THE WORLD’S PRESS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 114, 16 January 1915, Page 3

THE WORLD’S PRESS

Smashing Prussian Militarism. But the Kaiser will not be beaten in one battle, and the work before us will not be completed when the last German soldier has been driven from France and Belgium. Indeed, then, as Lord Roberts suggested, the war will really begin, and it will require all the persistence of Great Britain and her Allies to bring it to its only possible conclusion —the final and Irretrievable smashing of the power of Prussian militarism. —Express.

The Torpedoers. If our losses in this form of warfare (submarine warfare) have so far been heavier than hers, it is not because our officers are wanting in skill and daring or our boats inferior in design. The very contrary is the case, behind booms and cables and nets, It is because the German ships have been sedulously retained in harbour, where they could not be reached, while the British Fleet has been holding and patrolling the North Sea. — Daily Mail. Negative Success at Sea. It is obvious that, however careful a watch the fleet may keep, enemy ships may 'isome-times succeed in laying mines far away from the North Sea, and if the object of this particular exploit was to destroy transports, we may rejoice that, whether or not there were ever any transports in that quarter to be attacked, it has, at any rate, had no success beyosd the destruction of an inoffensive merchantman before its position was located. —Manchester Guardian. The Need fer Conscription. If we act, we will not say generously, but justly, in this matter, and if the authorities will make a steady and considered appeal and avoid prejudicing it by blowing hot and cold by mistaken orders, the Country can get as many men as it needs. The voluntary system, so far from breaking down, has proved itself only too successful for its enemies who want to impose on this country the militarism of Prussia for internal, even more than external, purposes. They will not succeed in their object.—Daily News. Coping with Espionage. Even now, after our internment of a certain number of the enemy’s subjects, we know that the country swarms wi f h spies, and it is for the Government, to take more drastic action. Why should Germany cover France and Be’gium with- its espionage network and leave us alone? She has not—we know It—and her attempt to bluff us into unchaining the potential spies that we happen to have in intention leaves us unmoved and immovable. —Evening Nows (London).The Watchful Admiralty. Mr. Massey in New Zealand, and Senator Pearce here have testified to some serious misgivings bfore, to their relief, the German cruisers crossed the Pacific to score their triumph off the Chilian coast, and meet their Sedan in the South Atlantic. Apparently the squadron made its way through the Straits of Magellan after its victory, and w r as prepared to dangerously threaten the Atlantic trade routes. But the Admiralty was awake, too, and the fate of Admiral Craddock and his ill-starred squadron has overtaken their destroyers. What strength Admiral Sturdee disposed of in this engagement we do not know, but his squadron would hardly be a large one. —Australasian.

Leap in the Dark. Turkey has taken her leap in the dark at last, and Geramny is entitled to congratulate herself on having found an ally in the kindred military despotism which has established itself at Canstantinople. It is easy to see what Germany may gain by Turkey.’s intervention, but it is much hard, er to understand why the Turkish Government, even if it be in the hands of a military clique which looks to Germany as its guide and friend, should have decided to run the risks of war. —Manchester Guardian. True to Her Name. The Arethusa, true to her name, bids fair to become the most famous ship in the Navy. Hurriedy commissioned in August, she was fighting in Heligoland Bight four hours later, and really distinguished herself in the thick of the fighting. The Undaunted, which is a sister ship, wa salso completed after the outbreak of war. She was commissioned on August 29, and a few weeks later signalised her entry into active service by sinking four German I destroyers off the Dutch coast.