ROUMANIA'S ATTITUDE.
TRAVELLER'S STORY OF THE
NEAR EAST.
The disclosures of the traveller who tea- velled to. Constantinople and through enemy countries in the Near East have been published in the Daily Mail,
Ho tell how closely he was watched in the Ottoman capital, German secret wer- vice agents searched his papers at his hotel, and he determined to leave as quick- ly as possible.
The Press published the news that the Kaiser was going to Belgrado, and tho tra veller describes how be managed to secure an invitation to the Royal banquet at Nisb He saw Halil Boy, President of the Coun bil of State, and explained that he desired the honour of seeing the All-Highest Halil was in such high spirits over the ovacuation of Gallipoli," he says, that he gave me a letter to the Trefeet of Police at Stamboul. The profect told me that the only way to journey to Belgrade was on a Geman military train. 1 mentioned my Laterview with Enver Pasha, and asked hi to facilitate my mavements. The pre Feet replied that he would sen if it was possible, and naked me to tease my pass port, and call again in the morning." With much trepidation I did so, and was given a passport permitting me to travel on a military train.
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN,
"As the train approached Nish a Ger ma non-commissioned other inked out of the window and cxelamed. Our Kaise is here.'
1 was marked.y uncomfortable al the banquet, even more so than the Kaiser with his awful cough, for if the secret service men around the monarch had recog med me and I had been in the Near East before there would have been a short and simple corssony at the Town Hall, I play ing the principal partTM
During my journey in the military train I noticed the wonderful work that the Germans had done in repairing broken railway bridges in Sertin, thus facilitat ing the speediest traffic to Costantinople Blown-up tunnels had been completely rostored. Evidences of the Sorbian re treat wore visible on the broken bridges, the remains of dead horses, the careful Toutons having skinned the carcases for
the leather.
"I heard Frequently that the Germans intended to disguise the Bulgarians in German uniforms in the event of their invasion of Greece, and 1 gaw moÚTBO quantities of uniforms at Nish
But I am not convinced that the Ger mans will attack Salonika. They heartily respect General Sarrail, whose wonderful work at Verdun kept the Germans off.
"The Turks do not want the Salonika invasion. They are entrenched to the south of Adrianople, and fear an Allied attack north-west of Constantinople.
"I passed four peaceful days in Rou kanis," The Alies owe much to that Gov ernment's strictuess in preventing food and coal and other necessities from entering Austria and Turkey. I wont to the Casino de Paris, in Bucharest, on the second night I was there, and a party of Germans, when the band played the Mas seillaise, offered the handmaster 20 marks to pln. Die Wacht am Rhine, The band master was willing to agree, bus pointed ne that not only would the musicians do cline, but if he played it he would not answer for the consequences,
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PEACE BALLOONS.
NEW DEVICE OF THE GERMAN
ANTI-WAR PÁRTYÁ
Tho anti-war section of the German So- oialist party, acting in conjunction with supporters and sympathisers in three adjoining neutral countries, has adopted a novel method of conducting its propaganda in favour of the speedy termination of the war. A large number, atready amounting to several thousand, of tiny balloons,
specially constructed for the purpose, hare been bought to convoy anti-war literature from neutral territory across the German frontier to any point within Germang at which they may come to ground, Two sizes of balloons have been made; the larger is 5ft, in height, and ift. in diameter, the smaller fit. in height and 3it, in diameter. To each balloon, is attached a wicker cago containing anti-war manifestos in German, addressed simply to tho e into whose hands they fall.
THE HONGKONG DAILY FRÍIS, FRIDAY MARCH 10m, 1916.
FOREIGN OFFICE HAMPERS!
THE FLEET.
WHY GERMANY GETS GOODS.
[BY CLAUD MULLINS.]
EUROPEAN PEACE AFTER THE WAR.
FINAL GROUPING OF POWERS AS THE BEST НОРБ.
There has been much speculation as to what is to happen in Europe after the war, And to the National Liberal Club Political and Economic Circle, recently, Professur
During the last few months the Press has tocmed with articles about Sea Power. That is certainly to the good, for, what. T. Hebhouse delivered an address on ever be the ultimate destination of tho
Kaiser, our future undoubtedly lice upon
the waters, so it is well that we should consider the vital probleme of Sea Power.
Five yours before this war broke out the nations of the world met in Londen and evolved a Declaration of London-a code of law, party new and partly old to which all nationg should conform if war ever came. War was to be conducted on the lines of a High Court action.
