War Notes.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 97, 19 September 1914, Page 6

War Notes.

CLOTHES FOR THE POOR. , As a result of the appeal made for clothing for the poor of Britain, t' large eases were shipped to Wellr .ve yesterday for London per s.s H ..gtou consigned to the Church Arm- jmuera, one thousand and fifty-four ; /. lu all, sent, including over 200 articles were and women's), nearly s'' coats (men's all sor'.„ of underei j pairs of boots, Tolls of linen, ilann othing, and many were crowded o •><> etc. A few articles These will b •?* lor la <* of apace, date The * tonvar ded at an early all those Committee wish to thank then- * ' ae g ellerosit y has enabled fo . t '° seßll su <m a useful contribution [*'- r M relief of distress.

MLDHIRST FACTORY'S CONTRIBUTION. A special meeting of the shareholders \A the Midhirst Co-operative Dairy [factory Company was held on Thursday to consider the proposal to make a coutribution to the Empire Defence Fund. Considerable discussion ensued, but it was ultimately resolved, on the motion of Mr. J. Fabish, that a contribution of one-half per cent, on the quantity oi produce exported be given to the fund. Mr. R. H. Susans characterised the heavy contributions of other factories as a desire to look "big," and moved an amendment that a donation of one pound be made by each supplier, which was lost, Mr. Skedgewell occupied the chair.

GAIUBALDf, JXR. A BUSY SOLDIER. ''General Giuseppe Garibaldi, grandson of the great Italian liberator, is preparing to return to Italy for the purpose of leading against Austria as many followers as he can get together for that purpose," states the New Vork Sun, of July 31. "As a soldier of fortune, he has seen service in set cral wars, and two years ago he announced thai his aim in life was to win back from Austria the two lost Italian provinces on the Adriatic now held by Austria, General Garibaldi is now in New York, having recently been active in the Mexican and Balkan wars. He sent the following letter to Professor Michael 1. Pupin, the Servian Consul-General:

"My dear Professor, —Moved by a profound sentiment of sympathy with the Serb people and protesting against the unwarranted attacks of the Austcians, my family, and all Italians that follow the traditions of the red shirt, put ourselves at your Government's disposal.

"I am preparing to leave for Italy with a small number of my ollicers, and should our country remain neutral we intend to proceed to Servia. No Italian will support our King in his politics as outlined by the Triple Alliance, but in any case the Servians can always depend upon the Garibaldians to support the Balkan States as we did at Damukos in 1907 and at Janina in 1U12.'"

IN SPECIAL CAPACITIES. Motors have been equipped for quite special purposes in transport of war material. Thus the Germans have motors which carry on their hacks, as it were, whole aeroplanes, the fuselage standing up like the ladder on a lire engine, and the wings folded alongside the fuselage. Then special aeroplane repair shops, with the complete outfit for the repair of aero engines and the various other parts of a living machine, are part of tile standard equipment of a French Army corps. Thus, a squadron of avion*, as the French call them, will have its fleet of motors in attendance, ready to transport the machines on land or put them right if anything goes wrong. Motor-wagons also carry wireless outfits for Held work, and also portable towers for reconnoitring purposes. Motors serve the Red Cross brigade far better than did the old system, and the wounded can be taken to a hospital in a few hours, when in previous wars it took days and many used to die on the way. Motor-cycles come in for despatch riding, and even for offensive, purposes. Tho British Army, at any rate, is so equipped. Machine guns are, carried either on side-cars, or on motor-cycles in pairs. It is not so in Continental armies, as the Germans have never taken up the motor-cycle, even for pleasure purposes, and Frineii motor-cycles are not equal to British, which, indeed, are easily the best all-roi'.'.ul in the ivorld to-day for reliability. Thus, it will be readily imagined that modern war over long and old civilised country like central and western Europe has abundant uses for motors of all descriptions. Perhaps, when the war is over, there will be special accounts written with reference to the work the motors did, and these are not likely to overlook the enormous consumption of petrol and the frequent waste of it when abandoned in the retreat. What Germany is doing in this respect is hard t<> say. She has no petroleum of her own, and most of Austria's petroleum comes from Galieia, the very theatre of the llussoAustrian campaign just now. Rouiuania is also a fairly important oilfield. On the other hand the Allies have all the world across the seas to draw from, and the recent acquisitions of oilfields by powerful British companies in Mexico, California, Oklahoma, ami the far East, will ensure an ample and secure supply for that front of the war. Russia, of course, can draw from her own wells in the. Caucasus regions, which still contribute some twenty per cent, of the world's oil resources. The only hope for the Germans lies in the distillation of benzole from coal and shale, and in this branch of industrial economy she has advanced far beyond her opponents. In normal times, Germany uses quite as much, if not more than as much, homemanufactured spirit oil as imported. But on the whole, in respect of the supply of the essential fuel, the advantage is greatly with tho Allies.

