The Daily News. MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1914. TURKEY'S SELF SUICIDE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 171, 28 December 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1914. TURKEY'S SELF SUICIDE.

In the event of an attack by Zeppelins, Westminster Abbey is well protected against fire. In the south-east tower, some 100 ft. above the ground, are tanks containing huge quantities of water, by means of which any pur; of the building could be Hooded, or, if nead be, the whole of it, in a few minutes.,'

When the GlnrAas were told that they wore wanted to fight in the great war. they asked: ''Shall we all be killed V" and the officer said, "Not all." They inquired, "Shall a great many be killed';" He replied, '-Possibly." Then they asked "Will a hundred come back?" "Perhaps so." "That will be enough," they said, "our people will know that we have fought well."

To must students of history and the trend of current events, the question of whether the palm for supreme folly is due to Germany or Turkey for the entrance of tlie latter Power into the present European war will present itself. If it wen.' possible to feel any pity at nil for such an effete and unstable Power as Turkey, then the present is the time for its exercise, but the Sublime Porte hag long since alienated all sympathy and every feeling except disgust and absolute, indifference to the fate of that double-faced Government. Turkey has knowingly and willingly walked into the net clumsily spread by Germany. But to what end? So far as Turkey is concerned, it means marching to her doom, a fate too long already delayed, but now within near approach of accomplishment. It is a pitiable spectacle to see such an ancient and at ono time highly equipped warlike Power falling a victim to a bribe dangled before its eyes by the wily Teutonic descend, ants of barbaric nomads. The glory of Turkey has long since departed, and nought but the dregs remain. The irony of Kate has now joined together in an offensive alliance two nations who at the present time are virtually in extremes, and it looks as if a common fato is awaiting both. Neither can hope to gain by the move; both have everything to lose. In the case of Germany it may well be asked: How are the mighty fallen? Could only the grand old Pilot of the Fatherland (Prince Bismarck) revisit the scenes of his earthly diplomatic triumphs at the present juncture, with what words of biting sarcasm and contumely would he bemoan the rashness and criminal folly of those who now guide the destiny of his beloved country, and, above all, with what scathing contempt would he view the puerile tactics of the monarch whose first great exhibition of incapacity and arrogant folly was to "drop the Pilot," that he might steer the vessel of State to destruction. Diplomacy as the highest art of government in Germany ceased with the Jail of the great Bismarck, and the result is seen in the state of affairs to-day. Apparently Germany's aim in persuading Turkey to join in hostilities against the Allies was to create a diver, sion, and draw off British troops from Flanders in order to protect Egypt. This "drawing oft" idea seems to have obsessed the German authorities, but so far it has proved a mere chimera as regards results, and though it is a direct compliment to the British forces, it also indicates the dire straits into which (iermany has drifted, and continues to drift. The "contemptible little army" of Britain has evidently got on tlie-nerveS of the Ivaiscr. It thwarted his triumphal march on -Paris, and is driving back the German hosts which were supposed to be invincible. What must be more galling still is the fact that the intended diversion by a Turkish raid on Egypt will not necessitate the removal of any troops from the centre of the w:tr zone, but it will certainly stimulate tile Allies to increased efforts to hurl back the foe. The extension of the war to Turkey will, however, present a new problem, not merely to Bulgaria, but to all the neutrals in the East. Greece is making active preparations, and is concentrating an army be. tween Salonika and Itavala, as if to meet a Turkish attack, which could be delivered across Bulgarian territory only by the connivance of Sofia, Italy has passed through a -Cabinet crisis, and apparently is making ready for any emergency that may arise, the reconstituted Cabinet being amicably disposed towards the Allies. Many things are at stake in this war, but first and last, and all the time, the Empire of the East is at stake. The war began at Belgrade, over the question whether Servia should remain the auxiliary of Russia, or should become the vassal of Austria. In reality that issue opened the whole problem of the Near and Middle East. Vast changes have been postponed for a generation by the sole fact that a sort of equilibrium, now friendly, now hostile, obtained between Russia and the German Powers in the East. If the war hat! any decisive result, that I equilibrium will be at an end. In the one event Germany, in the other Russia, will dominate the East from the Adriatic to Bagdad. Turkey could not be indifferent to the result, though she might well dread either alternative. (Tlie forward party in Russia has its eyes on Constantinople and Armenia. The PanGermans may be innocent of any design to dismember Turkey, but that is only because they hope to swallow her whole —not perhaps to annex, but to drill, to direct, to educate, to colonise, to develop, to exploit her. The choice is not a happy one for Turkey, but of the two evils the Turks prefer the latter. It will be time enough to arrange wliat is to be done with Turkey when the war is over. Meanwhile, German tactics have received another rebuff. The real meaning of the present war is the. upholding of justice to the weaker nations —the maintenance of right as opposed to anight. This spirit will dominate the settlement of all matters at tlie close of the struggle. Were it a war of conquest, it would merely destroy one militarism only to create another. A linn and lasting peace is the, great ideal re. ■presented by the Allies in this terrific war, and diplomacy may be relied 011 to fettle all dispute!* when the time

