STORY OF HIS ARREST

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 21, 29 April 1916, Page 5

STORY OF HIS ARREST

Unbounded Arrogance and Conceit Press Criticism of the Cabinet Losses at Sea through Mines BATTLE OF VERDUN ENDED

CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

There is little really new about tlie situation in Ireland. The Government are evidently seized of the necessity of dealing with the rebellion in a firm and proper manner, and towards this end the assistance, of the censor has been requisitioned. Therefore, we at this end of the Empire have not been put in the position of knowing anything but the barest details of the "adventure." The story of the capture of Casement on landing from a boat on the coast of Ireland makes amusing reading, not only as disclosing the impudence of the undertaking, but specially as revealing the character of the man who was responsible for it. The display of arrogance and conceit before his captors gives the key to the reason for German help being behind the. adventure. The enemy are : hot too particular of course about the Ways and means of striking I a blow at England and the Empire, .but'that they have "fallen in" badly through Casement, over the idea -of any' rebellion in Ireland hdving the slightest ! chahce of succeeding, is explained by tlie : suavity,' polished bearing/and unlimited bdnCeit in his own importance which' .' such '"a finished scoundrel as he would not fail to display.' [ Genu'ihe sympathy is felt for

the Irish Nation as a whole in the unfortunate and false position in „ which they have been placed before the. eyes of the world by this bounder. That he will meet a deserved fate is the wish of all true patriots, but the hands of many Irishmen, are tingling to-day _, y and no worse end could befall a traitor such a*s he than'to be turned aver to their tender (?) mercies .for reprisal!

Thi accursed system of mine-lay ins, 1 is (prominent in the cables to-day, almost s ec}ipsmg in importance the nefarious dfeds of the submarines. Quite a number of losses are chronicled as the result of floating mines in the' waterways; from the North Sea to th* Mediterranean. The most unfortunate of these is the loss of the flagship of Rear-Admiral Fremantle, which struck a mine and gunk, 124 members of the crew being missing. Instances of the barbarity of the submarine campaign being conducted by the enemy give special prominence to the sea to-day.

It lias oeen hard to follow the development of the Russian campaigns in the Middle East, for two reasons. In the first place, the news we have had'of them has been scanty and irregular; and, in the second, the campaigns themselves have not developed steadily, for successes have been followed by long periods—as, for inafter the taking of Van—during which there has been comparatively little to record. The following tablp shows at any rate the way events have marched since the Grank Duke Nicholas took over the command: — January 1, 1915.—llussian victory at Sarikannisfy January 3U.—Tabriz re-uccupied. February B.—i'rebizond bombarded * from the sea. May 6.—Van occupied. September s.—Grand Duke Nicholas assumes Caucasian command. November 2.—Persian disturbances begin; large Russian force at Kazvin. November 10.—llussian force advances on Teheran. November 12.—Shah of Persia declares himself friendly to the Allies. December 9.—Russian success between Teheran and Hamadan. December 10.'—Sultan Bulak Pass occupied. December 17.—Hamadan occupied. December 21.—Kum occupied. December 26.—Kashan occupied. February 18, 1916.—Fa1l of Erzerum. February 24.—Riseh occupied. " March 2.—Bitlis occupied. April 14.—Defeat of great Turkish effort to break Russian line and retake Erzerum. * April 18.—Fall of Trebizond.

, Writing on "Woman, Work } and War," the London correspondent of the Sydney Daily Telegraph concludes an interesting article as follows:—"What will happen after the war? The Government and Parliament are in honor bound to restore the status quo so fat as trades-union war-concessions are concerned, and they will keep then word. But will the women be content with being turned out of all the wageearning places io which the war admitted them? Could they be turned out if they were enfranchised? Woiiia it be either just or prudent to turn them out? Nobody can be .positive as to what will happen in the. exceedingly complex industrial world when the 'armies melt away. Both the economists and the captains of industry differ tremendously among themselves as to the conditions that are likely to prevail. There may be a great deal of eager emigration. Many thousands of men may feel that they would rather* take the chances of British' colonisation in developing countries than return to humdrum occupations in which fortunemaking .would be practically impossible and, pay low i£'certain. Merchants'may' learn that the war has depleted the stocks of British goods all'over the accessible worldj and 'they' may become inundated" with profitable 1 business when all the workshops ; are ready .to resume full production.

"From the war-smitten countries big orders, for restorative machinery and other material may pour into Great Britain. Taxation may be heavy for a long time to come, but the burden of it may be lightened by the profit of enormously augmented .production. On the other hand, the gloomy predictions may be more or less fulfilled. Nobody can speak on the subject with absolute certainty. We are ignorant children when we stand the future. But whatever, the post-war. conditions may happen to be, England will.have in her mind memory of the, demonstrated capacity of her womanhood to do far more as a producer of wealth than she was allowed to do before the war struck off the shackles. , Is it likely that the industrial line between the sexes will ever be as sharply drawn again? Will a much greater freedom to earn be one of woman's gains from a war in which she has shared the sacrifices?"