The European War

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 67, 7 August 1914, Page 7

The European War

PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATIONS. GARRISON ARTILLERY MOBILISED. THE PORTS WATCHFUL. ISy Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurcli, Wednesday. There were further patriotic demonstrations in the city to-night. Largo numbers of Territorials and others are enrolling for service in the expeditionary force. The directors of the Liverpool, London and Globe Insurance Co. have notified their branches throughout the world that any of their employees called out for military or naval service will be granted full leave of absence on full pay and their positions will bo kept open. m The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, at the instance of the International Peace Committee of the Assembly, has asked that prayers for peace should be. made in all the churches on Sunday next. No. 4 Company,' New Zealand Garrison Artillery, was mobilised at Lyttelton this morning, and is to proceed to Ripp. I ;land for active service at Fort Jev •>]-.' Mobilisation was carried out very i.stematically. The police and other officials were on the Lyttelton railway station before the first train left fo'r Christchureh at G. 40 a.m., and issued instructions to those who intended to take the train immediately to mobilise at the drillshcd. The defence authorities watched the train leaving the port at 7.20 a.m., and gave instructions to another considerable number of men. Within a few hours the full strength of the company had assembled at the drillshcd, leave subsequently being given till 11 a.m. to those who required it. Mr. J. \V. Scotland, the New Zealand aviator, sent a telegram to the Premier offering his services and the use of his Caudron biplane to the Government. The aeroplane, which was shipped from England by the Kaikoura a month ago, is due here in about a fortnight. The war has had practically no effect on the position of the Post Office Savings Bank here. The chief postmaster says: "The withdrawals are only infinitesimally larger than those of the corresponding period of last year. There have been one or two withdrawals by nervous people, but the great majority of the depositors are perfectly satisfied " to let their money stay in the bank." In the present situation there is nothing to cause a panic, as the bank is really safer than personal possession. ! The first shot in connection with the regulations concerning the defence of Lyttelton harbor wa fired from Fort Jcrvois this morning across the bows of the coastal steamer Wakatu, which entered the harbor without subjecting herself to examination by the officer on the Cygnet appointed by the Defence Department. From what can be ascertained, it seems that when the Wakatu was sighted from the Harbor Board's signal station at Adderlcy Head she was signalled in Morse code to wait for the Cygnet, with a view to being examined. No notice was taken, however, and the Wakatu came straight into the harbor. When she was abreast of Ripa Island the defence authorities at Fort .Tervois m tired that no signals were being flown, indicating that she. had been cleared by the Cyjrnet, and fired a shot from the big guns across her bows. In npite of this, the Wakatu continued on her course, and as no further shot were fired she reached Lyttelton without fur-' ther incident. Captain Wills, master of the Wakatu, stated that when ho left Naikoura for Lyttelton yesterday afternoon he had not received any advice regarding examination service to be carried out by the Cygnet on inward and outward shipping movements. As no war «:L»nal<! or n!.U:-, wv-r. seen at Adsiirnal >t.iUou lie came into the channel, as he did every week. A small steamer carrying lights was 6een approaching the Wakatu, but as it was not known what vessel she was the Wakatu kept under way, and although the shot or rocket was fired from Fort Jervois the vessel kept moving until arrival at Lyttelton. Captain Wills also stated that he was under the impression that the Himitangi, bound from Wellington, had entered the harbur not long before him. and as that vessel could not be seen at anchor, he presumed that she had not stopped. The Himitangi, however, did not call at Lyttelton, but proceeded to Timaru. PRICE OF FOODSTUFFS. NO KF.ED FOR ALARM. VIHWK OF MERCHANTS.

Wellington, Wednesday, l.'rice* of fou.i ninth to-day showed no further advance on the rales cpioted the; pcviom (Uy, and nu action was taken by miTolianls with a view of making in crease, in regard to llou:, one firm, T.-lneh is agent for ;l free mill, is sellirg at £li. per lon f.o.b. South Island «nd m making 3 per emit, on traiwic tiom. The- manager, when interviewed, Sitid ke thought there were ample stocks ->f flour in New Zealand. The public •veined to have an idea that thm"« lo the bat, but he did not b,lieve tli'y would be as bad as during the recent strike.

