THE WAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 14, 3 September 1914, Page 7

THE WAR.

NEW ZEALAND.

LPbb Pbim .Amogiawon.]

The Maoris at Hastings are madly excited about the war, and are keenly anxious to assist the Empire. Yesterday they held u great demonstration at Waipatu pah. Terrific hakas were danced, and patriotic speeches were given by Dr. Pomare, Mr Ngata, and other leading chiefs, which aroused great enthusiasm. The Maoris auctioned their horses, sheep, and cattle, and sold curios, and as a resub of the demonstration the patriotic funds will benefit considerably. A French resident of Noumea, Now Caledonia, writing under date 24th August, to a friend in Wellingron, refers as follows to the arrival of the New Zealand expeditionary force at Noumea:—"The Monowai and A:oeraki arrived in our port on Thursday last at 9 o'clock in the mo: mng after a good trip. The New Zealand expeditionary force was very well Liceived, and the Noumea people ware, nearly all the time near the two uoats throwing oranges, chocolates, bananas ana all sorts of sou-veui'-s to ;.J1 those nice New Zeaianderfc. Tu y only came on sho o once, ou Friday morning, just for a march. Every night the Noumea band gave a concert near the two steamers. They all left Noumea yesterday morning at 1U o'clock, uod we suppose they are goi>ig to the Samoan Island." The co: respondent adds that the force had a strong convoy of warships. Good progress is being made with the equipment of troopjiips now ;n Wellington harbor. The huge amount of labor entailed by j&hese preparations has resulted in soai-i wharf workers making inflat9d wages, the paysheet of the Wellinghjn Co-opera-tive Waterside Employment Association amounted to £4909 for a week's wages for 1300 men, an average ;>f close on £4. In a rortuiglrt over £BOOO has been paid out m wages. The rate of pay for fciuuiay worjj is 4s 4d per hour, and iaat week one of the worker's wages amounted to ' £9. ;

It is now stated that '>ho troops at Palmerston North will not be brought to Wellington for at least a week for the official farewell. They will be marched to Newton Park. No further cases of scarlatina have occurred at Addington camp beyond two repored, and .contacts are reported to be in the best of health. Victims of the outbreak are Lieutenant Mdes and Privade Kidd, of B (South Canterbury) company 6f the infantry regiment. Lieutenant Miles, who was platoon commander, was one of the Duntroon College cadets. The infantry troops at Auckland who marched to Manurewa yesterday, and slept in the open, had an unpleasant experience, as heavy rain fell during the night. The troops did not grumble at the conditions and accomplished a fine performance on the march back to the mobilisation camp this morning. All were then granted leave for the day. The Wellington fund for providing food for the poor of Great Britain and Belgium has now reached nearly £7OOO in cash and kind.

The Belgian Belief Fund at Hastings totals £1164. Napier has collected an additional £272, and Gisborne considerably over £IOOO.

JOTTINGS.

Whence comes the red, white and blue of England? Why, from the Danish, Saxon, and Norman fleets that cruised and fought in the English Channel until William the Conqueror established his rule. The "ships" then were open boats, from 100 to 200 feet in length, and the rowers were protected with the warriors'

shields which were ranged along the sides, ail brilliantly painted. The shields of the Danes were painted red, those of the .Norsemen black and yellow, and the fcJaxon si ields were white, edged with red or blue.

"Curious, isn't it," said a Meiuourno waiter, ''Out i have not bwi\ asKed. to serve u bottle oi hock since tlie outbreak of ciie warr" - ' 1 pointed oui that hock was produced in Australia. •"INO matter," the wafto" roplied, "people won't have it. 1 misuuUorstooU one young man Uic other night, and said, 'les, sir. Mock siri' Certainly sir.' 'Mere, you o/me back!' he cried; '1 didn't ori3i nock. .No hock for me. Mock for the Kaiser I' You see, sir, they nave associated hock with the German h.mperor, and they'll have none of 't." ' Mas the same prejudice extended to Vienna roilsP" 1 asked. Me weened dubious. "1 should say it had," lie replied. "It certainly has to G«i nivr sausage. 1 simply wouldn't da'e to offer a customer Jiraukfurter garlic sausage as a hois d'oeuvre i&ese evoi ings.' '"Which reminds .'.*e." i saifcd severely. "1 am sitting on jh Austnan chair." Me looked veiy disturbed. "Mush, sir," he s:iid, "not so loud, if you please, I will c'uvnge it immediately."

The followiug sensible note is taker from the Mucautile Gazette oi New Zealand:—We think many of our people are acting very sillily u vuthdiawing from the business into which they were entering prior to the wu\. There . ; s not going to be any great difference in New Zealand, airi there is not necessity for anyone to tni.-is that conditions will t'J any extent except that speculative ventures will be curtailed. There n.ay ue some unemployment coiiage pi-cpo'ties and securities held about the town will fall, but land will remain as it is, and after the war will probably fetch higher values than it comamnds at present. The man with £50,000 will still buy a motor cai witout fear that he will be bankrupt, the trader or professional man with an income of £IOOO per year need not dismiss his servant girl nor need the housewife think that the household's salvation will be assured only if she can put half a ton of iloui in her pantry. We are not In ror starvation times, nor is there any chance or prospect that the war v/iil terminate unfavorably to us, or unci Britain is satisfied that peace can be made upon terms satisfactory to the Empire and with honor.

The following was issued as an "ex tra" last night:—

AFTER A THREE DAYS' BATTLE.

THE ALLIES' LINE IS UNBROKEN RETREATING POLICY CARRIED OUT. Official:—The High Commissioner reports on date London, September Ist:

The War Office at Paris states that on the night after partial checks had taken place an offensive movement was taken and the enemy retired. In the centre there were alternating checks and successes. A general battle is in progress on the left.

Circumstances favoured the Germans, and despite counter attacks the Anglo-French forces had to yield ground. Nowhere have our armies been broken through in the three days' battle.