WAR JOTTINGS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 149, 26 February 1915, Page 3

WAR JOTTINGS

GERMAN CHRISTIANS. When the European war broke out Dr Julius Richter bitterly declared that he, and the other members of the Edinburgh Continuation Committee on Missions, would never be able again to sit down in any sort of brotherly conference with British Christians. This brought the chairman ->f the. committee (Dr. John Mott) across the Atlantic. Being an American, he had no trouble in reaching Berlin. There he was rejoiced'to discover that the sentiments of German churchmen toward fellowChristians in England had undergone very great improvement. Dr. Richter himself was in quite different mood,and not inclined to repeat his former violent allusions to the British. He and his missionary • colleagues instead professed themselves ready to resume the old relations with British and French associates as soon as hostilities between their respective Governments are at an end. Indeed, throughout church circles in both Britain and Germany Dr Mott found a warm revival cf Christian love toward people on the other side of the battle lines. This charge has, in fact, become so definite that Dr Mott pronounces it well-nigh the most .remarkable answer to Christian intercession that ho has over seen. He feels grateful. too, for having had the opportunity to confirm this better temper by interpreting Britsh points of view to influential Germans and German points of view to Englishmen of high standing. He was heard sympathetically on both sides.

A PREACHER’S VIEWS. The Rev. R. J. Campbell, M.A., in the course of a sermon in the City Temple, referred to the way in which every advance of the race had been baffled. He said: “In the last 50 years we have risen to unprecedented heights of knowledge, skill, and enterprise, and with what result? Only to make death-dealing more efficient. We can destroy men, and the work of men’s hands, in more ghastly and wholesome fashion than ever before. Wo can make war from the clouds and under the sea, as well as on land and water. Instead of sending thousands of combatants into the fields to slaughter each other, as formerly, wo now send millions. We bring industry to a standstill and spread havoc and devastation with a more lavish hand than our fathers were capable in their bloodiest campaign. Passions were never fiercer, never more uncontrolled, hatred was never more bitter. After this experience, what confidence that the world will ever become by aught that men can do a habitation of good-will?”

A SARCASTIC WELCOME. There is an inspiring looking diploma which is being sold for a penny at all the newsvendors’ along tiie Boulevards. It is obviously designed to be presented by those who stayed in Paris last August to those who decided to run away, and runs as follows: “We, the undersigned members of the Free Academy of the Arrondissement, taking into due consideration the deserts and courage of Mr Dash, living at . hereby award him tiro diploma of honour, for having decamped far from his home in September, 19.11, when the Germans were still a long way from Paris. At the same time declaring him worthy of membership in the big family of ‘Francs Filleurs, (this by the way of pun on ‘Francs Tireurs’ or Free Shooters), of the city of Paris.” Then follow the signatures of the mythical founders of the “Oeuvre,” the name

being puns of a n on-complimentary | character. Except in the evening, when the | searchlight gropes about, the sky, there j is little to suggest anything but the | normal night of peace, and that men ! are fighting only a few hours’ journey | away almost seems incredible.

“SMASH GERMAN COMMERCE.’’ A widespread and far-reaching change is going on in the commercials life of France, owing to the rooting out of all German and Austrian houses. The Government has issued an order forbidding all business dealings with German houses, and the boycott of all Germanmade goods. One Paris daily has a standing head-line on the front page, “Smash German Commerce,” and in this column is given from day to dr

a list of German manufactured goods which no loyal Frenchman is supposed to use. One day the list deals with w ollen goods, another with tinned food and last week the column was devoted to the various trade marks used by German typewriters, “the keys of which the delicate fingers of our young and patriotic stenographers should henceforth refuse to touch.”

TOMMIES AS MILKMEN. ’ Writing to his sister, Mrs L. J. Hopwood, of Woking, Private Bessant, of the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, in recording Ills experiences at the front says: “It is funny to see ns crawling from one trench to another to get our small portion of jam at tea time while the shells are whizzing over our heads. It is also rather amusing to see our boys milking the cows that wander about, because the farms are all deserted. There are a lot of cattle straying about here, living on what they can find. It has been very cold and wet in the trenches. It is real Christmas weather. Everything is covered with snow. We have been very busy slaughtering the Germans, but still they keep coming from somewhere.”

THE GENERAL’S LITTLE BELL

A curious littlo dwu merit is quoted in the “Outro Rossil, ” of Moscow. When the Germans were cViolating Tvielee, General Schmiedecke, w!i) occupied the pout of Commandant presented the mayor with the following bill: marks To keeping the town accounts... 70 To guarding the Town Council.. «»0 Total Kh) Rendered by General von Schraicdecke. The General insisted upon his accounts being paid before leaving the Town Hall. He preferred to run the risk of being captured by the Cossacks, who were rapidly aproaching the town, rather than lose his hard-earned hundred marks.