EXPLOITING SERBIA.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 47, 25 February 1916, Page 2

EXPLOITING SERBIA.

German manufacturers and traders attach the greatest importance to the defeat of the Serbians, and are already preparing ambitious plans for the commercial exploitation of Serbian territory. On this subject the financial critic of "Die Post" writes:— "As the result of her conquests in the Balkan wars, Serbia increased her territory by about three-fourths. The population numbers about 4,000,000. The soil is rich, and the Serbian Government would have been wisely occupied in developing it peacefully. Agriculture is the main industry, but even this is susceptible of immense expansion, for only one-third of the country was exploited before the war. About a third of the country is covered with woods, but forestry is still in a very primitive state. So far as manufacturers are concerned, ( a start has been made with children's boots and shoes. There are mineral deposits—coal, copper, iron, lead, sil-ver-zinc—but they have been developed onl yto a very slight extent. With the single exception of Montenegro, Serbia has always had the smallest 'export trade of any Balkan State. Germany has hitherto been Serbia's best customer, the most important pro. ducts purchased being wheat, plums, eggs, poultry, raw copper, sheepskins, and lard. Among our exports to Serbia in recent years locomotives and rolling stock for the railways occu-

pied the foremost place. It is worth acting that the Serbian Government planned its railways lines more with *. a view to strategic than to economic possibilities, though, in view of the rapidly-increasing public debt, the latter cnly should have been borne in 'mind." A 3 this latter statement has no greater authority than that of the financial critic of "Die Post," it will be prudent not to pay too much attention to it. Certainly no German ra.ilI way line was ever laid down without fa strategic object in view. The concluding words of the article are valuable merely as 'an example of Germanic bcasifulness: "All that will new be changed. How the political and economic future of that expanse rf territory lying between Belgrade and Monastir will be shaped is no leneer a matter of doubt. The kingdom cf Serbia, fcr many years a pliant tocl in the hnnds of Russia, intoxicated with dreams cf a Greater Serbia, lies shattered to the earth." The shaky metaphor belongs to-. "Die Pest."

The London "-Daily Mail" declares that the calling up of youths of 19 ii s a significant hint that married, men will scon be drawn in. It m'ay be taken as a proof that the army is in urgent need of men. Married men will not shrink from the responsibility when the premises of Mr Asquith and the Earl of Derby are fulfilled, but the pledges have been weakened by tribunals granting exemptions fcr the flimsiest reasons. It is expected that the Earl of Derby who was responsible for the enlistment cf married men, will exert pressure in the right quarter and improve things and so remove the impression that married men were enrolled under false pretences. fho' distrust may submit each new claim to dispute, Unanimity ever prevaids. Where years of integrity build the dispute Of a medicine that always avails. Such decisions are are, and the sceptics beware Lest vile frauds should their favour allure,* For they know the sad dearth in puch treasures of wo-th A a Woods' Great. Peppermint (hyte. WANTED—For satisfaction and savings drink "DESERT GOLD," the Queen of Teas. Most delicious and economical.