WAR MOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1917, Page 8

WAR MOTES.

THE KING OF MONTENEGRO. The visit of the King of Montenegro to the British front on the Somme early in November is described by Mr. l'ercivaf Gibbon. Old now, his tiny kingdom overrun by his big and gluttonous neighbor, Nicholas, of the Black Mountain, preserves still that tine loftiness of demeanor which was his. in the days when lie administered justice in person before his palace in Cettinge. The title "majesty" is something more than a. courtly convention when applied to him; the habit of power and Royal precedence is in his every gesture and tone; and the tall of warrior-chieftain, grizzled, with his eagle-beak and still bhuk eyes, wearing the costume which his mountaineers have made glorious as a uniform, is not a figure that could pass unremarked anywhere. The King was greatly impressed by what he saw of the great organisation of power—the unbelievable guns, the spate of munitions which Hows towards the battelies, the vast accumulation of magnilicent manhood. The time at his disposal was short, but to all with whom he came into contact he expressed his wonder and his admiration of the great effort which is. still growing upon the Somme. Before leaving, his Majesty utilised his last moments in the war zone in a manner which those who knew him best describe as entirely characteristic of him. He enquired for the church. There was one near by, and thither the old King went, to oiler up prayers for the success of the British arms. THE MARK OF Tlltf BEAST. Discussing the deportations from Belgium, the New York Tribune said: "The true meaning of this jlelgian episode is ilint there can he iv> nonce while 'he spirit which is responsible for it dominates Germany. Europe cannot make peace with such st.it. sicni-hiii of iiiirdcr as rules in Berlnr. 'IV do this would be to recognise the tpir't itself. A ")','• villace miaht. as weli make terms with a man-oatin» I iger, which hy night preyed upon its children, as could France for example, make peace with n nei'jlihnriiig Germany' in its present mood. Belgium is the sign mamui'. o" Germany. Whenever the world needs a fresh illustration of what the German kiiltur and German spirit mean, it is supplied in Belgium, and furnished by the agents of the Kaiser. There can he no peace, there can be nothing but the systematic slaughter of Germans along all the fronts until this German spirit sinks of its own weight. No one can went iiee.ee enough to surrender Belgium for all time to the beasts who now occupy it. or to the beastliness which Germany practices there and elsewhere when it ideases a Gorman purpose. We are not appreciably nearer to peace, despite all ■h- .'--;■■' -f blond that have been she? and the millions that haw suH'erod. he-■an-e no peace with this thing is eon'civ,:ii!e; it must perish or civilisation must perish. Belgium is the sea sand n which ever and again Ihe world sees the hoof mark of tlie Gerinan brute. It is the German who scuds the peacemakers hack to their trenches to kill more Germans, because even for them I here seems no other way to v. in peace." ANGRY HUNGARY. The fact that the German peace proposals are said to have followed on suggestions made by Count Bnrian. the Austi-n-Hungarian Fop-ieu Minister, gives a special interest to an article in the November number of the Forti nightly Review on ''The Ausiro-Hungar- ' inn Army.'' The writer of il. Joseph Szcbetiyci. states that lh.> Ausivo-Tl'tm-garian army is seething with dissatisfaction and disunion. The cause of this unrest is to be found in Hie racial differences which divide the vaiinus constituents of the army. H h "a lietert geneous mass of irreconcilable elements.'' Austrians and Hungarians have always hated each other, while the vaiions Slav races in the monarchy haled them both; nd the war has not changed these sentiments. While the proportions among the men in the ranks of the army are 70 per cent. Hungarian; and 30 per cent Austrians, among the officers the iroporrions arc reversed. 05 'per cent, being Austrians. These facts, in conjunction with the fact that the Austrian '.oiicy is not to allow Hungarian otlicers to serve in Hungarian regiments (so as to render a possible revolution less likely) have caused uu.di anger in Hungary.' Up to February 1, 1011), the ■'■'■ •in-lru-Hmitrariuii casualties were 4,052,700, to which must be added 200.000 deaths from disease. In addition, the recent terrible losses during the ltiiiu' au'i'nst Italy ami the Russian offensive of June and July, represent I least another 50i1.0W). "'i he writer ulds that the Austro-Hungt.ihiu armies at the variotis fronts and in training ••tuber three m'llion men. In addition there are perlmps one million engaged on various duties in the nar of the •ightiug line. ami on garrison duty. liese include the last ic'ies of men •fom 43 to .50 years of age.