WAR NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1916, Page 12

WAR NOTES.

CLEMENCEAJU'S PREDICTION.

KAISER AND PEACE TERMS,

Vancouver, November 25. A cable from Paris reports that M. Clemenceau, ex-Premier of France, stated in an interview that when the Kaiser reaches Constantinople lie will propose terms, but will not try to impose them. He will halt midway between Riga and Bagdad, and say to the Allies: "It is not this that I want; 'but will these terms suit you?" "Tiie reply of the Allied nations will be," the 'French statesman said: '"We do not want terms, and we will never accept them from your people. Feeling that we have a decisive superiority, we 'shall endure indefiintely, and shall continue until we break your resistance. Something tells us that we will get you in the end."' FIGHTING FOR RUSSIA. TOUNG ENGLISHMAN WHO ROSE FROM THE RANKS. While the British public is applauding the deeds of daring and fortitude that its sons have been performing in all quarters of the globe during this war it should be of interest to them to know (says the Times' Petrograd correspondent) that one modest boy of English blood has been upholding in the Russian army the traditions of services which ire daily being vindicated in Flanders !nd in the Dardanelles. When the outbreak of war let loose tha tide of carnage in Europe young John Wilton, then a frail boy of 17. secured 'by special permission of the Czar the right to serve in the ranks of one of the famous regiments of the Petrograd Guards. Early in October he joined his regiment at the front, and became one of the mounted scouts. Foi six months he took part in practically every .big battle in which the famom •orps was engaged, and these battles have been practically continuous. He was with the party of scouts whicl jonetrated to the nearest point to Cra row, and was at one time within eight miles of t|he city. Young Wilton's record was such tha! «iter six months of service he was pro noted and became an ensign. His ac Vivities came repeatedly to the attention if the commanding officer of his rcgi -tont, and at the end of five month* m was in command of the mountci' jcouts of the regiment, and since becom mg an officer he has twice been recom mended for decorations for service ii> ( the field. His latest feat was withdrawing fron under a heavy fire his command o' ?oouts which had been ambushed by a squadron of German cavalry. The younr officer conducted this operation so skil fully that he extricated his commain 1 with the loss of only one man.

He has become well known in his re liment, and the example of the younp Englishman rising from the ranks in six 'nonths and twice distinguishng himseli n an officer in the next six months ha' lapsed much favorable comment amonp the Russian officers.

A BIG MOUTHFUL. In the fighting near Loos recently supports were constantly meeting our iwounded struggling back to the advanc ed dressing stations. On one occasion it-he advancing troops encountered a Isadly battered warrior, whose face was the color of a half-ripe orange. His spirit was unbroken, however, as he greeted the supports with; "Buck up, boys! There is no more gas. We've swallowed the lot." We can well feel proud of our fighters, and their fine spirit is a real barometer. They have come into contact with the enemy, and have satisfied themselves of our superiority as fighters.

KING WHO WEARS A COAT OF MAIL.

Rome, October 13. Accusing to a Bucharest telegram to the newspapers, the Kaiser recently sent King Ferdinand a magnificent armored car for his persona! use and to protect Mm against any attempts on his life. It is said that the King always wears a thick coat of steel mail, and that even his military cap has a steel lining. His apartment is a veritable fort. The doors are made of steel, and a number of secret signals to give the alarm in case of peril have been arranged. FRENCH LONG STOCKING. In a careful review of France's present economic situation, M. EMmond Thery, the well-known financial authority, declares that the outlook is very satisfactory. He shows that the available monetary assets are actually greater than at the beginning of 1914. The war debt of France totals a little over £300,000,000, compared with Austria-Germany's war debt of £2,040,300,000. A remarkable feature of the French war debt f s the amount subscribed by the public to the Bonds and Obligations of National Defence, £404, i 400,000. A considerable revival of commercial activity, too, is evident, as shown hy the increase in the yield from indirect taxes and State monopolies, which were respectively £2,700,000 and £3,900,000 more in August and September last than in the first two months of the war. In spite of the occupation of ten departments by the enemy, the total yield for the first nine months of 1915 was £82,200,000, or only 23 per cent, less than for the 'corresponding period of 1918. Foreign exports, teo. have im»rmd