CHASE OF THE KARLSRUIIK. LONG RANGE DUEL OFF AMKItICA. GERMAN CRUISF.It SAVED BY HER SPEED. Halifax (N.S.), August 13. For half an hour last Thursday night 11.M.5. Bristol, the smallest British warship ol!" the American coast, fought a long-range duel with the Karlsruhe, the largest and faste.-t of the German cruisers which have been tn in.'-' to intercept British shipping in the North Atlantic. Fleeing from the British cruiser Suffolk, which interrupted the Karlsruhe coaling at sea from the North German Lloyd (steamer Kronprina Wilhelm, the German cruiser was intercepted by the Bristol south-west of Bermuda, and for half-an-hour a long range, fight took place in the blackness of the semi-tropi-cal liight.

BROADF ,IDES EXCHANGED. Racing terrific chrougli the heavy swell at a aides dip, the ship* exchanged broad co> without inilicling much damage, editions being very unfavorable for accurate gunnery. Although the Bristol's consorts were at hast one hundred miles astern, the Germans would not stand and fight, according to the British participants. Altering her course, sbe gradually drew away from the Bristol, off- ! ing to superior speed, and after half an i hour was out of range of the British , ship's six-inch bow chaser. The chase was continue-;, but somci where in the darkness -he German , doubled and made off south to San Ber- • wick. Wo called both of then by wireless and ordered them to ;• id in the i chase. The Berwick tried to cut oft i the Kronprinz Wilhelm, while the Bristol took a position to intercept the Karlsruhe. AH the afternoon we raced after the fleeing German. By 5 o'clock her smoke had disappeared, and then all our hopes centred in the Bristol picking ! her up. At 9 o'clock that nignt the welcome , news came through the air to us from the Bristol, 'Enemy in sight.' A few [ minutes later came 'We are engaging the enemy.' '. "Although we must have been fully a i hundred miles astern of them, we raced i on for all we were worth. We had no fear of the result if the German stood ', up to the Bristol, for we were all sure that our fellows could whip the Karlsruhe easily at close quarters, but we > wanted to be in at the finish ourselves.

HAD HEELS OF THE BRITISHER. "The Karlsruhe had the heels of the Bristol too. They were in action for just about half an hour. For a few minutes the German stood up and the ships tired broadside to broadside, the Bristol using her six-inchers and the five four-inchers on her broadside, and the Karlsruhe live four-point ones. After a few minutes, however, the Karlsruhe turned and ran. The Bristol chased her, using her forward six-inchors. It was difficult to make anything like good practice. It was pitch dark and the sea was heavy. Not. one of the German shells lauded anywheril near the. Bristol, hut our chaps think they got some shots award the Karlsruhe. However, in long-range fighting under those conditions, u. i.; pretty difficult to do much, and the Karlsruhe's speed saved her again. '-The -Suffolk, Bewick and Bristol cruised round for si-vi-ral days, but could get no trace of th : Karlsruhe and her consort, and finally ■•','« heard that she had put into Porto Ki-:o for coal."