In the 51' far market there had recenti.y been competition from outside sour- I ces with, the resu.'t that the price fell h> £1 5» a ton, but in the event of outside competitors b'dng unable to' sup. [-I.V .Vow Zealand, the price would in -1! probability go back to the original U Tel. The le.:ire <,f U U ; merchants, lie ]jointed out, ',m to keep prices down. Sugar al fM i ton was not to their advantage when prompt payments were ncccs"•try h.-iaTv. Ttie war risk wou'd make a difTcsvn.c in the ease of good* comin; Jiom ~vi-, •..!.,. Merchandise now alloai whs beailag (! : :.s risk, and even alter '-•'i eui.;l il;..r-; would be a good i|uanl.;v of -l *.; still en ii,e water and bearing war risk. The 10.-s to involved v-cilld ;.ii>b;il,lv have f- be; borne In- th. ircrcha.iU tLeiiiMdv-. There wu- feall no f;\iou why pries should be adv.it '■d at i-.-eyuii. ,ui.i he con-idcivd tll.i. ''■■■•• ;il.:nrir..; d.-.n-ind by the publi,. f : , ■;"-'!*" i;| l 'lour was due to a panic '''J He p"-pie are making the pri.es tiem-e; .-es," said another ): ■: !>■;;:'. "To allay unrest among the on- m..,i |id- ! :., I c.oubl he a good idea i . .:- '' rt:iin \ hat ll.e rate of ron-ainipi ■. -'.. Idling "lo i,'i, ;,V J: '.'' ■' ; i;-. '":■ in I'i.ii e: raw mail .'i,! for ;h ■< o! war ri«l-.s, but he did em ' . ic. :■ l-he position v. ul.I ',,.. ~: boi a i -,( ,v jit-ricu.'ed v.'iiili- la,l v >.-'.. ■ • :■■ -., a on.

paat few days, many persons laying in stores. Large crowd- paraded the streets to-night and ihcre was much shouting i>nd singing. The declaration (if war has been rcccted with enthusiasm. FROIJARLE ADVANCE THROUGH BELGIUM. THE POSITION OUTLINED.

A milit.uy correspondent of the Fmtniglitly Review, who writes under the pen name "Y," contributed an article not long ago on the probable plan of campaign which Germany would adopt in the event of war with Fttuice. The developiuei- • hist few clays

and especially r : iv of Germany to answer G uin's enquiry regarding oiisi f die neutrality of Belgium, i! , nrtiele of great importance . , s t, THK riRMAN IDEA.

"The main jernmn idea upon which the plan has been formed,'' he wrote, "is that France must be seriously damaged in the first three weeks of the war, so that Germany may find herself in the position of victor in the first round, before England and Russia have entered the field. It is considered that the effect of serious French defeats would be to deter England from landing troops on the Continent, and to induce Russia ti. conceive that she was doing all she need for her damaged ally bj waging a decisive war on the Vistula. The German mote-d'ordre on the commencement of hostilities, which are to precede the formal declaration of war, will be at all cost to get well established on French soil, and concentrate as large an army as possible behind, that is to say west of, the line of the Vosgcs, so as to fight a decisive battle somewhere in the neighborhood of Reims or Chalons.

There was a time when it was thought that the chances of a direct attack on the line of the Vosgos were not inconsiderable, and that weak spots might hi; found between Belfort and Verdun. But this point of view is now held in a modified degree, for it is considered that the best chance of making a frontal attack a success will be by executing a disconcerting and menacing movement through the comparatively open country between Verdun and Sedan. All the French plans being based on the concentration of the national forces at Naufehateau, tehind Toui, one of the objects of the German strategists has been to otek a line of attack which would evade that base of concentration, render it inapplicable to the situation created by their strategy and embarrass the French to find another in time. A BROADENED FRONT.

"With this end in view the Germans have, for the last fifteen years, been making the necessary preparations to secure that broadened front for their adranee which is essential for" the accomplishment of their purpose, and these preparations are practically completed. The line of the Vosges is not only exceedingly formidable as a fortified position, but it is also exceedingly narrow. From Belfort to Verdun, the, two extremities is no more, than 145 miles, and although Belfort might lie turned by the violation of Swi.s S territory, the invading army could only operate against Lyons, which would "take time, and exercise little or no interest on the first phase of the war. It is not safe to assume anything too positively in a problem which must become modified by fresh factors from time to time, but unless Austria can lie induced to carry out an offensive movement through Porrentury nr.d the Rhine Vallec. (Icrmuny will stand on the defensive in South Alsace, ... In any case, there is no necessity for any overwhelming anxiety on tile part of the French authorities with regard to what may happen south of Belfort. Here, if anywhere, the opening for an offensive movement seems more favorable (0 Fiance than to Germany. THE LINE OF THE VOSGES.

