WAR JOTTINGS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 120, 22 January 1915, Page 2

WAR JOTTINGS

KAISER AND REBEL, Attention is Wing paid it' the Gornia n press to a fact recalled by certain 'i wiss newspapers. firs is that in tl.e autumn of if 12, on Swiss terri tory, the Kaiser iiud an interview with General Beyers, the South African rebel leader, which, in the light of recent happenings, wears a suggestive appearance. The meeting took place on September -(.tli., during tire progress of an "engagement M between the Rod and Blue armies pa r) .iing in the Swiss autumn n. T, res. Beyers had come to Switzerland to acquaint himself with Swiss army matters. The following arc the particulars of the meeting, as given in the. German papers, apparently on the authority of German Swiss journals: — "The Kaiser drew the Boer commandant into lengthy conversation, in which lie sought, above everything else, to gather information as to conditions in the Boer country; and this conversation left upon Beyers, according to his own statements, an indelible impression. Beyers was described by Swiss people as a remarkably charming end affable man. Tt was advisable, however, never to turn the con versa.(ion to the Boer war. in which he fought, because he could not bear to j hink et the subjugation of his free Fatherland by the English." The most nob-worthy paragraph, hr.web or, is this, atributed to a SavntGnl newspaper, not specifically named: "The moment will remain unforgetable when .... the young Boer Commandant Beyers placed his hand, in erecting and in loavetaking, in that of vhc German Emperor, and in that hour very likely made a pledge to himself ;hni re and his people would tight for 3,

.> nc-w free Polhcrland. F.v the si do of IK her end Commaiidant Boyers, however, thorp stood of that trjf.me.nt, train rdf smiling, G •,>v : . 1 Pan.” 'fids illusion to the presence of the French general '.•• not tl*o least fignii'cent portion of f 1 • r article. PT.AN? TO REFORM THE HA P OF « EVROr F, NEW YORK. Deo. S, TYofesor Kuno Merer. who is prof oFor of Celtic Plnlolop.y at the I.>n ■o silo of Berlin, (all membe’s < f the Doutsche Yercin at Columbia. Fni versify to-night that insr before leaving Gonna nv he Is ad c.< tend Oil on informal >ouf<'!•■>!me (•,f hijfh including •••lie (Vl*'ni«l Minister oral Derma n Gen-srd-Denere! Ro;-l> to San Franeb mi, at a Ids-'i t!;isi---ssfd the reformation •if il/' iiO'o er- Europe in the event that ,r< wita ii v is \ iclorioos. They decided that Antwerp would be kept by Germany, but that no part of Russia would be taken. As }*•:><• Island she would be left to decide upon her own form of government. No French territory would be taken except a small strip in the Vosges region. As for England, the;; thought Germany would probably lot her oT with the annexation of Dover.

INVASION FEARED. GERMANS MAY LAND 90,000 IN • BRITAIN. WAR NINO BY GENERA!. BADENPO WELL. LONDON, Dec. 12. General Baden-Powell shares the opinion of many other English military exports, who hr Rove that Gennany fully expects to invade England, if pos- 1 sible and will direct its activities to* y. r ard the eomercial cities in the north of England, rather than toward London and the resort cities of the south. Ip the opinion of General Baden-Pow-ell, Germany will endeavour to land at least RO.fiOO. troops hi England. "1 hnow that the genera) idea is.’’ said General Raden-Bowell. in a recent interview, "that the attempt to Invade England will bo made on the coast of Norfolk and Suffolk, Personally, I think that the Yorkshire coast is . more likely, for the Germans ■ will first desire to invade the industrial centres. "Once let them get hold of some of the big manufacturing towns, factories would be smashed up and ruined, and T estimate that they could then throw ii-l-.000.00i1 persons out of employment, rendering - them destitute and starving-, it is certain that even by a short, sharp raid they could do a tremendous amount of damage.'' ' The general is far less optimistic about the war than many of England V public men. Teh hero of Mafeking, in disnssinc.g the present crisis, said: — "Therea.ro still many persons in conn* . try districts and even in some of our large towns, who do not realise what, (bis great war means—that Britain's fight is one for her very existence. "We receive ■ encouraging reports that wo are doing well, ut wo must reI member that one side or the other must jgo under, and go under for ever. At i piesent if looks as if the wind is blow- ! ' i V,; in onr favour, but flung is always fi” unexpected to consim r. You ?\i never tell. The right thing to do is to tto smash the Germans now, wiiwh means that every man must put his shoulder to the wheel." ,