When the troops who have gone abroad left New Zealand, many gave instructions that a certain allotment of the pay due to them was to he forwarded to persons—wives or other relatives—resident in the Dominion. The next allotment falls due on December 31, but it is understood that tile Department decided to forward all monies so that they would be due on or before Christmas Eve.

It is interesting to note that the auI tln.r of "i uarlie's Aunt," Mr Brandon i '.'! oiuas, only recently died in Lonlm:. j .Sensational stories have been told of the fortunes made out of the, famous play \A London man who put £IOOO into the j first venture received a return of over •';!7,i>ol). The author received as much j *' ,t odflO in royalties in one week, and ■ the fortune made out of the play by jMr Pulley is an old story. l'lie royalty ' fee to this day is £3O per week.

The Maori contingent for service abii.atl ,itc rapidly developing into an efficient body of trained soldiers. Such at any rate is the oi.inion of the Hon. J. i'iirn, who inspected them in Auckland recently. In conversation with a Dominion reporter on Friday, he said that though the men had not been long in training, they had improved in a remarkable way, not only in training, but in general appearance and physique. Their drill, for the amount of training they have had, was very good and their musketry, already by no means bad, was rapidly improving.

A curious little story which conies from Ireland by way of Australia is an illustration of the superlative "slimness" of our present antagonists on the ! battlefield. A Queensland priest, FathI er Nolan, of Dalby, who has just rei turned from the Old Country, says that I the tale is current that German manufacturers had supplied both sides in the Ulster crisis with rifles at 3s fid each. | "Such an incident," remarks an Aus- ' tralian journal, "would not injply *' la t i either Ulster faction had been taking German aid with the knowledge that I they were being belped by an enemy country, which desired to strike Britain in a time of civil war. The caballers on each side bought their arms where they could get. them most cheaply, that was all." The story is quite believable in the light of our newly-gotten and sharply-gotten knowledge of the German character.

The police were engaged oh Sunday, (reports the Christehurch Press) in hunting a gang of boy burglars on the Port llills. The boys, all about fourten years of age, are said to have broken into several business premises and factories during the week, some of ,the establishments being the Christchurch Brick Company's and the Ascot Biscuit Company's offices. One boy was 1, arrested jn the city. From the hotels some six dozen bottles of "hard" and "soft" drinks, a ham, and other provisions were taken, and from an adjacent (!""iling, which also had been entered, (he burglars got some blankets. After their night's adventures, they hid among the hill tops, prepared to defend themselves with air guns, and other weapons purehasd with the proI ceeds of the other burglaries. The police j were out early to inspect tho scene of Saturday night's breaking.in, and soon picked up the trail. The chase, whicli I ended in the capture of the two boys, was an exciting one.