"The contracted front of the Vosjjes is almost as serious a disadvantage to the enemy acting on the olfensive as the formidable character of : t.-. defences. The lines of advance for any considerable bodj of troops are also further diminished by considerable stretches of impossible country. For instance, any advance between Belfort and Epinal, speaking as we are, only of large operations, would be out of the question. There are, indeed, only four lines of advance open to the Germans in tiiis quarter. They are from Mctz to Verdun (two roads), through Pont a Mousson to Coinmercy, through Chateau Salins to Nancy and 'foul, and from Stcaslwrg to Luneville. The last two named ave available for a combined attack on 'foul and its system of dependent forts. The total frontage for the German advance between Verdun and Luneville is no more than seventy miles. In this restricted space it would be impossible for the Germans to employ more than half a million men, and in the event of any reverse or breakdown in the execution of the plan of attack the Germans wou,d find themselves exposed to heavy loss before they could get outside the'rangi' of the French fortress artillery. GERMANY'S OBJECTIVE.

"Although the German authorities ave set on putting the efficiency of the Vosges forts to the test, ami also of experimenting with some of their new theories for the capture, of fortified pVoecs, .t is to the videncd front tint they are mainly looking as the scene of their first victories. From Luneville to Verdun they have seventy miles of fortresses, fort and battery in front of them. From Verdun to Givet there are 75 miles of undefended country. Long\\y and Montmcdy do not count as fortresses. Givot-Chiirlemont and Mczieres, both on the iieiise, are more 'Jp-to-date, hut from Verdun to Mezieios stretches open coimtn with a frontage tf fifty indes. This is Germany's objective." 'BELGU'M NEUTRALITY IGXORKI). When the French drew Ihe line of th.- Vosges I'ortilh-atioib at Verdun it was assumed, the writer says, that Grri!..ny would re-pect Belgian neutrality, but it is evident the Germans will do no such thing. For some time they have be n making preparations for taking th ■ offensive through neutral territ.ov I', on! JXi'heim to Traves, lie this nieiiiitin-, ..biain six excellent roads leadim; into l-'iance.

■■Having eonreivcd !!_. • plan.'' the | writer goes on, "the <!. .man authoritii-s j did licit, larry in making the prepara- ' lions :..*l:iinl tlirir own frontier (.0 make it <-;ip;li-'" ni' exec-nth. '. !'or ihe lust si'Vcn y.. ■ Cerim-un : ■ ''con entiiv'y engaged 111 |ii'(,viilin:' .. :• . • lailwtiv's tlankin- the |,r<ij.'i-(.-ii i:, i,| in lin'kitiir them ii]> willi two ni-.~ mi 1 he middle !!hine at Cobleniz rind Cologne. Jn addition to tin, railvavs. donble-lm-ed am! inelalh-d fur hea-.y traflie, sidings have been provided a!, nil the station-, ami at suitable points bet we.-ii tin-in. Between Mimtjeio and St. \ il.h. blllflipiL' -].:;.-.-- sil.T.-irllt i'.. l-.'il.l'illl) lil.'ll have !,.,-!! provided, anil it, h- eonlidoiiLlv averted that fore,- eon! i be thrown a'-ross tin- Belgian front!-,- near l-'rau-eorehamps in a single ni:rl 1, withonl the I Belgians knowing what wi ' - oming. tin; troops to bo employed being entrained at Coblentz, Cologne, linnn and llladbach. There is not the smallest reason

for hoping that this despatch of illie advance force of the. iurader would miscarry. If the whole <'mps d'armee were not over the boniiv in. twenty-four hours, at ivast a .-utTiol.jit part would be over to make sinv <>i i.he possession of Libramont in half that lima.

"Under the pre-nf. '\ -.veil;, perhaps under any, there is n.> Disability cf the Belgians doing anything to arrest or even delay this movement. . . The completeness of the sin .. ,s of Germany's attack on the ho"! a '- ; i.,t frontier of France would depend =>n the fate of Liege. If it prssed iisio' their hand-!, in the first few da;.!- of the war German strategists would have no annety about their right flank and would pre-ts on the broad front from Givet to Thionville. . . -But the left wing, moving through Treves, 'fhioinil'e and Luxemburg, would he even more formidable. Its object would be Si'-nay and Vouziers. The taking up of a strong position on the Aisne by the two armies rcoving ivrough Belgium and the grand Duchy would rcpiYsein. me successful achievement of the hi.-: stage in the German plan of campaign against France. THE PROBABLE COST.

