The European War

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 68, 10 August 1914, Page 3

The European War

IS NEW ZEALAND. PATKIOTKJ PAHIATUA. liy Telegraph.—Press Association. Pahiatua, Saturday. A large and enthusiastic meeting of ladies, the Mayoress, Mrs. Crewe, presiding, was held here to-day. Aby representative committee was fomied to canvass the district for subscriptions and garments on behalf of the expeditionary force. Already a considerable gum has been promised. Resolutions were passed viewing with the greatest concern the present crisis within the Empire praying that the Almighty may keep our hearts and minds from unworthy excitement, and hoping that the war will have a speedy termination, and that lasting peace will be seseeured. The ladies sang the National Anthem. The Pahiatua County Council passed a resolution heartily approving the expeditionary force, and offering to assist the Government by every means in its power. Men and horses are offering here for military service. HELP FROM TIMARU. Timaru, Saturday. Collections for the expeditionary force fund in town yesterday and to-day exceeded £2300 as known. There are other lists in the country also.' Mr. J. Craigie and Mr. J. M. H. Tripp gave £IOO each, and there many £2O and £lO gifts. WAIKARAPA'S GENEROSITi. Masteiton, Saturday. At ft big demonstration of farmers here to-day, over £5001) was subscribed in the room towards providing horses for the expeditionary force. Many 'horses were also given. Sir Walter Buchanan, who was present, received a great ovation. PARADE TO-NIGHT. A parade of the A Company will lie held to-nigiit at the old Drill Hall, at 7.30 o'clock. Parade in khaki, web equipment, great-eoats. ' AX AI.TKLAXD CONTINGENT. Auckland, August S. Twenty-five men and one officer from the College Rillt-s, part of the Auckland volunteer force, specialists and members of the division signalling corps, left for Wellington by tra;.: at noon. NO NUUSKS WANTED FOR ABROAD.

Wellington, August fr. Cieneral Sir Alexander fiodley has issued a statement saying how greatly he appreciates the numerous applications for positions in ihe nursing corps of the New Zealand expeditionary forces and regrets his inability to aeeept same, as it is not intended to send nurses with the expeditionary force if it leaves the Dominion. All qualified nurses who wish to oiler their services should send their application to Miss MXean, Assistant-In*pcctor-<iencral of Hospitals. Public ' Health Department, Wellington, so that they can be registered as members of .Yew Zealand nursing reserves. BANK OFFICIALS MAY CO. Wellington, August S. At a mee'nrj of the directors of th.' ISnnk of New Zealand it was decided with respect to any olficers whose services may be. accepted as members ot the expeditionary force that the position of such oflicers will be kept open for them provided they return physically fit, and the bank will allow them halfpay for a period of six months whilst they may be on active service. HKI.P FROM ALL SOURCES. Wanganui, August S. A prominent Wanganui citi:vn puis forward a practical suggestion for the augmentation of tiie food fund, <his idea being that the congregations of every ehurcl and evej-y gect throughout the Dominion be asked to double the usual collection offerings, the. surplus half being forwarded to the authorities for the purpose named. He points out that many poor persons would like to subscribe, but feel diffidence in placing their modest threepence, or shilling in a public list, where subscriptions sometimes run to several figures. He believes this sug- : gestion would overcome thai difficult;? , and be tenable for rick and poor alike to do their share in alleviating the distress that is bound to ensue, as the weekly sums thereby raised would amount to substantial figures. The loc-tl clergymen spoken to approve and intend to adopt the suggestion in their own «hHrehes, The Mayor has received a cheque for £2OO from the Wanganui Brewery Com-