We love England as the children love the house where they were born. With all her faults—and because of them: for all her virtues, and in spite of some of them, that love is buttressed by thp most sovereign, but the most native of reasons, by her virgin Elizabeth, her social Ann, her motherly Victoria, by her "happy breed of men," Grenville, Wolfe, Nelson, Wellington; by her "characters" no less than her characteristics, Johnson, Burton, Lamb, Fitzgerald; by her busbies and Jack Tars, her roast beef and phnn pudding, by her Atlantic and her Thames, her Dartmoor and London, herrfarms and hills, and hangers, dews, rains, and stars and churchyards. Theyitoo, can sing ot England who only England knows, nor need they be Indifferent listeners to the song of the English across her seven , seas. Devon is England, and dyked Suffolk, Yorkshire fell and Kentish orchard, Surrey pine and Cornish cliff, Scotch bagpipe and Welsh song and Irish beauty, brogue and bull. There may be pleasanter places; there is no word'like home. We may laugh at England—im,possib!estof shes—and gladly bear to be laughed at. But the world 'without her .would be a wilderness; the surge of its .tides a never-ending lamentation. Earth,ly life would have lost its hold, its assur ance and half its meaning. Wo should be strangers and pilgrims indeed. Hera are our first remembrances, first fears and ventures, hers our first solitude and friendships. She is her poets' beauty and peace, the highway of their pilgrimage, the woof of their dreams, the earthly foreshowing and foreshadowing of their paradise.—The Times, Londom YOU SHOULD BEAR IN MIND,

That by using the commercial eucalyptus oil, which is. now bought ..at Od per lb. weight and bottled, and on account of the large profit pushed, you are exposing yourself to all the dangers to which the use of turpentine will expose you—irritation of the kidneys, intestinal tracts and mucous membrane. By insisting on the GENUINE SANDER'S EUCALYPTI EXTRACT, you not only avoid those pitfalls, but you have a stimulating, safe and effective medicament, the result of a special and careful manufacture. A trial will at once convince. Quality in a small dose distinguishes it from the bulky and dangerous products. Remember: SANDER'S EXTRACT embodies the result of 00 years' experience and of special study and it does as promised; It heals and cures without injuring the constitution, as the oils on the market frequently do. Therefore, protect yourself by rejecting other brands. SANDER'S EXTRACT . posscscs curative properties peculiarly r ta own, and can be used with perfecj safety internally end extenwlly.

Tho Christmas holidays were seized upon by itlie local 1 Gas Company as a good chance to effect some repairs or alterations, the manager evidently forgetting that like tea kiosk at the racecourse was depending absolutely upon the gas installation for heating purposes. The rexult was just about disastrous. It is understood that all will be well to-day.

Tliu picturesque grounds of Aolea were Nhronged yesterday, and the scene presented was one that would have delighted any lover of the beautiful. There have been so many occasions on which these grounds have been kindly J thrown open by Messrs Sole Bros., but owing to wet weather the public have been unable to lake advantage S)f the „ , ~ i j ,n i • opportunity of spending a delightful Tradesmen throughout Taranak, re- o ]. twQ .„ , u | mh . iu^llo and port good business di.ring Christmas a ,. tilk . ial to bfi {oU]]d in fn . week. In Ivew Plymouth the takings of sioil at Aotoa _ Tllc lorious weaai€r 0 f many businesses were greater than last yesterday was, therefore, very welcome, year, whilst the average was quite as aml t li e i al . g( , attendance testifies to the good, notwithstanding the war. The appreciation in which these grounds are streets of the various Taranaki towns held. An additional charm was added wore thronged on Christinas Eve, when by the excellent music discoursed by Mrs the shops did a thriving trade. George's orchestra, and by ■the afternoon tea. A feature of the musical programme was the rendering of the National Anthems of the Allies. A collection was taken up on behalf of the (Poor-in-Belgium Fund, wihieh profited to the extent of £23 Os liy a d.

The northern Mountain House has .been largely patronised during the holidays. On Christmas and Boxing Day over fifty sat down to luncheon, whilst yesterday Ulicrc were over a hundred. About twenty cars made the trip yesterday, besides the regular motor 'bus, whilst there were several motor cycles and side-cars. Judging by the bookings this season will be a record. More accommodation is a necessity. Several climbers have gained the summit during the past day or two. The weather lias been perfect since Thursday. On the track to Dawson's Falls there has been a considera.Ue slip, preventing several parties from malting the round trip.

TheN.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company are not holding their usual Stratford sale to-morrow.