected on the day*mentioned, will In the voters at the forthcoming election ol members of-'the Canterbury Education Boai'dy which election takes place in Julv next.

Private advice has been received thin 2nd Lieutenant Arthur F. Laidlaw was killed in action on March 27'tn. Lieut. Laidlaw, who was a son of Air. Robert Laidlaw, son:, of Herne Bay, Auckland, volunteered in the early stages of the war for service with the artillery but when the dispatching of artillery reinforcements was suspended he voluntarily transferred to the infantry and entered camp as a private. He gained promotion rapidly, and in the examination lor commissions gained second highest marks. p e left New Zealand as adjutant of the troopship in which lie sailed. After four .weeks in England lie was drafted to France, where lie was in tlie firing line for five months. A brother. Lieutenant .1 R. Laidlaw, of tlie Royal Nava! Flying Corps, was killed in an aeroplane accident on April 17th. 1913. The two deceased soldiers wen* associated in tlie firm of Laidlaw Leeds, with their brother, Mr. Robert Laidlaw, the head of tile firm, who is now the only /surviving son., Lieut. Laidlaw has left a widow ami a little girl.

•J i ST LANDED a large consignment, of pears and apples—consisting of Cox’s orange pippins, Jonathans, 'and cooking varieties. Paterson Michel and Co. Ltd.,—Advt.

Have you heard tlie good n e ws? Colds fiv before XAZOL—the ready fur-use and money-saving remedy. Keep XAZOL handy. Sixty doses Ls (Id -Misses Addison ape displaying smart styles in winter "millinery including velvets, felts and tagelo. Also novelties in trimmings. Inspection invited.—Advt. „

For Children’s Hacking Cough at night, Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. 1/6, 2/6

The New Zealand Clothing Factory wish to notify the public that their new goods have arrived.

The ladies junior Golf Red Cross Medal match takes' place on .'Wednesday next.

Messrs Jeffries and Co. notify a stock sale at Ilari Hari on Wednesday, April 24 th.

Word was received this morning by Mrs R. Ross, that her son Jack was admitted to a Canadian hospital at Boulogne, seriously ill_with gunshot wounds in the shouldersVand chest.

The first consignment of war trophies captured by the New Zealand, division in France and Flanders, has arrived in Wellington. The collection includes 48 machine-guns and several trench mortars. It has not yet been decided how the collection will be disposed of. The New Zealand Herald reports another case of extraordinary delay in the transmission of a cablegram from London to Aifckland. The message, wliicji was from a soldier to iiis mother, was handed in at London on February 4th, and it arrived on Wednesday week. A letter, in which the soldier mentioned that lie had sent this cablegram, actually arrived two days before it.

A London cable message to the Australian papers states that Chung Ling Soo was accidentally shot during a performance at the Wood Green Empire Theatre, and died from his injuries. Cluing Ling Soo appeared in New Zealand some years ago, and in the ordinary. course of events, lie would harp been here again soon, as he was under contract to Fullers’ Ltd., for a tour within the next few months. He was a most remarkable man, a conjuror of rare merit, and. it is said, notwithstanding his successful posing'as a Chinese juggler, was an astute Soot. ■ dOn Friday'afternoon the children attending tlie Otira Public School met in the senior class room for the purpose of bidding farewell to Miss Rose Stevenson. infant mistress, who is leaving Otira for Irur home in Taumarunui, after. nearly five years’ service. A' number of pleasing musical and elocutionary items were rendered by the scholars, and at the close of the entertainment. Master Wilfred Nelson, on behalf of the children, presented Miss Stevenson with a very nico leather writing case, as a mark of the esteem and appreciation of the scholars for Miss Stevenson, accompanyingtlie presentation with an appropriate and well rendered speech. The headmaster thanked the scholars on Miss Stevenson’s' behalf, saying that he was sure they were all very sorry to lose Miss Stevenson, and wishing her all possible success and happiness in^her future career. Three dicers for the departing teacher concluded a very pleasant function.

' Merit'tells, vThe phenomenal sales of; North British Rubber Coys’ Hot water—Bottle' with the “Unique” stopper is the best evidence of their undoubted quality and service. All chemists.

“NO RUBBING” Laundry Help in t/- packets—the delight of thrifty wives, John ParkhilL Fitzherhert Street The qfien-nir hahv gets on best. Leave yours out of doors all the time hut put a North British Hot Water Bottle at- his feet. Watch him grow. For Chronic Chert Complaints,

Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. 1/6, 2/6

Delays are dangerous with colds and influenza. Got NAZOL to-day. Better than mixtures or syrups. No cold i». NAZOL-proof. Is. 64 buys 60 doses.