THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1284, 13 August 1914, Page 4

THE WAR.

BRITAIN'S PREPARATIONS

NUMEROUS ARRESTS OF GERMANS.

THREE THOUSAND ENLISTMENTS DAILY. LORD ISLINGTON ELEVATED,

LONDON, Aug. 11.

A steamer picked up and arrested four Germans in a row boat in the Mersey, endeavouring to elude arrest, also 219 German reservists at Folkestone en route for Flushing have been arrested by the Irish Fusiliers. They appeared delighted that their journey was interrupted. In consequence of their excellent service in patrolling the roads, guarding the cables and telegraphs, and assisting the coastguards, the War Office will probably give the Boy Scouts official recognition. Germans long resident in Britain unanimously express bitterness at the Kaiser's war spirit and their friendliness towards England. The majority of Germans remaining in Britain arc peaceful and innocent. Earls Spencer, Stradbroke and others arc olTcring houses and some Scottish castles as hospitals. All classes are responding to enrolment as special constables. . Three thousand are enlisting daily in tlic expeditionary force, and it is expected that Lord Kitchener’s 100,000 will be obtained much sooner than was anticipated. The percentage of unlit has fallen from 5U to well under 20, owing to tho excellent class enlisting. , i r i Lord Islington has replaced Lord Enimott in the Colonial Office, and Mr Christopher Addison has replaced Mr Rumanian. The Admiralty informed tho Lord Mayor of Birmingham that tho cruiser Birmingham sank the German submarine LID. The Prince of Wales’ fund has reached £500,000, including Sir James t.uird £ Sir °Robcrt Lucas Tooth (the Australian brewer) has subscribed £IO,OOO to the Countess of Dudley fund, whereof he is Bank of England received £2,500,000 in gold to-day. , Mr McKenna, has remitted the sentences of suffragettes, also of prisoners connected with tho recent strike. In announcing the remission, he said the King is confident that prisoners of both classes will not stain then causes by further crimes. The Commons adjourned till the 2otn. Mr Asquith said ho hoped then to wind up the session in a way which would meet with general acquiescence. Mr Bonar Law said he would gladly help to do his best to prevent a controversa I debate which would be a national calamity. Crystal Palace has been offered to the War' Office as a temporary hospital. One hundred and twenty Gormans, presumably reservists, arrived at Portsmouth, and were imprisoned. Sixty have been detained at Swansea, A woman, behoved to bo a German sp\. has been arrested at Milthousc Gun Powder Works, Dunoun. , . , The Bishop of London, at the intercession service, suggested that nobody ougltl* to exccod two meals daily. Freights to Australia have advanced an average of 25 per cent. _ Tho shipbuilders and repairer? at Newcastle have arranged to transfer their men from merchant to naval work on the Tyne, and are prepared to undertake any repairs in emergency. , , ■ , , : The Bradford nool market is at n standstill. excepting that there is good enquiry for ’crossbreds for khaki clothing. The Glasgow' metal markets have re-open-ed. Pig iron is about 63s 6d. Tho police occupied Croyden Hall, near Dun.ston, which was occupied by Count Hoehberg. a member of tic Floss family. The property is valued at £IOO,OOO, consisting of many art treasures. When war was declared Count Hoehberg told Ids servants that they might never see him again. He has disappeared. Six hundred members ot ( ambridge University Officers’ Corps, including _ -twenty, “blues.” have applied for commissions in the special reserve and icrritorials. Six ships convoying 3000 branded Americans have sailed for Now Yo, c. Fifteen thousand English and American tourist? are stranded in Switzerland, and the French Government is sending special trains to convey them across France. The Duma (Russian Parliament ) has sent a message to the House of Commons that Russia receives with transport tho powerful support of Britain. May God bless the courageous arips of the Entente which are defending a noble and just cause. Mr Asquith, in the Commons, said Earl Kitchener was anxious to give every help in the organisation and equipment of the Irish volunteers. The Government had shown confidence in the patriotism of the Irish by countermanding the despatch of English Territorials to Ireland, who under the mobilisation scheme would have gone. Mr Asquith added that Earl Kitchener’s chief difficulty is to find officers and noncoms. for the* second army of 100,000. Mr Asquith also announced that separation allowances would be paid to tho wives of soldiers who married off the strength, and also pensions if the soldiers were killed. The War Office’s refusal to recognise such •wjv.es caused many hardships in tho Boer Martial law has resulted in a humorous pretentious display of patriotic signs; upon closed shops, stating _ that the proprietors and assistants have joined the colours, some foreigners thus hoping to secure immunity from damage by patriotic mobs.

