THE LITTLE JAP

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 23 March 1916, Page 2

THE LITTLE JAP

A JAPANESE judicial adviser, Dr Ariga, on the question of a Japanese array- in Europe, says: " Japan will intervene, energetically and without delay, in the European war if it would appear that a German victory would nullify the importance of the capture of Tsing-tau. The best sphere for Japanese intervention would be the theatre of war in Poland, One must, however, seriously consider the question whether there is not a reason for Japan lending her assistance against Turkey. The freedom of the Suez, Canal is to say, the unfettered possession of the .Canal by England—is a question

of life or death to Japan. Our intervention on this side would allow England to use her troops in France. Japan has 250,000 men ready for service in the canal zone. The Japanese are willing to follow British direction in the struggle in Egypt, and to renounce all initiative in these operations. The Japanese trocps are ready to play the same part in Egypt that the Indian troops are playing in France. On the question of expenses of the war, Japan will follow the Sardinian example in the Crimean war. That is to say, Japan will look after all the costs, but will ask for compensation if the campaign is successful."

DUTCH GIN AND SMUGGLING. THE startling announcement comes to hand by cable that the importation of " square " gin, etc., manufactured in Holland, will soon cease owing to shipping difficulties in transit. If our sympathies go out to those who will miss their tot of gin or other spirits we certainly have no sympathy for the Dutchman, who has been piling up millions of money on the pretence of being strictly neutral during the present war struggle, by v the wholesale smuggling into Germany of supplies of almost every imaginable description helpful to the Kaiser and the unspeakable Hun. So that every drop of foreign liquor, or cigars, etc., consumed, since the war commenced, .by millions of English, Irish and Scotch, Canadian and Australasian, have been actually replenishing the coffers of our bogus friends, who are no fools where there are dollars to be made and hoarded-up. Better to know your enemies straight-out than to be supporting neutrals who cut your throat and plaster it, as it were. At least that is the ECHO'S idea of wagging the dog's tail. Joseph W. Grigg, special correspondent of the New York Herald, says :— Not every Bank account in Holland to-day is above suspicion. Men who have never prospered before have suddenly amassed tidyfortun.es. Others have built houses and retired. You are not left long in doubt about the causes of some- of this sudden affluence. It is the natural corollary ot smuggling. I heard about smuggling as soon as I stepped ashore. I was informed by one of the highest Government officials that the principal duty of the, Dutch army just now is to prevent smuggling. "It would be a much easier task," he asserted, "if certain officers and men were above listening to tempting offers made them to permit things to 'cross into Germany." A well-informed trade authority in Holland told me he believed it would be a conservative estimate to say that 15 per cent of the war profits in Holland in the last six months were traceable to smuggling. A business man in Rotterdam, speaking of this illicit traffic, said : " Smuggling in Holland is absolutely a matter of money. There is no sentiment about it. The persons who are doing the smuggling may be pro-Ally or pro-German. Above all else, but they are pro-business."

Sentry duty along certain stretches of the border?is a highly saleable commodity. The cousin of a Dutchman with whom I had considerable talk was offered £15 to turn his back while on sentrygo at one of these strategic points. He refused. The next night another soldier had this same post. He turned his head.. As a consequence, he was able to shake in the face of his more honest compatriot a small bag containing the tquivalent of £17. The bonus is not always so small. It depends on what is to cross the border. It might be oil, or horses or autmobiles. I was told that £60 bonuses had been paid. Until a recent law was promulgated in Holland to regulate the size of train crews, it had become notoriously common for trains from Germany to come into Dutch territory manned by three times the number of men required. They first of all feed themselves, Then each man carries back with him as much as the law would allow.

One of the notorious smuggling episodes in Holland was that of tombstones, A certain manufacturer in Rotterdam suddenly developed an enormous trade with Germany in tombstones and milestones. A facetious Dutchman said it looked as if there were to be one tombstone "for each Frit? at the front," And why should Germany buy milestones ? A day came when it was discovered that both articles were only reoeptables for the badly needed petrol, The Dutch Government had.dammed another current, but there were still others. It soon developed that an enormous quantity of soap was going to Germany, One day Government inspectors discove.red that it wouldn't " wash." There was no lather in it. It was almost all linseed oil. The soap trade came to a halt