GRUEL LOSSES OF THE GERMANS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 75, 4 March 1916, Page 5

GRUEL LOSSES OF THE GERMANS

Turkish Fears for Bagdad

ALLEGED PEACE TALK

Ferdinand, of Bulgaria, Dodges the Assassin

The Submarine and Mine Menace

CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

News from France show that the Germans have attacked with renewed vigor and violence jn the Verdun sector, where they fruitlessly attacked on several occasions, suffering cruel losses. However, they succeeded in penetrating the village of D'oimumont, which is slightly north-west of the Fort. At the same time they attacked the village of Vaux, which is about a couple of miles to the south and nearer Verdun, but they were badly repulsed, and had to retire, leaving great numbers of their dead in the wire entanglements in front of the Allied positions. This is proof of the determination of the enemy m their assaults on an objective of importance. There is no denying the bravery of the Germans, and were it not for their dishonorable actic-ns and amazing skill in mendacity, they might be counted as foemen worthy of our steel, so to speak. But anything like kindly sentiments for such ignominious foes are quite out of place in the nil true British circles.

We. prefer i;o thank Providence for such bfave Allies as the French, and to do so without derogating in the slightest from the high opinion held by all concerning the solid assistance that Russia, Italy Japan, and the other Allies have rendered to the common cause. The reports in today's cables narrating the heroic actions of two French leaders during critical periods in different engagements make capital reading.

In the matter-of unity in the great struggle, the Allies are still further combining by a commercial war against Germany, and representatives will meet in Paris shortly to arrange the plan of campaign. France recognised the need for action, and it was at her instigation that the conference is to be held.

Ferdinand of Bulgaria has got bronchitis! At least he says he has, and any excuse is good onough when one is afraid of losing one's head. It is reported that owing to the great dissatisfaction prevailing in the country, consequent on the little progress being made by the Central Powers, and also no doubt due to the suffering and misery prevalent in the homes of the people there is every probability of the King becoming a victim to the assassin's dagger. He is frightened to return to Sofia, the capital, until a decisive success is secured by Germany, preferably at Verdun.

The Turks have wakened up to the fact that Bagdad is in danger, and there is much talk 01 peace terms being drawn up for submission to the Allies. The success of the Russians in Armenia is said to be the reason for the sudden fear, as that herein there is shown a direct benefit of the fall of ErY.erum.

It is reported that Germans are laying mines from submarines. This is' perfectly feasible, and is not im probable. The mines are carried one above another is a vertical air-tight chamber within the submarine. When they are to be laid, water is admitted to the chamber and the door in tin outer shell of the hull closing the bottom of the chamber is opened. The, mines are then released, one by om through proper appliances. The mini anchor sinks to the bottom, and, I). suitable mechanism, the anchorage cable is unwound to permit the mire to float at the desired depth below the surface. This method of mine laying is absolutely secret, and there fore is proportionately dangerous to .the enemy.

Many people think of West Africa a: a land of mosquitoes and mangrovi swamps, notable chiefly for palm oil and blackwater fever. The Came-

roons are certainly notable for these things, but there are others. The cocoa, rubber, kola, and oil palm plantations about Duala and the Cameroon Mountain alone run into 150,000 acres, of which about 30,000 acres are under cultivation. The volcanic slopes of this mountain are said to form as rich and productive an area as any in the world The peak dominates the whole country up to the Nigerian border, and the climate on the higher levels, though damp and misty in the rainy season, is healthy for Europeans. The short railway which has been built from Duala past the mountain passes right through the plantations, and in them more than *£1,000,000 of German capital has been invested. But the commercial possibilities of the country lying between the coastline and the open grass lands of the interior are said to be also immense. Huge tracts of virgin forest still remain, but on the banks of the rivers, and wherever transport facilities exist, plantations of cocoa, oil palms, rubber, and tobacco are evidence of the richness of the soil.

The planters have erected large plants and machinery for extracting the oil from the oil palm. The amount of native-grown cocoa is also considerable ; it travels down to the mills of numerous trading firms in Duala and elsewhere along the coast. Finally, as the country gradually rises from the sea, the bush becomes thinner, till at last come the open grass and plateau lands. Here the climate is cool, cattle and horses thrive, and Europeans can feel themselves alive and forget that they are living in West Africa. The German Government was quite aware of the colony's possibilities, and the admirable construction and equipment elaborate maps and surveys, the elaborate maps and surveys, the waterworks, wireless station,horse and cattle breeding establishments; and the magnificent botanic gardens and departments of scientific research 'show how much was spent in developing these possibilities. Indeed, the results of this development policy were only just beginning to show.