SACRIFICE OF PARENTS, MOTHER’S PATHETIC APPEALS

WELLINGTON, Ang. 11. The spirit of selfoacyisc<* exhibited by many parents in connection with the organisation of the expeditionary, force was referred to by tho Prime Minister in his speech at the public meeting at the Town Hall this evening. During the last few days, he said, ho had received many letters, pathetic letters from mothers entreating that their song, in some cases only sons, plight bo given a chance of going to the' front m order to show their loyalty arid their loyalty to the Empire. (Cheers), Letters had also been received hy the Defence Minister and himself from fathers flanking a similar plea in regard to their sons.

in jin allusion to the native race, Ml’ Massey said that scores ot offers of active service find been received from the Maoris. (Cheers), Jfp was sorry that up to the present the Maoris hail been disappointed in not being allowed to go to tho front. The 3laoris had offered to provide a force- of five, ten, or if required fifteen thousand men to give, all the assistance they could in tho services of their country. He hoped that they would yet have an opportunity of showing what they were made of because the Maori was nothing if not a fighter. (Applause).

TOO |AGER TO SERVE. UNDER-AGE VOLUNTEERSWELLINGTON, Aug. 11. The fact that a number of youths under 2U years of age have been accepted for service in the expeditionary force through a misstatement of age was brought under tho notice of tho Minister for Defence to-day by Mr D. Buick (Palmerston North), who said, the matter was occasioning a 1 great (Jenl of concern to tho parents of the youths concerned. Mr Russell asked whether birth certificates were being asked for. Hon. James Allen said that he did not think birth certificates had been produced in regard to advance guard, but in regard to the further sections of the force certificates would bo asked for. CHARGE AG.4IN.ST A BANK. Tu a question put this after ftp*,n Mr Buddo asked if the Premier had hoard of a report to the effect that one of tlie Banks had refused leave of absence to oiojuherß of its staff who were taking up military duties. Several Member:. Wfiicji Rank? Name! Name! Mr Buddo: I will not give the name just now. Tho Minister for Defence- said the. government had heard the rumour and .was enquiring into it. As the report might hot }>e correct it would he unfair to give the oh up? of the Bank. W Massey: X can only repept that enquiries. app horn- made into tho matter, but it it Only fair to say that the Bank in question is not the Bank of New Zealand. NATURALISATION. A statement in reference to the question of naturalisation of aliens at present in the Dominion was made to-day

by the Prime Minister in reply to Mr It. McKenzie.

Mr Massey said that the Government needed to he very careful at present in regard* to naturalisation. He would consult the Minister for Internal Affairs in regard to a particular case raised by Mr McKenzie, but he could not encourage any idea that the Government, was going to go in for issuing naturalisation papers in a wholesale way for a long time to come.

GERMAN’S GIBRALTAR. A WONDERFUL FORTRESS. IMPREGNABLE HELIGOLAND. Twenty-four years ago England ceded tho island of Heligoland, to Germany. For six years great naval works have been in progress at the island, and this year they are flue to he completed, if they are not completed already. Germany has converted the- island into a fortress, which is described as another Gibraltar.

