The Daily News. TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1914. WAR IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 57, 28 July 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1914. WAR IN THE AIR.

As long ago as the early part of last March the Home and foreign papers were full of war scare news in connection with a possible outbreak oi hostilities between Russia and Germany. To a large extent this peril was worked up by the foreign press, but there was a dangerous current of reality underlying the panic. In Berlin "The Coming War with Russia" was the favorite headline of the moment, based on what was considered as an». inspired statement made in the semi-official Cologne Gazette that Russia was rapidly and stealthily perfecting nlans for an attack on Germany.

The danger was not described as immediate, but the intent was to arouse the Fatherland vigorously to the peril which was in the Xear East. In spite of Russian disclaimers, dozens of German newspapers took the St. Petersburg warning seriously, pointing out that when the German Government introduced the Army Increase Bill it was frankly admitted that the spectre of a Russiaii j Pan-,Slav combination compelled Germany to divert its attention from the British danger in the North Sea, and the Fiench peril west of the Rhine, and ponder well over the menace threatening from Czardom. The Imperial Chancellor confessed that the bulk of Germany's new tribute .to militarism was to be de - voted to strengthening the position in tlie East, where Germans religiously believe that the supreme clash which is to decide whether German or Slav is to prevail in Europe will take place, t!i« paramount necessity, in Germany's estimation, being the consolidation of the military resources of Germany and Aus-tria-Hungary for war against the allied armies of Russia, Prance, Greece, Servia and Montenegro. TJie German Navy League shed tears of joy over the Eussian "war peril," and welcomed the op portunity of re-enacting its familiar role of Oliver Twist. The words of Count Witte, uttered on March 21, are fraught with great import. He said: "The Bal kan crisis iB far from being at an end All that lias occurred in that part o the world is but the first act in a grea tragedy. We are standing on the brinl of the second act, and it is impossibl to say exactly when it will begin. I may be years, but it may be only a fe\ months." M. A. Stolypin, brother o the late Russian Premier, in an articl in the Xovoe Vremya, argued that th prosperity of the German Empire ha l been built up solely on tfie profitable re suits of Germany's last period of war fare. The present generation of Ger mans had been reared entirely on th ideas growing out of the conquests o Austria and France, and it was onl; human nature that they should drean of new conquests when once the need o an outlet for their teeming industriei demanded expansion. Whether or no there was any reality in the scare nee< not be considered, but it i? certain tha Count Witte had an accurate grasp o the situation when he stated that wa: might break out at any time. The as sassination of the heir to the Austriai throng, has furnished all the materiali for a flare-up between Austria and Ser via, and for involving Russia iii til' turmoil. It will be seen that the situa tion is one of extreme gravity, as ther. are all the possibilities of tlie othe Great Powers being drawn into thi trouble. At the same time, it a»a; confidently be assumed that every effor will be made to avoid such a terribli calamity as a European war would prove especially at this juncture, but there i: no denying the fact that the dogs oi war are straining at the leash and ina;y break away from control at any moment. The issue Involved in the dispute between SeijMa and Austria is comparatively trilling, but the outcome Is likely to be of such tremendous import that it makes peaceful people stand aghast with horror. It is sincerely to be hoped that friendly counsels will prevail, and that a way out of the trouble will be evolved without resort to arms. The Near East is a veritable danger zone, but in spite of this wa: may and should be avoided. All th Great Powers have quite sufficient t occupy their attention with internal a! fairs just now, and not one of ther can afford to plunge into war witliou seriously crippling her resources i o many years to come. Meantime th situation could hardly be more alarming Austria is preparing to strike her pun but spirited neighbor with such force a to compel submission before Russia ha time to come to Servia's assistansc Servia by herself must fall an easy pre; to her traditional enemy., She has onl' just emerged from two devastating war l and is sans war material, sans mone\ and sans men. But -she is not deEEcien in courage or Spirit, and she can b depended upon to go down with her col ors flying. Tlie real danger lies out side tfie purely domestic quarrel. Russi.i we are told by cable, regards Austria' action as a direct challenge to her, av\ she is prepared to accept it. Russia i not the Russia of a few years back, wlie: j Austria defied the Treaty of Berlin am annexed the Slavonic provinces of Bosnli and Herzegovina. Then she had ius emerged from a calamitous war wit! Japan, and was in 110 state to deal a she so much desired vith Austria, wh was backed up in her nefarious enter prise -by her ally, Germany.- TCnt Rnas'i never forgets. She accepted tlie afifron to her "amour propre" with what phila sophv she could muster, but she at one proceeded to put her military house ii order, with the result that to-day, in th opinion of military- authorities, she ha one of the most efficient military sn terns in the world—well armed armies

