CURRENT TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 13 December 1916, Page 2

CURRENT TOPICS.

When the Kaiser wants to pose as a lover of peace, he tells his people and the world: "I never wanted this war." But there are times when the Old Adam is too much for him. Such a moment occurred when he penned his letter of condolence to tb e widow of General von Moltke, who was his Chief of the General Staff when the war broke out. In that letter the Kaiser talks of "this war, the brilliant preparation of which was his (General Moltke's) untiring activity." There the truth slips out. The war was prepared by Germany. It did not just happen; still less was it brought about by the wiles of Sir Edward Grey, as the latest calculated mendacity of the German Chancellor would have us believe.

The cabled report that Germany has mesmerised Holland into a commercial agreement scores yet another victory in diplomacy for the enemy. It serves only to show that these neutral nations, for whom Britain has kept the high seas open, and to whom Britain has been their best customer, would rather be cudgelled tinid cajolled by the Germans than trust their fate in the hands of the "British. If the Dutch had thrown in their lot with the Allies, the latter could have thrown a great army into Holland in quick order, for it would have given Britain a short cut to Germany. But British diplomats have made such lamentable failures with Norway, Sweden, Greece, Servia, Bulgaria and Roumania, that the small nations of Europe arc naturally very shy of us. Better the bully than the British is a terrible choice. It pricks our pride. Yet if only the Blockade mid the Iron Hand had been promptly and properly' applied a year ago the Kings of the North and of Greece would have been with us and trusting the Allies long ago.

A military officer who acted as escort to a colonial party which recently paid an official visit to the Grand Fleet gave some out-of-the-way impressions of Admiral Jellicoe which are of peculiar interest just now, when the Fight of the North Sea has gone up to the head of the Admiralty. The visiting party had just boarded the flagship: "Suddenly out of the galaxy of uniforms there sprang a little man, not even sft Sins tall, his chin shot forward, and holding his hands as if ready to deliver some punch. This admiral was the featherweight champion on board the Britannia, so that perhaps accounts for his pugilistic manner of greeting anybody. He weighs about

1501 b, and is as quick as chained lightning. He has a bullet-like head and goes into everything with a bang of enthusiasm. Joviality shines from his pleasant face, and he is always thoroughly at ease, without a trace of nervousness. So conspicuous a part did he take in the battle of Jutland that his staff officers became extremely nervous. " Writing from Morant War Hospital, Brockenhurst, to his father, Mr J. T. Barrett, of Wellington, Efm. D. Barrett makes an interesting reference to the gallantry of the New Zealanders in the Somme Battle. "I can't oxplain what it was like at the Somme," he writes. "It was awful; nothing but death and destruction. But we won! did all that was asked of us, and did it well. The New Zealanders made a great name for themselves —gave Frit/ a great 'smack-up.' But our losses were heavy. The poor old Bifie Brigade

. had hardly enough men left to form a battalion. They are now away bach from the firing line, resting and pulling themselves together. They won't be able to do any more fighting for some time—not until they art brought up to strength again. That will take some time." Efm Barrett mentioned that his two brothers were faring all right, and paid a tribute to the treatment which is given the New Zealanders in hospital.