The work of fortifying tho island, writes the German correspondent of tho Navy League's official Journal, Tho Navy, began with tho erection of massive' concrete breakwaters parallel to those parts of the shore which were suffering from the ravages of tho sea. In this way the safety ot tho island, which had been seriously threatened by tho inroads made upon the soft cliffs by tho angry waters of the North Sea, was assnml. The next step was tho building of two huge, moles at the southern extremity of the island. The first strikes out into the sea for* a distance of nearly 800 yards, then cnrvw abruptly to tho oast and turns north, again. This mole has a total length of 606 yards, and is known as the “Westmole.” Tho second (“Ostmole”) branches out towards the south-east, finally turning south to meet the Westmole, and has a total length of 4118 yards. The artificial harbour enclosed by these two breakwaters is furnished with quays and moorings for a large number of vessels, and is intended to be used principally by torpedo craft and submarines. Several flotillas can lie in this harbour with perfect safety, no matter how bad the weather may he. Most probably there are dock's and repair facilities, hut the_ intense .secrecy which has characterised the naval development of Heligoland is still maintained’, and the public knows very little about the way in wliieh tho one" and a-half millions sterling that represent the cost: of the work have been spent. It. is. however, common knowledge that the plateau of the island has been most strongly fortified, as the. papers often refer to the big guns in armoured turrets and the, thick concreto bastions against which the shells of a bomhaz'ding fleet would he as effective as-, -mas. Heligoland has, indeed, been u escribed as ''impregnable’’ by the semi-official pajiers. It is juipnlarly known as the ‘‘Gibraltar of the North Sea.” mid the German® are immensely proud of their island fortress. They look ujion it as a- certain thorn in the flesh of the “mightiest naval Power,” whose, schemes for a close blockade of the German coast have been frustrated by tho fortification of the very island which the. aforesaid Power voluntarily gave nii just twenty-four years ago. As a result of the construction of the two great moles referred to, it has been possible, to reclaim a large area of land, on which tho necessary workshops and depots have- been built. Practically tho whole of the island has now passed under the control of the naval authorities. Although it could serve, at. an emergency, as a. harbour of refuge for big ships,'the new port has been developed primarily as a base for destroyers and submarines, more especially lor the latter. Had it not been for the submarine Heligoland would probably have never attained its present commanding position among the naval strongholds of the Fatherland.

GERMAN AIRSHIPS. According io the reports of -the fighting round Liogc, littlo success hits attended Germany’,s aerial fleet, (lei finest. Zeppelin airship was si ruck by a shot from a speci-ally-designed gnu on one ot the Belgian foils, and was brought to the ground, while three, aeroplanes have been lost. The Zeppelin airships have been regarded with .suspicion by other Powers, chiefly on account of tlic run of accidents under peace conditions. Count, Zeppelin has construes ed about, 16 of these huge aerial vessel.-. Of them six have been lost, while nearly nil (lie others have met wirli mishap- of one kind or another, and in some instance.? destruction lias been, narrowly averted. The first: Zeppelin, launched at Lake Constance as far hack as 1900, was 416 ft long, its trials gave considerable promise, but a few months later it was wrecked. Not discouraged the. ingenious nobleman started out to build another, and his -misfortune at. least had this advantage, that it attracted atentkm to his schemes. In 1905 he launched his second venure, 414 ft, long, which had bad luck from the first, and was speedily smashed up. Tho so-called Zeppelin IV. was a great success while it 1 lasted, but, after performing feat? which laised German enthusiasm to fover-hcat, and placed the Count in the position of a national hero; it was wrecked during a. gulp at Echlerdingert. Disaster followed disaster. '.Tim rebuilt gepnejin If. .\VS S badly-damaged jn May, 1909, by collision with a tree. Zeppelin V. was also ripped up by contact with a forest, and Zeppelin VI. was totally burnt as tho result, of an explosion. Tlien tho only two naval airships commissioned were lost. If tlic .airships prove unserviceable a weapon of offence on which Germany placed great, holies will havp hi bn ielvisoneil, It- was hoped lo (send ifiese iiifgo dirigible? oyer the heart of France and England to destroy towns and menace Viiebi!|sfttWtt JKihltS. The. Zeppelin is more than an airship; it is a fighting machine, J/laclf dirjffilftfJ lias ftp armament said to be capable' of doing as much damage, as two batteries of field guns. Th« height ’of, the dirigibles gives th« jectilos fired from if. added force sufficient, to make their destructive powers equal, if not superior, to those possessed by the heaviest of field arjl'llerr guiiy, NAVAL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.

