The Hokitika Guardian SATURDAY, APRIL 22nd, 1922. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian SATURDAY, APRIL 22nd, 1922. THE WEEK.

The week-end brings us to the eve of the most notable day in the almanac for Englishmen—,23rd April. It is the Englishman’s saint day—St George’s Day. And the date is linked in the minds of Englishmen because of Iwo other notable connections with llie date. First, it is Shakespeare’s daycommemorative of our greatest Englishman; second, it is the annive-sa:y of die blocking of Zeebrugge in lit great War in 1918—ono of the most memorable feats of the British N'.'vy in the war. During the anxious days of April 1918, we were heartened by news of the raids on Zeebrugge and Ostend, which for sheer daring in conception ami “neatness” in execution ('quailed anything in the records ot the British navy Much has been written about these operations, hut as Captain A. F. B. Carpenter, V.C., tells us in his hook, “The Blocking of Zeebrugge,” some misapprehension still exists with regard to their purpose and their results. They were not intended simply to produce a moral effect, although tho impression left on the German mind by this “impertinence,” which recalls Drake’s feat of singeing the S]t:

King’s board at Cadiz, would not be ] I asant. Their object was severe 1 ;/ practical. Again, the temporary occu. pation of the Mole at Zeebrugge, although it attracted most attention, was essentially a subordinate operation The position was that the Germans had established at Bruges an important submarine and destroyer base Bruges was connected with the North Sea by a deep canal to Zeebrugge and ft shallow canal to Ostend, If these /particularly thf former) cpuld bp plos-'

■ d the vessels at Bruges would be imprisoned, and the base would be loudened useless. The only w,.y to seal tin m was to sink ships at the entiance, but it was a case of easier said than done. Naval history provided many exam] Us of similar attempts, hut never once had they succeeded. Moreover, betii Z<brugge and Ostend presented exceptional difficulties to such an enterprise, At Zcebrt.gge (with which Captain Carpenter's narrative is concerned) the block ships before reaching the mouth of the Canal would have to round the Mole and cross the harbour, running the gauntlet of the lire of the heavy batteries ashore, and on the Mole itself. Clearly they would be sunk before ever they arrived at their destination, ahd two preliminary divisions were arranged to give the three old cruisers chosen to block the canal a chance of getting there. A party from the Vindictive and two Mersey ferry boats was to storm the Mole from the seaward side, luul give its garrison something to cc- j copy their thoughts. Meanvhole two, submarines were to blow up the viaduct . which joined the Mole and the mainland. It was hoped that in the general excitement and confusion the Thetis, j Intrepid, and Iphigenin could struggle | to their goal. I

( The undertaking was a, most hazardous ! one, and to a less resourceful command th.j difficulties might have seemed insuperable. Everything would have to he done in the dark. None of the ordinary aids to navigation v.-eiv available, and there was no possibility of communication between the. various units of tho expedition, yet' everything depended on their most pel feet co-oiic-ration. A hundred contingencies hud to be provided for. and the attempt could only ho made in certain conditions of tide, wind, and hour ot'sunrise—ail unusual conjunction which was long in coming. Twice the expedition set off only to return ; the third occasion— appropriately St, Geoige’s Day—was favourable. Captain Carpenter, who was navigating officer of the Vindictive, describes the nffu.ii- in its three phases-, the storming of the Mole, the attack on the Viaduct, and the actual blocking of the canal, the raison d’etre of the whole business. It is not true that ‘‘everything went like clockwork.” There were serious hitches, but the authorities had allowed for these, and had left a sufficient margin for success. The Mole party engaged—one might almost, say, monopolised—tire attention of the garrison, and when their task was done re-embarked. A submarine blew a huge gap in the viaduct into which a eye corps, hastening to reinforce the garrison, fell. The Thetis sank before she quite reached the canal mouth, hot ) the other two cruisers were scuttled diagonally across the fairway. The Germans fried to belittle the result, mid published an ingeniously faked photograph to show that the canal was open. But photographs taken by Brtish aviators the iollowing day proved beyond all doubt that it was blocked and it was many months before it was navigable, even by tiny boats and at high water. Captain Carpenter teds the story most graphically, and Ids account of the grapple ui the Moiiy and the innumerable deeds of heroism there displayed stirs the readei’s bio <1 like a trumpet call