' GERMANY'S P.-CIiTC POHSffiblUJNt). IUCTI K'LANUo 01. ARGHll'i-XAG'J. I Herbertsholie, which has been occupied by the Australian Hjuadron, is a port <o£ New l'ouic-i-.iii<a (oiiloe Jit* iiritain), the chief island ot the Jiismarek Archipelago. It used to be the capital of the island and the centre ui German government in ihe region, but about live years ago the capital waii transferred Ui Babuii! (.Minpsorihafcnl, a few miles north-wist of JJciboi'tshohe. Ratal ui possesses a magnificent 'harbor and is the site of a German wireless station.

"lleruwtsholie looks fa: more like a capital than does Kabj.ul," wrote a visitor recently. "it contains some really fine rcWideneos, and even boasts a telephone system un a ii.inial.uTe scale. There it was that that i '/mankable personality, 'Queen JiniiU.i,' .made, her l'ume, personally conducting iitie vast business that fihe bui'it up Jll - the Westem Paeilic. llabaul, however, has always Ik:cu the more important place from a commercial standio;nt. German vessel-*, en route between Australia and the iOitst, make regular culls there, and the large cargo she-da on the whan" give u'me idea of the trade that is done fi'um that port. Yet a deplorable laci: of foresight has been displayed in selecting the, site for the settlement. XHe town lias been built on lmv-hing ground while the. more hcaiMihful slopes within eaisy distance have been left untouched. The result is that the residents arc con-

stantly liable to fevers and sicknesses lluvl could largely have tam avoided." ■No man in Sydney knows more about Germany's Pacific possession than Mr O. A. Ki'i<l-'lf UHberg, tecrcLiry of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in. Sydney, said the 'Sydney Sun a week ago. He painLs- a glorious -picture of many of the islands and -tt-Ua ot tho progress n.adu there by the Germans. Above all stands llabaul, built on fc'impsonliafi'n in New Britain. It i.s the seat of 'Government, and lias "been for live years, up to which time lleibcrlsliohe held pride of place, llabiuid Wands between Herbertsholio and Matupi.

Mr. Ulllierg could not tell exactly the munlicr of the white (population at Kahaul. At lie pointed out, suclr an eiiti'inale would be difliiu'lfc to make, owing to the maimer in whieii people arrive and. went away. He did know, however, that there were about twenty -five Australians there—<men who claimicd Sydney and Melbourne as their birthplace*. There are also many .Englishmen', w'ho have left neighboring British possessions simply because i'liu conditions under the 'lifrman rule made (planting far more [/roiitaiblc. freehold land i w secured as against leasehold, and, what is more important, labor is immcaturably cheaper. As a con.se(|ue.iiice, the town of Kabaul ha* advanced by leaps and bounds. d'erfect roads Hurround i!t|, 'and there is a. wharf the. equal of which \i nob to 'be seen anywhere in Australia. The harbor is magnificent, it 'is like a (huge basin, and has an average dentil of six falilunet-s. The approach to it is very deceptive. At tiliu enhance it really looks as ii there were a dead! on.i, ibut suddenly it opens up until, in Mr UHibcrgV* opinion, it could iiarommodate 4'he whole of the British fleet, fl'liat was the main reason (the etntre town was changed from Herbcrt-l.-iohe. iStiuU-gically, it was far more suitable. lJu't" Mr 'UHberg has never ob served any attempt ito cufend it. !!■' lias never seen any gun,* on the surrounding lulls, but has an idea that the harbor and its 'entrance axe liberally mined.