pany as a donation to the horse purchase account for the New I Zealand expeditionary force. 'Auckland, August 8. Tiie Auckland Stock Exchange this morning donated £IOO to the patriotic fund. Masterton, August 8. Mr. H. Beetham has given £SOO and the Wairarapa Farmers' Co-operative Association £250 for the expeditionary force. Hastings, August 8. Mrs. T. H. Lawrey, patroness of the Okawa Rifle Club, has offered to give a moter car or £250 to complete the equipment of the Okawa Club in the event of their services being required. If not, the offer will go to the Hawke's Bay troop of the expeditionary force. The offer has been forwarded to General Godley. Napier, August 8. The Hawke's Bay Highland Society has voted £IOO to the war fund. Wellington, August 8. Mr. A. M. Myers, M.P., and Sir Walter Buchanan have each given £IOOO towards the expenses of expeditionary forces. Te Kuiti, August S. Mr. J. Brodie, the Mayor, received a message from the Government asking if men and horses were available for the expeditionary contingent. Mr. ! Broddic replied offering a contingent of 25 mounted men. WELLINGTON'S CONTINGEXT. Palmerston N., August 8. Up till two o'clock to-day 146 officers and 1597 men had volunteered in Wellington military district for the expeditionary force. / A FATAL WEAKNESS.

The German Army, according to Mr Hilaire Belioc, 'has one weakness that may prove fatal. It is bound to "a military plan which must collapse altogether—and their political system with it —unless the first onset is immediately and overwhelmingly successful." Mr Bel!oc discussed the German position in eome detail in an article contributed to the London Magazine. He dealt particularly with the possibilities of a struggle between Germany and France. "Upon the German side," He says, "you have just two great fortified points, Metz and Strasburg, neither of them fortified with the thoroughness or at the expense of the corresponding French points; no system of fortifications holding the line of the Rhine and behind that line nothing whatsoever tliili military science need take into account; no rationally disposed «ystcm, that is. or line of fortresses, supporting one another and compelling the delay of an advancing army." On the French side there is the first line of fortifications, four great fortresses; a second line of fortresses of the Belgian frontier, am! thirdly, there is the capita],, better fortified than any other great, town in Europe. Consequently the cnances of a successful onset at the start are small, and difficulties would be very certain. But it is continually taken for granted that Germany would rush through Belgium. "The German Army possesses," says Mr. Be'loc. '-for an' attach upon the Belgian frontier precisely on.: main line of railway. There is 110 strategical co-ordination of the lesser lines in the manufacturing district of Aix-'le-Clmpelle. To the south and dos« to the point of attack, crowding that point into n very narrow channel, lies the high, difficult and deserted country of the Fagne, through which no rapid movement is possible; and, even if any considerable force could fcree the Mease in the first few hours after the outbreak of hostilities, in what way does current journalism (or current politics, for thai matter) imagine that the Meuse would lie forced? Tliie journalist and the I'oliticinn have talked of the tiling ill general terms; they have not considered it in detail. The Meuse is a serious ob-ticle, and it is an obstacle fortified i absolutely without regard tVexpense, and in the most thorough: manner pos-

ible. Its fortification was carried i through by the greatest engineer and ] the greatest authority on fortification 1 of our time. On tlie French aide of the Mouse you have a closer network : of rai.'ways tliun is to be found in any otlier district of Europe; and, though these were not designed for a strategical purpose. industrial accident lias ma itall the main lines lead up to the Meiti-e from all tint principal military centres upon -that frontier." Mr Belloc reports that in the mobilisation of all her millions, Germany has an advantage over Prance, but the war would he fought, not by "11 the millions, but by the first mobilised two or three hundred thousand. And the Irench turn out of barracks quicker, and alarm a town more promptly, and a soldier actually with the, colors is at his post in a. shorter time than the German. Moreover, Germany has shown great slowness in understanding the significance of new things in military science. She won her victory over France by means of her better field artillery, but, though France within ten years was possessed of an artillery superior to ihe German, for a whole series of years Germany was armed with a weapon which would have given France nil overwhelming superiority. Even yet Germany has not produced a quick-firer of tiie. perfection of the French. The experience at Port Arthur bus nhown that the German under-valuation of fortificatioas was wrong, and that the French were right. Germany was the latest to adopt the submarine. Germany alsp went in for the rigid rather than the semi-rigid dirigible, but has at hist slowly been compelled to follow the precedt .:t of the French.