well trained, and in a state of complete readiness to take tlie field at a day's notice. As for numbers, Russia could without straining her 'resources put five and a-half million men in the field. Hut in case of Russian intervention, Austria can rely upon support from Germany, and —it would, seem from this morning's cables—also from the other partner in the Triple Alliance, namely, Italy. Then the fat would be in the fire. France mwt then go to the assistance of her ally, and there would ensue a European conflagration the consequence or the end of Itohich 110 one can at present foretell. Britain might become involved. What the real nature of the entente cordiale is no one outside the diplomatic circles of the countries concerned can say. For a considerable time past, British; Liberal newspapers have been apprehensive of the existence of a secret condition couk polling Britain in certain circumstances to render assistance to France and Russia. If the fears have any foundation, then the immediate future cannot be viewed other than with alarm. The last thing in the world the British Empire wants is war. No doubt the Minister directing her affairs at this critical juncture can be depended upon to strain every nerve to steer clear of the dangerous shoals, 'but from what has occurred during the past two days it can plainly he seen that circumstances might arise making it imperative for Britain to take sides. The effect upon us in the colonies would he instantaneous. We would have to* sink or swim with the Old Country. Still, that is a possibility there is no need to dwell upon just now. The most one can hope for is that the diplomatists will be able to compose the differences that are the 1 primary causes of the sudden outburst. The latest news .is not, however, very reassuring on the point. The causes, it would seem, are too deep-rooted, and j the parties too infected with the war j spirit to permit of diplomatic adjust- , meat. "All eyes are turned to Britain," says the Russian paper, Novoe Vremya, "which is regarded as occupying an exclusive position in the destinies of Europe." It is hoped they will not be turned in vain, and that Britain will in this much graver crisis achieve the same splendid results as attended her efforts during the Balkan embroglio, When the same big nations were' only saved by Britain's intercession and guidance from dashing #1 each other's throats.

WAKIi UP, NEiW PLYMOUTH! The interview with Mr. David Whyte, oi Hastings, promoter and director oi the Mokau Coal and Estates Company, published in our issue of Saturday, has, we hope, been given that consideration 'by our commercial community that its importance warrants. Mr. Whyte shows how New Plymouth is losing good opportunities of trade with the Mokau and contiguous districts by not catering for it in any way, and how Wanganui and Auckland are, by their activity ani enterprise, filching what he properly terms jb New Plymouth's birthright. jWew Plymouth, he says, is naturally Mokau's port, but it provides neither a jetty nor any steamers for carrying on and developing the coastal trade. Tr.e bar off Mokau requires reducing to allow vessels to cross at all times, and this, according to the Government engineers, can be done at a cost of only £4,000. Mr. Whyte points out that in coal alone a very remunerative trade can be developed, and in this connec-

tion he points out the handicap imposed on traders by the excessive railwav charges from the port to the station, which he truly characterises as monstrous. It was, he said, the heavy charge at the New Plymouth breakwater, plus the railage to New Plymouth, which blocked the Mokau Company from starting a steamer service, it being cheaper to land coal at Waitara' and rail it thence to New Plymouth. As for the port charges, we think they will bear favorable comparison with tile charges of other ports, but if a reduction is necessary in order to develop trade, we are sure the Harbor Bo.vd, which is composed of able and farsighted men, would be prepared to make it. As for the railage charges, they are iniquitous, and we are surprised that the Government has not before now reduced them to what is fair and reasonable. The Railway Department is

| very autocratic and unyielding, and to the removal of this old man of the s;a from the back of New Plymouth we should concentrate our whole energies. ! 'His tenacious and relentless grip must be i elaxed at all costs. The erection of a jetty and provision of sorting sheds at ! the breakwater should engage, ajid we i believe is now engaging, the attention - of the Harbor Board. As for establish- | ing a coastal steamer service, that is a J matter about which our commercial ( people are lamentably slow and unenter- ' prising. Next year the harbor will t- u - quite ready for the largest of oversea -

'vessels, and there is every reason tv» believe a Home steamer service will be arranged for, bringing our goods direct and taking away what produce we can offer. What are we doing in the way of preparing for this trade, for distributing the goods? Nothing. Any other place with such prospects would have been up and doing long ago. Indeed, it would not have even waited for the inauguration of a direct steamer service; it would have got busy years ago and made a bid for the trade of districts like Mokau, Kawhia, Raglan and even Kaipara. As a community we are asleep. Outsiders, knowing this, are taking the trade from under our very noses, and are waxing fat at our expense. Wake up, New Plymouth! Yes; Mr. Whyte's advice is sound and timely.