The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1916. THE DYING YEAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 30 December 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1916. THE DYING YEAR.

(With which is incorporated The Taihapo Post and Waimarino News).

In only a few hours the year 1916 will become a period to reflect upon. It closes with the nations of Europe still in death grips;' it has been flushed to the full with the brilliant deeds of armies and of the horrifying frig-htful-ness of the modern barbarian. \ For England and her allies it has been a

year given to preparation for victory; for building up armies large and powerful enough to meet and vanquish those that had the advantage of forty years of evolution and development, and to the building of munition and gun-producing factories to obviate any possibility of disaster in that connection. It has been a year in which Britain, from her unpreparedness, found it necessary to continue for the greater part, attritive warfare, using her maximum mobilised force to stem inrushes of the enemy, holding her at bay until the full strength of the nation was ready for the field. At the commencement of the year Russia had recovered from the memorable drive, and was already chasing the Ausout of Bukowina; Austria was devastating Montenegro; fierce fighting was proceeding on the Italian front, notably in the Gorizia zone, and the Germano-Bulgars, after having

swept over Servia were making a fruitless attack on the Allied forces at Salonika. England was passing through a great crisis on the question of conscription. It was on January 4 that the British Premier introduced the Compulsory Military Service Bill. A change was made in the leadership of Britain's armies in France, Sir Jonh French being by the present Commander-in-Chief. In February the historic battle of Verdun began with an unprecedented artillery preparation, while British soldiers were reaping bitter experience in Mesopotamia. Portugal became restless and precipitated a crisis with Germany by seizing all Austrian and German ships then in her waters. Indeed, the infancy of the present year

was a notable time of sensations and surprises; air fighting and submarining were prosecuted on a larger scale and with a renewed vigour, causing relations to become somewhat strained between America and Germany. In April the universally regretted Irish revolution made its appearance; Sir Roger Casement, two other Irishmen, and twenty Germans being captured from a German ship while trying to land arms in Ireland. On May 31, the greatest naval battle in -history was fought off the coast of Jutland, which resulted in a brilliant victory for the B'ritish Navy and decided future supremacy of the seas. On June 5 the whole British Empire was thrown into mourning by the loss of Lord Kitchener. The cruiser Hampshire struck a mine off the Orkney Islands and the greatest soldier on earth with his entire staff perished. About this time the Austrian effort to overrun Italy was effectually checked, and an Italian" offensive was begun. On first July the great offensive on the Somme was begun by Franco-British action, which resulted in the smashing of seven miles of the German line, tha capture of two towns and tvro thousand prisoners, a success which has been largely added to and extended. A feat of naval importance was perform ed by the submarine Deutschland in crossing the Atlantic to America as a mercantile vessel, carrying a valuable cargo of dyestuffs and returning with nickle and other commodities urgently needed by Germany in carrying On the war. August came in with Britain and France still victoriously pursuing their offensive on the Somme, many other places being captured and a huge number of prisoners taken. The Russians continued driving back the enemy in Galicia, and Kuropatkin pierced Hindenburg's line to a depth of five miles in the Riga region. The tlalians in a notable battle captured Gorizia, an essential to an advance towards Trieste. In the Bal-

kans the Serbs began to attack their old enemy, the Bulgars, and succeed-

ed in taking from them considerable territory, including two villages. This move has culminated in the capture of Monastir, the capital of southern Servia. On August 28 Roumania declared Avar on the side of the Allies, against Austro-Hungary, seized various Transylvanian passes, and captured several very important Hungarian towns. ' Early in September, Mackensen enters, the Dobrudja, and subsequently Falkenhayn with a huge army attacks: the Roumanians in Hungary, the result now being current history. Almost throughout the year Greece has been a source of trouble to the Allies, and it is only now that definite action is being taken to end it. The last weeks of 1916 will live in history as the time when Britain took very decisive measures to prosecute the war with all the foz-ce and vigour that the Empire was capable of. Her armies were nearing the zenith of their power and perfection, her munition factories were manned and equipped to stand any strain that might be placed upon them, and the year ; dies Avhile Britain is seething with a new vigour, determination and earnestness. The armies are ready, equipment is plentiful and perfect; it is no longer necessary to follow methods of attrition, and the new year breaks to find Britain bent upon taking an initiative that may be expected to terminate in a lasting and honourable peace before the year 1917 merges in the ! past. In New Zealand we are beset with rumours of labour upheavals and strikes, but with fairer adjustments in the matter of the almost intolerable cost of living, these may be warded off and left for settlement until the common enemy of the Empire is finally disposed of. We trust that no party Avill act so precipitately as to hamper the prosecution of the Avar. The masses haA r e indeed a hard i-oav to hoe just uoav, but we believe the collective intelligence, education and commonsense of the leaders labour may elect to folloAv, will save them from such action as will turn present inconvenience into positive disaster. While one section is growing enormously rich and another becoming so placed that their earnings will not purchase the necessaries of life, strife is inevitable. The little Welsh lawyer has proved the falsity of the statement that better conditions cannot be brought about by legislation, and we believe the spirit and influence of his achievements in Britain will reach to these far off Dominions, and will operate towards bringing about an amicable adjustment among our people. Therefore, with confidence in the future, we siucerely wish all our readers a happy and prosperous New Year.

