War Notes.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 113, 6 October 1914, Page 8

War Notes.

MISERY IN GERMANY, ' AH the Gorman newspapers indicate that economic disturbances in the Fatherland are already having disastrous effect. Tho pinch of food scarcity is being felt in Berlin and other large towns. The Cologiio Gazette gives "a terrible picture of industrial workers' conditions in Berlin. A conference sias been held at the Ministry of the Interior to discuss the great unemployment problem in Berlin among women. The stores have dismissed most of their employees, and were expected to dismiss more. Most women clerks, typists, and assistants have been discharged, because their employers are at war or arc ruined. The coßtume trade is at a standstill, and home workers starring. The textile industry is suffering fearfully, and dismissing its mill workers, mostly women, by hundreds. Other factories must shut up because the mobilisation has taken away their male workmen. Women who run boardinghouses or let rooms are ruined. At the conference it was complained that ruthlessness of the rich was reducing the employment of women unnecessarily. One town has bought £32,000 worth of foodstuffs to be sold at shops. It is estimated that there are 17,000 families, each with three childron, who ne;d help which will cost the town about £IO,OOO a month. Each famUy receives 27s a month from the Imperial Treasury, and the eame amount from the municipal treasury. In Berlin the labor bureaux are unable to find employment for tho crowds of women who besiege them. Crowds of girls are now offering their services for board and lodgiug.

GERMANY IN AFRICA. It is fairly certain, says the Standard of Empire, that Germany, in the event of a succeseful ieauo to her military operations on the Continent, and in the anticipation of Britain refusing to take part in the conflict, had at least half an eye open to the possibility of annexing the Belgian Congo, which would, with German East Africa, have formed a compact Seman block stretching from tho Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Now, unless all the portents prove hopelessly wrong, this Teutonic dream must vanish. Instead, an "All Red" Cape to Cairo railway, the possibility of which was apparently destroyed when Lord Salisbury allowed Germany to annex her East African colony, will onco again be rendered practicable. The British Empire would never have gone to war to secure the necessary territory. But, havino been forced into the conflict against its will, it would be foolish not to secure compensation for tho terrible losses in men and material which the present struggle must inevitably edtaU.

AN ARMED PEACE.

, Writing in the Clarion recently, Mr Robert Blatchford said:—"l met a man who has long been one of the most uncompromising and active of the pacifist readers. He stopped to talk with mc, ..and he told me, much to my surprise, that he was now on our Bide. "I see now," he said, "that we could not have kept out of the war." And he added, But I am afraid of Russia.' For my part I am not afraid of Russia. Not tnat I trust Emperors or Kaisers. Indeed, I have learnt sorrowfully that this is a wicked world. But assuming that we can put the Kaisor in his place, I do not see any cause to fear Russia. By the time we have settled accounts with Germany I think we shall all of as have supped full of horrors. Ido not believe that Europe will want another war for a very long while. On the contrary ] am hoping for a federation of the European States from Norway to Italy as a guarantee of peace. Let Franca, Britain, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Holland, Portugal, and Spain form an alliance for the preservation of the status quo, and there will be no need to fear Russia or any other Power. Let us have an armed, enlightened, democratic Europe banded in an open alliance for the preservation of peace; and let any autocrat or bandit (weak tho peace at Ins peril. r

, Times and Slydney Suit Service. ,_. London, October 4. I lie only son of Raid .MkcUan, was U.lJed during fighting in Franco. Prince. I™, third son of the Kin,; of (Bavaria is amongst the wounded.