GERMANY'S THREE SECRET ENVELOPES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 203, 25 August 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

GERMANY'S THREE SECRET ENVELOPES.

' ENGLAND WAS FORGOTTEN. Every summer for the last twelve years every stationmaster, the head ot Avery locomotive depot, and every inspector in every district station in the German Empire received three large official envelopes, which he had already received instructions where in his safe, and there keep ''until they should be necessary," says Mr. Godfrey iPyke. in his book, "To Ruhlebeu—and Back." , , . The fust of those envelopes had on the cover, in large printed capitals •• To be opened in the event of war with France." On the second was printed "To bj opened in tine event of war with Russia," and the third, "To be opened in the event of war with France and Russia." , _ . There was no fourth. No envelope "To be opened in the event of war with Fiance, Russia, and Great Biv.tam. Every year a gold-laced official would come round to collect these, envelopes He would pass away to other stationmasters ,a silent figure, handng out three envelopes, always taking threo in return. THEIR ONLY VICTORY. A busy time for Dismal James! His sighs have filled the a;r—'•Alas! too true the German claims, And British prestige, where?" But suivly 'twas a jaundiced whim That made such croakers say: Supremacy is held by him Who tights and runs away. "When gallant cruisers in attack Can hold the German fleet. And .lellicoe can drive it back, It's clear we've ''got 'em beat." Still, there's one fact we can't disguise— In reason or in rhyme— That when it conies to telling lies THEY'LL BEAT IS EVERY TIXIK —Jessie Pope, in the " Daily Express.'' THE GREATEST CITY IN ASIA MINOR. The city in Asia Minor which possesses me longest history and the most continuous records is Smyrna, now for the time being groaning under the iron heel of its German masters. Its name, which has never changed, is said to commemorate one of the Amazons. Originally a Greek colony, it was conquered by the Lydiians in the sixth centiury 8.C., and for some three hundred years .it cease*] to he a Greek city. Alexander the Great had pity on it. and conceived a plan for restoring it. tt was left, however, to two of his successors to carry the plan through. As a trade centre Smyrna revived undei Roman rule but inßyzantine tunes its prosperity declined owing to the proximity of "Constantinople. Even at this dny, however, one-half of its quarter of a million inhabitants are Greeks. It may not lie generally known that Turkey carpets come chiefly from Smyrna. These are made in three qualities, and the patterns have been handed down by families for generations. The Phoenicians wore the first people to fort'fy their towns.