WAR NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 180, 8 January 1915, Page 2

WAR NOTES.

NO 15NOLTSH PRISONERS. "I was told fliat every soldier brm£i;ig in tin Knglish prisoner of war {jets tii roe days' arrest." This remarkah'e statement is made hv a higlily cdu■cated Hollander now living at The Hague, lmt formerly a traveller for a Brussels firm. He revisited Brussels recently. "Brussels," he says, "is a living voleano. Hermans suicl Belgians expect at any moment an outburst. What I have seen and heard is too much for words. Repeatedly I have had confirmed by the Herman officers and soldiers that tliev do not want to make English prisoners of war. In Brussels most of the business houses are closed. Thers is no bread, and other eatables are scarce and dear. The Germans requisition everything for their troops, and often give 1.0.U.'s payable by the French President. Ilere (The Hague) we have some 2,000,000 refugees, most of them wanting the barest necessities of life. Food here is I beooiuing scarce and dear."

YOUNG GENERALS. Since the opening of the present war, a strain lias fallen on the higher ranks of our Army such as probably has never previously been experienced (says a London paper). Sir John French, in bis published despatches, has told us of the admirable services of his corps commanders, Generals Sniith-Dnrricii, 1 fal<» and Pnlteney, all men ill the prime of life, and it is because of the. immense importance and value to ail avmv ol' Hie possession of young Generals that the Army and Navy Gazette notes with satisfac- , tion the special promotions recently ga--1 zetted. Of t.he divisional commanders, j moted. and their ages, are: Major-Gen-eral Allenby, tile senior, is fifty-three, Major-General Julian Hvnpr is fifty-two, and Major-General Hubert Gough, fortyfour. The last-named lias received special promotion. In the Artillery, Engineers, and Infantry, those specially promoted, and their age, are—Majo'r-Oen-erals Landon and Wilson, fifty-five, "Maj-or-Generals Home and Wing/fifty-three, Major-Generals Sir David Henderson and Bulfin, fifty-two, Major-General TTaldane fifty-one, and Major-Oeneral llimterWeston, fifty All these ollicers, who have been selected for advancement for conspicuous service in the present war, have previous good service to tlieiv! I credit.