"To obtain her primary objectives, Germany is prepared to waste a large, number of men. The cost of men will not prevent her straining every effort to obtain 'her ends. If the French pour over into Belgium to meet her halfway, they will be playing her game and equalise the chances of loss. An obstinate defence without risking too much, in any pitched action north of the Reiuis-Laon-La Fere line is clearly the best French strategy. Time, would thus be gained for England to play her part, and the further German troops ha\o got south of the Semois, the better our chance of striking at their rear. It will not be a bad thing for France's chances of final victory if the first great ■battle of the -war can he deferred until the Germans are in the Aisne Valley." GERMANY IN 2106.

STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAV DOMINATION. Imaginative pictures of Germany's future —almost always a very martial future—are very common in Berlin, writes the correspondent of the London "Times," and usually do not merit much attention, but occasionally a book appears which represents a school of thought, and also. throws fresh light upon the hidden germs of national development. Such a one is a now drama called "Der Abgrund," which shows pictures of Germany's twilight in the year 2106." It is by "Count Teja," which is a nom de plume. The hero is King Frederick VI., a Hohcnzollern Prince," who embodies German "idealism" and is engaged throughout in a life and death struggle with materialism and the forces of Jewry. The plot of the story is Germany's secend awakening—this time from the torpor of cosmopolitanism am' "paciliei-, .1, and her response to a challenge from the Slavs. Somewhat provokingly the curtain, falls before the result of the war is decided, but the English, Scandinavians, and the "true Germans" who had migrated to German south-west Africa, have already rushed to the defence of (ierniiiiiteinii, and a fortunate issue seems imminent.

It will be seen that the premises of the writer are very much those of the I Prussian Conservatives. Organised industry means the reign of the .lew, and the Stated prosp-rity is biiiind up with the fortunes of the' true German peasant class. The prosperity of the world is hound up with the 'future of the "German," or what others vaguely : call the Arvian race, which is regarded as the true white race amid the sea of Celts, Slavs, Poles and Semites.. The ideas of the hook arc many of them absurd, but they are very much what one can glean from conversation with a Prussian Junker, and arc- applauded by the Conservative Press. CHANGES ON THE CONTINENT. By 201(1, A.1),, the Continent has changed surprisingly. Austria-Hungary I has disappeared, and a great Slavonic I" ruler, one Vladimir, rules from the Baltic to tlu Adriatic. France has cca-d to count, and. there the "active race" is extinct, and the country is in the hands of the primitive Mongolian race, which is incapable of great effort. Italy is practically the vassal of the Slav Empire. Britain, on the other hand, after passing through a critical period, has regenerated herself by importing Germanio blood from Scandinavia and setting Norwegian peasants on her soil. Sweden is, of course, the chief bulwark against the Slav, and in a spirited congress which takes place at Berlin m the lour of danger bet wee .1 Britain, Norway, Denmark; Switzerland, Holland, and Germany her King recalls with pride the events of the i.resent day —the etrorts of Sven Iledin and the awakening of the peasants to "the Itussian danger." Incidentally he approaches the British envoy for Kixr. lcnd's pro-Russian policy of long a»o, and for her former desertion of Hie Germanic cause. THE ALL-POWERFUL JEW. In Germany, Westphalia, Posen and Silesia are practically autonomous Poish due'iies under German Prunes. It ir Vladimir's demand that they should be uuled by Slav Provinces which precipitates the war. The popilalion of i* utterly mixed. Having become almost entirely an industrial State, .ih-i has flooded her factories with Chinese --.ud Mongolians. Commerce and shipping are in the hands of ih ( . Jewish truit, and the real ruler of the state—when the curtain rises--is Field'.Marshal Goldstein, a Jew. The morals of the nation are in a [rightful condition, and senseless luxury is lampant. The most demoralising force is the "Peace League," and its ally, the dominant party of YVe.ltfreisinn (Cosmopolitanism'!. This is the party of the capitalist-, who have "engagements'' all over the world, know

no national ideais, and preach peace at any price. Fortunately there is still left a small nucleus of real "Germans" which helps tine King to shake oil' these fatal influences and a&sert the Bisnmrckiaii spirit, and, forl'nnnte'y, some British -iiip- to transport the German; o f Scandinavia and Africa to the hat.herlmd when the German shipping 11 lists refuses.