Ihe bid adage about the course of true love not running true, seems to apply specially to European polities. Ihe Genoa Conference which promised so much, and from which so much was hoped, has taken a decided turn which may lead lead ultimately to serious complications. Germany and 'Russia the outcasts of Europe for the time being, have allied their fortunes in a treaty, the effect of which action has been very upsetting on the Conference. Germany entered the Conference under certain conditions whic.i are said to be completely abrogated by the treaty alliance with Russia. In plain terms, Germany has again broken her word. Tile authorities were not so iipset at the Russian action, which is largely controlled by the Bolshevik element, but Germany has betrayed herself again. The sum total of the incident is that the European Powers still refuse to respect each other, or to have any confidence in the plighted word. European nations are still divided against each ot.ior, and the distrust is deep seated. Britain, with Lloyd George at the head of its delegation, will have a difficult task indeed to control the position and bring the work of the Conference hack to a point where it can lx? said confidence in restored, an.! there will be a jumping off ground from which to build up the broken fortunes of the European nations. That was the task for which Genoa Conference was convened, and as matters are shaping now there are apparently insuperable J barriers rising up. Till the distrust among the nations is removed, and confidence restored it seems hopeless to expect practical results, yet the gains under a favorable general peace settlement are so self-apparent that to seek pence mul ensure it should he the one aim of all gathered at Genoa. j

No friend of Ireland, however partial can disguise from himself the fact that affairs in the Emerald Island are going very badly. It would segin, comments a contemporary, that the Irish are determined to prove that their political pnomies ip [lister, and in England have b<TU. right nujt fljpir friends y/roug.

The advocates of a republic have flouted the Government of Southern Ireland by establishing themselsolves in the lawcourts of Dublin which they hold as a fortified "headquarters.” This is bad enough, but it is still worse to he told that this is merely a change of address, and that the malcontents were previously established ill another fortifiedfied building in the capital. It can lie understood that Mr Michael Collins and his colleagues of the Provisional Government may hesitate before they renew a regime of civil warfare in Ireland, but the alternatives to strong and determined action offer no ultimate avenue of escape from bloodshed and disorder. Unless Ireland can govern herself Britain will have to intervene, and she will intervene on the next occasion. if matters go that far, with a clear warrant and a clean conscience. But it is to he hoped the need for intervention will not arise The seeming inaction of the Southern Government accords ill with all we have heard concerning the calibre of Collins and Arthur Griffith.

' In these cases it has sometimes proved to be good tactics to wait awhile until | the forces which are to lx? used to re- ; store order are completely mobilised. I mid until an attack can be delivered j with unexpected suddenness. Those i were the tactics employed by General | Smuts recently in the face of armed ' rebellion in the Transvaal, and it would be hasty to assume that the Southern Irish Government has no plans iA question which is of great importance is the strength of the rebel : forces and the amount of support they j are receiving from the country. All i that has been heard of the subject has ! led to the conclusion that the Free : State Treaty is supported by a large ; majority of the people, and that the | republican idea was more the preroga- ' tive of de Valera and leaders of his kind than of tile -rank and file, Rut if the insurgents are sufficiently numerous and during to plant themselves in the capital and defy the Government it is hard to believe that they represent an inconsiderable mihority. It is possible, of course, that the criminal and quasi-criminal element which inevitably comes to the fore in a time of national disorder, has espoused the republican cause as the best means Of continuing opportunities for plunder, a development which might be assisted j) v expenditure of th large funds which are still supposed to be ill the hands o. de Valera and his associates. Apparently there is a split even in the Republican camp, since O’Connor disavows ssoeiation with de Valera, raising the possibility that even if the incredible happens and a republic is established, the republicans will coittinue to fight aui'iiig themselves;

I The weather for the Easter holidays was an uncertain as it well could he. It opened very anspiciiously with ideal weather on Easter Day. but that was the limit of nature’s blessing, and thereafter the weather was various and difficult to forecast. Easter Monday was a day of drizzle, hut Tuesday left no possible doubt whatever iis to the ability of the heavens to rain, and tho local sports meeting had to he postponed. The weather was not at all promising lbr the Hokitika races on Wednesday, hut in the end better behaviour was manifested, and the racing was held under very favourable weather conditions. Unfortunately the early morning rain nlleeted the attendance particularly of northern visitors. The meeting, however, was a success from every point of view. The racing was excellent, and the meeting was admirably conducted. Financially the meeting will not equal last year’s record for the Club, hut the Treasurer reports the meeting will show a fair surplus under the adverse circumstances, while at the same time the representation and prestige of the Club has been added to by the all-round success and enjoyment of the meeting. On Thursday it wits pleasing to .see cycling and athletic sports successfully revived here. The newly formed Club must have bad a very successful meeting from every point of view, and from the pleasure derived by patrons, it should he safe to predict that the sport lias come to stay. Incidentally visitors to Cass Square commented on the smarter appearance the grounds are taking on, and it is liojiod the Beautifying Association will continue to progress with the good work in hand.