Tilierc are about four liirnJrcd nativj police, on the island. They have been drilled bv & German Jjeutertanib, 'but Mr Ullbcrg docs not think that llicr; splieru of usefulness extends beyond rounding up native wrongdoers or ebasii;g them into Hie bush. They patrol the streets smd look very important. Everywhere there are .beautiful tenuis tourto, and the, public buildings arc excellent. 'ln addition 'to about one hundred German officials, there are many Scandinavians, Knglishnvcn. and' AustTod.ia.ns. Tilie principal "- tore ls <on " dnated by a '.Melbourne man. A wrnioss station ha* recently 1 u erivted in Kabaul to communicate with Yip which is the main German station in tiio Carolines, mid the. terminus of a cubic line. German Xe«' Guinea, Mr UlllKsrg pointed out, takes in kaiser Wilhdm's linnd, the Bismarck Archipelago, the German Solomons, bouta, and Bougainville, and the AdnMratty and the Rlairslba.il groups. Outside lu<ibiiul there are really no big towns. All that is* left at Horber.tsholic are a lew

plantations. Matupi is a point of important. It is about three miles from Kabaul, and is mainly controlled toy the big trading lirm of Hemstein and Co. 'J here tlhe coal depots lor the whole of the possessions arc established. Prinz ffredericb. Wil-helinshafen, the largest town but one, is on the mainland of New Guinea, and has a fairly large mixed population of White people, Chinese, Japanese and 'Malays. Australian capital is invested there in the Sarang Plantations, Ltd. "The whole of the possessions," said Mr Uiibei'g ill conclusion, "are like beautiful garden. The land is very fine, anil Eabaul is one of the prettiest places imag nubie."

THE FEBNCH PREPARATIONS. As trie international situation became acute ait the end of July, busy preparations for contingencies were made in France. Telegraphing from Paris on July 28, the corresponuent of the Eondon Chronicle stated.—"ln the event of a European war France would 'be auie to put ulbout 800,000 men into the field immediately. For some time past there 'has been a huge concentration of troop at Verdun Toul, lipin.il, and Belfort, the firSt-tlase strongholds forming tlu advance line along tne German frontier, iiud the garrisons, or the second line, sucih as Montenge, -La Fer<", Rheims, Langres, etc. also contain fixed 'bodies of men ready to be moveu forward at a moment's notice. Although a large section of the men now with the colours are not yet thoroughly trained uol-diers, they nevertheless have enough military c.vporienco to form valuable .fighting 'line material. Should it Ibecome necessary to utilise the field army, the total strength would "be about 1,300,(X>0. There aire 21 army corps, besides 36 complete reserve division-) and some reserve cavalry. Though the French Army i s nominally interior to that or Germany, military experience considered with tie groaiter fighting <value of the Irench unit, compensates for that disadvantage."

"THE PEACEMAKER." I have received this year's Tune sura-'bc-T of The Peacemaker, a title painfully satirised by .the events of August. With The Peacemaker comes the third annual report of the society that publishes It, which, report containij a "humble address" .to the Gorman Kaiser, complimenting him as <the inefiument of Providence for "the preservation of European peace," and prayir.g that he miglhlt long be spared "to carry out the great tele of seeking the '[face of the wurld." To which address, presented to him at the Palace in Berlin by a deputation which included Mr Barrow Qadbury {of the Cocoa Press f.nd Quaker principles), the Kaiser, without any visible wink, nilade reply as follows: " '. 'lt givc9 rao great pleasure to receive your deputation, and I can only assure you I shall continue to do my host to preserve peace; and to proanote the cordial relationships thac exist Ibetween Dhe two nations of Great Britain and Germany. In the sa.me spirit, with words smoother 'than (butter, and war ia his heart, might lis SotariiKJ Majesty welcome a deputation from the Council of Churches. "May it please your Infernal Highness to become patron of our Society for the Suppression of Vice." The peacemaking wiseacres whose misdirected devotions were offered at the Berlin shrine have now a cracked idol on their hands. The Kaiser for whom they prayed long life has lived long enough' to moke the 'most heinous and hideous war in lustory.,—"Civia," in the Dunedin Times.