CURRENT TOPICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 74, 30 June 1916, Page 5

CURRENT TOPICS.

The news that the arch-rebel Sir Roger Casement, has been sentenced to death will occasion no surprise and less regret; that is to say, many people will ho found rather pleased than otherwise at the finding of the Court. To the loyal Britisher, nothing could bo more degrading than the action of Casement, who once stood so high in the estimation of the authorities and the people, 'and who natl at the hands of his Sovereign himself received the honor of knighthood—treason from such as he, who had been many years in the service of the Empire, is doubly a crime: After receiving fair trial, a trial by jury, with capable members of tho legal profession vu argue his case for him, and being found'guilty of tho worst crime in the eyes of the law, there is already a feelihg among a largo section .of the phbjple oh the Empire that some ineans pi- 'other will bo« found to i avert the cattj'illg out of the death' sentence;*, ajhh Govterntaent may, it is 'truey findij f gb6fl; and sufficient reasonfor such acotH^e,!"hut to the loyalist at ahy'rate/ only can expiatesuch a! enmo. Seine people do and will seek to divert the course of Justice on the principle that his deeds for the Empire-refer-ring particularly to the work which he carried out in connection with the Cqngo atrocities—might well be remembered at this stage of his career as a set-off against his offence. The pity of it is that* the sentimentalist always obtrudes himself at a time liko this, and ends up by making 'a nui* sance of himself and effecting nothing but the resurrection . of bad feeling among otherwise peace-loving people. Death, is the wish of the relief of many, and the end of all 5 therefore, says jjtjje writer,, let tho law take its eburse,.; .~v , , ' {■'KrJiH'dot'-i, ; — r m r~ m . Arl,■ l VI j The Russians are successful beyond the'greatest expectations. In yesterday’s, fighting, the latest cables, to-day report they captured no fewer than 10,506 prisoners on the southern front. It was here that the Vienna messages recently tried to make us believe that the Austrian General, Pflanzer, had made no serious attempt to stand up against the marching Russians, but intended to put up a fight only when he had .got back to.suitable positions in the Carpathians. In the north sectors the fighting is stated to he of a more violent nature on the part of both belligerents, hut no definite decision appears to have been made on either side. General Mackensen is believed to,have command of the Germans above the ■ Rripet marshes and Hindeuborg towards Riga.

On the' western front, the Germans report extreme violence in the attacks by the British infantry and also in the artillery fire. The latter report applies also to the French in their operations on the Aisne. The feeling is general that things may be expected to happen on the front before very long. It is certain that the activity of the British is having a good (or-bad) effect upon the movements of the Germans. The Italians are still making good progress against the enemy, and fighting is proceeding in the mountains, where the Austrians are now at a disadvantage, Ihe enemy lost in a few hours what cost them days to secure. 'lhe effect on the morale of the troops and the inhabitants of the countries of the Central Powers is sure to be considerable.

! American and a few English newspapers are continually referring to the “Poilus.” Poilu is the French for Tommy Atkins, and like that term it is not appreciated by the men in the trendies to whom it is applied. Peihaps, like Tommy Atkins again, it is getting a little out of date. “Poilu” comes from “pilosus,” the Latin foi “hairy,” and might be interpreted as the shaggy man, or perhaps the man with hair on his chest! In France it Is used to mean a man of strength and character, and. so they say, yon sometimes hoar a man referred to as having “hair on his teeth, a highly complimentary expression, implying unusual personal qualities. In the early days of the war the word “poilu” could more truly be applied to the French soldiers than to-day, for then, particularly during the Great Retreat, they all grew boards for want of razors. Now, however, things are very different, and the average French soldier is clean shaven.

Speaking at a patriotic entertainment at the North Sydney Coliseum, Rev. Horace Grotty gave his views pn optimism and how’ to usher in victory. They are well worthy of wide publication. He said it w r as very difficult for any of i hem to form forecasts of the war or know' accurately whafc was going on.' Perhaps, however, they could realise some of . the plain duties encumbent upon them, and act up to them. To usher in victory they needed less talk and more work. (Cheers). Their first duty w r as the sacred duty of optimism. To be anything but optimistic in this war was tantamount to a want of confidence in God, in goodness, and in the ultimate decency of things. They did not w r ant that timid optimism that was elated by every victory and depressed by every defeat. (Cheers), They wanted that steadfast optimism based iipon a knowledge of all the factors in the struggle, and the exact issues that were at stake, ij They did not want the optimism of the ostrich. (Laughter). There was also another op imism that |lje often, met, That w’as the. optimism of the p|risuWio f jbjitimiStic about the war, who told them everything was won, because they were afraid- they vjere going to ask them to enlist or “dun” them for a chef/ue. -(Laughtor)... Their optimism must be based on consecration, sacrifices 1 , and Work. y They must consolidate all their forces at homo ns well as abroad. There must be no passengers in the boat. (Cheers). That was the principle that the Red • CJross stood for, organising r#ass the womanhood energies of i the poultry. The death of Lord Kitchener* W., a clarion call to renewed earnestness and action. It was not enough to wish for victory. Every chicken, it had boon said, had a. wish bone. ■ They must get a backbone and get down to Work. (Cheers). b.'ir *>{r >}■• gun. ■■■> v i