Vice-Admiral Sir Joint Rush worth JeJlieoe. who has just been appointed to ho Admiral in charge of the Homo Floats, and supreme commander of the British naval forces in the North Sea. is 65 years of ago, and has been Second Sea Lord of the Admiralty since 1912. lie was educated at Hottingdcan, and in the forty-two years since ho first entered the Navy Jms seen much varied service. He served in the Egyptian war of 1882, and was commander of the Victoria when she was sunk after collision with the Camperdown in tho Mediterranean in 1893. During the Boxer rising he served in China, and commanded the Naval Brigade dispatched to 'the relief of the Peking Legations in 1900. At this time lie also acted as Chief of Staff to Vice-Admiral Sir E. Seymour. Returning to Britain, ho was Director of Naval Ordnance from 1905 to 1907. Tu the latter year ho was made a Rear-Admiral and appointed to the Atlantic. Fleet. Next year ho became it Lord Commissioner tif the'Adniiraftj- ami Controller <|f jhc Navy. Jn-1910 came' appointment to the command of the Atlantis Fleet, and in 1011 of the Second Squadron of the. Homo Fleet. Sir Joint Jollicoe was made a. Knight Commander of the Bath in 1911, haring previously been appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1907. Curiously enough, among his many decorations, lie possesses one bestowed by the German Emperor—the Order of the Red;; Eagle conferred for services in China. SWISS'DEFENCE. Switzerland has fortifications on the south frontier for tho defence of the St. Gothard tunnel; and others at St. Maurice and M'lrfigny, in the Rhone Vailcy. The country depends’upitn a pptjQijaj injlitiq, r.epvjfo in which is universal and compulsory, with few exceptions, except for physical disnbil- j ity, ami those excused pay special taxes. f; C »rico extends over 28 years (cavalry 25 ye,- The first twelve yearn is served in the Auszug. or first line, and tho remainder in reserve*. Tho total number of combatants in the field army may bu taken as 140, OQOj and altogether Switzerland can mobilise aJjojjt 2.00,000, irrespective of the organised 'LandStilrm, m'fmperipg about 60,000 more. About 21,000 men' occupy the southern fortifications. The ip/amvy use the Swiss peneating rifle, and the artflicny Krupp ehiplcied Q.F. 7.5 p-m. (3m) field gun- Nearly one; third of the Swus* Federal Budget is spent upon defence, and the nailon is famous for the efficiency of its military system.

GIFTS TO DEPARTMENT.

Following ar« additional gifts to the Depart invni :

Major Oshnrne-Lilly, horses from fanners in Pahiatna district. Mr A. R. Bryce, Marlon, has offered his oar. seating 5, and to act himself as driver.

Mr W. L. Marshall, Rangitikei cheque for £25.

High School, Feilding, contribution towards ambulance waggon. Dalrymplo Estate, Bulls, lOj. bales of bay, 200 sacks of chaff, truck of fat sheep. Mr G. H. Wilson. Bulls, horses. Mr A. Stewart, Marton. truck of chaff. Wilson Bros, Bulls, truck of chaff and possibly some horses. Mr A. Sutherland, Palmerston North, cheque for £SO.

The farmers in the. Wairarapa from Featherston to Ekctahnna have very liberally responded to tho call for produce, and money to assist the Expeditionary Force, and it in to be hoped that tho farmers on this coast will not be lacking in their support. A fully representative gathering is desired at tho meeting to-morrow afternoon at. Messrs Abraham and Williams’ rooms, Rangitikei street.