WAR NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 148, 17 November 1914, Page 7

WAR NOTES.

DIGGING OUT THE GERMAN FLEET. There has been much speculation as 1 to what Mr Churchill meant when he said that if the German navy would not como out to fight, "it must be dug out." "There can be no doubt about the German naval tactics, for they desire to fight us on conditions made by themselves," remarks the naval correspondent of the London Times. "Xor Bhall it be difficult to seal up the North Sea if it ia decided to be necessary to do so, and certainly no question of advantage to neutrals or trade should stand in the way of action which is essential for the existence of the British Empire. As to fighting the Germans with small craft alone in the North Sea, this is practically what we have been doing hitherto, and with every appearance of success. Whether we should go any further now in the way of blocking i up their ports is, as I have said, a! matter for the experts—that is to say, for our admirals, who are cognisant of all the facts. What Mr Churchill meant, 1 it may be supposed, was a military oper-1 ation, to be undertaken at some later i date, when the efforts of our armiesl on the Continent have been crowned with success. Fleets cannot be pitted against forts, and therefore it is rather a question for soldiers to decide when the time is propitious for a land operation such as the First Lord apparently referred to. We have heard a great deal about the contemplated attack by the Germans with aircraft upon our fleet. Presumably, if the Germans can do anything of the kind, we should be able to do it, too, and wlien the moment arrives, probably we shall. But it would i be of no advantage to us whatever to . undertake hasty and costly action mere- j ly as a sop to the impatience of public ' opinion, or even because our seamen | themselves are chafing at inaction." '

* t AX EXAMPLE FOR GERMANS. The Berlin newspaper Der Tag publishes an article written by Hcrr von Schachs, Mayor of Insterburg, a Prus- ? aian town that was occupied by Eussian . troops, on the behaviour of the Cossacks j ivho invaded the territory of East Prusj sia. The writer says:—' "These curious people do not all remind one of those cruel Mongols, which the Cossacks were represented to be in Germany, except perhaps their characteristic wild shouting which witli them takes the place of singing. They are all dressed very neatly, look unusually cheerful and much more handsome than the Eussian labors whom we have been accustomed to Bee among us. Two officers, one of 'whom spoke French fluently, required some fodder for horses, and the evacuation of an estate for the installation of a strong cavalry force which followed them, but they formulated their demand with a civility and a consideration which, under the circumstances, amazed me, and in order to avoid any misunderstandings, or misrepresentations, as to the conduct of the occupying Russian { soldiers, I categorically declare the Cosj sacks behaved themselves throughout the whole course of my personal observation in an exemplary and irreprehensiblc manner towards tile civil population, totally ignoring the offensive doinjrs of some provocative and uncontrollable youths. Neither do I know of a single instance of lack of respect on the part of Russian soldiers for the German multitudes or any sign of brutality towards fierman women. In conclusion, I desire to repeat most emphatically that throughout the region of my jurisdicthat Cossacks have not committed a single act of violence against the peaceful inhabitants of the territory invaded by them."

TERMS OF PEACE. j American newspapers give much pub- i licity to an interview witU "a high Brit-1 ish statesman," who received the New I York American's representative in London. The name of the "high statesman"' was not given, but, nevertheless, the in-1 terview commanded much attention from America. It was as follows: "It is, of course, too early to talk of! ficially of peace, but it is not too early ; to disseminate the news that peace '■ is possible, especially in the United i States, for to the United States all! powers must look when the time comes for US to begin to talk about peace offi- ; lally. The terms of peace which England i would be willing to consider may be counted on to be quite severe enough to satisfy France and ltussia. Those terms, when tlie time comes to announce them efficially, may easily prove acceptable to Germany, once her people realise that refusal to accept them would mean their ruin—however long it might take, however ghastly the cost to us, nevertheless, their ultimate destruction. The United States Government need have no doubts as to England's stand in this matter. There are exactly three conditions that England will insist on, only three:—l. Germany must be deprived of the ability ever again to wage war on a small nation; she must make full reparation to Belgium for the havoc she has worked there. 2. Germany must put an end at once and for all to her military party. 3. Germany must become so reconstituted in a military and naval sense as to make it impossible she should ever again be a menace to England. These are England's terms of peace. The sober minded men in this country have no desire to see British troops occupying Berlin, nor need tlx; victorious allies march down Lnter der Linden celebrating the subjugation of the German people in order to satisfy us. We have not the slightest desire to crush Germany's commerce. We want not one square foot of German territory for ourselves, nor for our allies. We believe our allies want none. All we want is to be found in the three conditions 1 have named. As to satisfactory assurances that Ger-' man) would abide by nny covenant she might make .under tlw ' stress of circumstances, that is another matter, but even this is possible of successful consummation."

A CHARMED LIFE. I have had occasion to thank God three times for as many escapes from (loath. lii(i lii>t avuh wiiciv wo wore forced back by artillery lire. A shell fell right under my horse, but failed to explode, being proliablv what is called an over-timed shell. Anyway, it was an escape. The next time was when we were shelled out of a village. Mv horse was grazed by a fragment of shrapnel and lamed, and a fireshooter missed me, but the bullet went through my »'iile bucket and flattened itself on the nozzle of my rifle. The third time was when we had a most trying JsmeJiv a village.

few men, wo got clear, and the general complimented us on the absence of panic. I never want to be in such a position again, it was wonderful our losses were so slight. A shell buret, just behind me and killed the fellow following me, but I was unarmed. My officer and chums say I have a charmed life, but my time may yet come. We have been lighting for twenty-five days now, and want a rest. The horses, too, are getting done up. We live, pretty well, being able to supplement our biscuits and tinned meat by eggs, milk and vegetables, as we go through the villages. It is a sad sight to see large places like Chelston deserted, the fruit rotting on the trees, the corn and root crops spoilt, and cattle dying from neglect. On the way back from Mons we met people going to other [daces with their few treasures packed on their shoulders or iu various carts. Where the, Germans have been the houses have been broken into and their contents scattered broadcast into the roads and fields. Its all "Vive l'Anglais"' where we go. The villagers look 011 us as their saviours. We all feel very cheerful and all have the one idea that we must win, so long as we were not "downhearted. "All's well" will he the cry.—The Times.