The Otaihape Freezing Works will open On Wednesday morning for the receiving of stock for killing.

Patrons of the Town Hall pictures arc reminded that the second episode in the "Broken Coin" serial will be screened to-night at 9.30 and 11.30.

The need of a chimney-sweep in Taihape has on several occasions been brought under our notice, and this need has now been fliled by Mr W. Harvey, of Moa street. An advertisement on page 1 gives full particulars.

At the Three Stars pictures on Sunday night, the main attraction will be the screening of "The Stolen Treaty." This picture is conceded by those whose opinion is worth something to be one of the best pictures of its class ever shown.

The Canadian authorities have made it a penal offence for anyone to be found in possession of any of W. 11. Hearst's pro-German American newspapers in Canada under a fine of 5000 dollars, and a possible term of imprisonment.

Sunday next lias, with the approval of his Majesty the King, been set apart for intercession and thanksgiving services, and all ■officers and men on leave from the military camps and members of the local defence corps are invited to attend services at St. Margaret "s Church on Sunday, when special services will be held.

Great destruction was done to potato crops in the Pukekohe (Auckland) district by last week's rains, many tons of potatoes were washed out and carried by the water over the low ground below Pukekohe Hill. Many crops have been irretrievably ruined, and the losses to the growers are considerable.

A suggestion that the Government should invite tenders for the growing of wheat has met with approval in Canterbury. The idea is that the Government should invite all farmers who are prepared to groAV wheat to state the area they would put in crop and the price they would accept for the yield, and it is asserted that if the Government stated that any profit left in its hands as the result of its handling the Avheat would be given to the Red Cross Society or some similar organisation, many tenders Avculd be received, ranging from 4/6 a bushel to 5/ or 5/3.

"A Back Blocks Teacher" Avrites to the Taranaki Herald: "Herewith I enclose £3 15s, being second instalment of war bonus paid to me. I don't need it, nor do I wish to benefit directly or indirectly through the agency of Kaiser Bill, so think the best thing I can do with it is to pay it to funds for the benefit of the men who are enduring the inferno he has created for them. So will you pay £2 to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund ana one guinea to the Y.M.C.A. Trusting to your well-known courtesy and kind ness to do this for me, 1 shall leave for my holiday with an easy con-

science."

One of the strangest little stories of the war in which a New Zealander has played the leading part has just been chronicled in the American press. The happening has its setting in the city of Austin in Texas. It seems that a Mrs. Hemsley, formerly of New Zealand, who is making her home temporarily in Texas and residing at Austin, was looking through a magazine the other day, when she came across a picture showing an award for bravery and honour being made to an Anzac hero somewhere in the war zone of the British Army. She recognised the hero as being her son, whom she had not heard of for nearly 20 years.

A remarkable adventure befel Mr. J. W. Patteron, of Port Melbourne, and two companions while they were fishing in the 20ft yacht Defender, over the "Rubbly," a fishing ground three miles off Point Cook. One of the party was hauling i n a fish when a huge shark made a dash at it. The monster missed the fish, but struck the yacht with such force that its snout made a hole in both the outer and inner lining of the boat. The shark swam away, apparently halfdazed. The hole in the yacht was stuffed up with a bag, and, by means of its auxiliary spirit-driven screw the Defender was run ashore. The fishing party had a clear view of the shark, and they estimated its length at 20ft.