One of the things that this Declaration of London did was to make three lists of goods. The first of these contained those goods which were obviously contraband of war-goods, that is, which one belligerent is entitled to capture if on their way to the enemy. Thia Est included, of course, guns, munitions, and so on. Then me a list of goods "susceptible of use in war as well as for purposes of peace," and these were called "conditionat contra band." Finally cane the free Est containing a number of goods which “may not be declared contraband of war" and
When the wind blows from the south.or south-west the balloons are released from certai places in Switzerland; when it blows from the west, from plness in Hol- tand; wher from the aorth-west, from Holland and Denmark; and when from the north, from Denmark only, In all these cases there is a strong probability that the balloons will alight somewhere in Germany; the larger ones are intended to penetrate farther inland the smaller ones to drop newrer the frontier. In this way all the dangers and difficulties of smuggling sedi-therefore noe, stopped at sea. tious publications across the German fron- tigi are avoided, and although many of the balloons doubtless ge astray and drop pre- maturely in neutral territory or on lonely spots in Germany where as one finds them or into the hands of Gerinan authorities,† hopes are nevertheless entertained that n considerate number will achieve their ob-
ject,
The trufets deal with many war ques thins Souce, of them reveal the guilt of the German Government in boginning the war; others emphasise the huge lovies suf- fored by the Germen.armios; others, again, describe the utter failure of Germany's efforts to blockade Great Britain by sub.
marines and to crush the. Allins and con-
quer the greater part of Europe. They áre written in simple, trenchant language, and the auļlias liave not minced their words
This free ist" was an innovation. Although this Dicaration of London never becauis part of the Law of Nations Tour House of Lords searched it in Decea ber, 1911) the British Gayormeng yo,un- tarily adopted it when war broke out. August -20, 1914, big anjeay, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, was pleased to order that the Declaration should be adopted. So adopted was Neither his Majesty vor cha Privy Counci was really responsible for this order-but auch is our Constitutional machinery. The Declaration of London because the Law of the Seas-at least, it became our law, for
Cermany had long ago announced that se would not be bound by it if it became in convenient,
When ordering the enforcement of this Declaration our Ministors tinkered with the contraband lists which had been go denouncing the way and the Gov-atoriously prepared (Article 65 of the erament which started it. The arrauge-
Declaration stated that the provisions of ments made to release the balloons have
the Declaration were "an indivisible been carefully concealed from the Swiss,
whole." But let that pass.) In all twe Dutel, and Danish authorities respective Orders in Council and eight Proclamations ly, as all the three Governments would re-
have been issued to change these lists. gard the use of their territory for this pur- pose as a serious breach of neutrality, and severe measures would be taken against the offenders-Swiss Correspondent,
in pursuance of the Daily Mail's instruc ties to discover German plans in the Near and Middle East. I was able to speak German fluently," he says, "and that enabled me to mingle with whole tribes of Germans ea route to Asia Minor. The German wilitary plans are three-First. Bagdad, Persis, and India; second, the Caucasus; and third, Egypt and the Suez Conal
The point that principally interests the public is whether by observing these lists
the creation of the Declaration of Lon- den-we are making the Navy allow Ger- many to get goods which the Navy could keep out.
THE CASE OF COPRA
K
In pasing, I must note that although Sir John Sunon has said that the Declara tion of London is not a binding document on any of the nations," and Sir Edward Grey has added that it possesses no force," nevertheless the existence of these liste shows very cleanly that, in popular
there is language,
life in the al dog
yet.
"The Romanian Parliament," proceeds the traveller. is thoroughly pro-Ally, ospecially pro-French, and particularly Dates Austria-Hungary. The whole of the again te ate at Bagdad. We were fright cover scientists. They once at ini ting
Roumanian army is crazy for war. The closed blinds of railway carriages i dicated the military preparations that were going on. Officers were dissatisfied with the Allied progress, but are firm be livers in the eventual victory of our side, and assured me that no influence and -pressure would induce them to join the
Centra). Foxers
The newspapers publish much French and Italian hemy news, and the British- Government ought to emulate these coun tries in the distributiin of such news,
OVERRUN WITH SPIES. "Roumania is overrun with German apies and German are publishing many of the Roumanian newspapers, Bribery is rife, the Germans exaggerating the mishaps of the Allies, and pointing out the hopelestess of their cause Their chick
there is the failure at the Dardanolles; while I was there I could feel that this effect of the British defeats and tho, with- drawal was bad. Nevertheless, the Ron- manians are good judges of the Prussian character, and would sooner fight to the last oun than subunit to Prussian des- potism,
"Bulgaria's attitude towards the Allies is the most difficult to analyse, The ma- jority of the people are not cordial to Turkey and Germany, and the politicians ora frightened or, probably, bought. Yet I found no symptoms of affection for Great Britain. The people know nothing of our country. They do understand Ger- many, thanks to indefatigable German nowspaper work teaching in the schools, and biograph exhibitions,
The Bulgarian train had the windows painted white in order to prevent passen. gers looking out. Sofia is practically a German city. Swaggering German officers wore to be seen everywhere, and the sea- pation is as firmly established as it is in Constantinople.
A German said to me. If the British and French only knew, the Ger- mans can best be attacked at Nieuport. in Belgium, and at Mulhausen in Alsace. But ewing to inferior staff work and lack of munitions they do not attack.'
“A Turk told me The English were
oned when we heard they were coming. Our defences wore bad, and we had only & few guns, but our spies told us that General Townshend's force was small, and we took courage and checked them until rein #cel, will never reach the Holy City.
Now, thanks to Allah, they 'The relief force will be too late.
We profos to make contraband all ma sives," and there is a long contraband list terials used in the manufacture of exple-
oto mounknown and unpronounce names, including toluol, whatever that may he. But the Gormars are nothing if net
substitutes-glycerine from capra, and perhaps bread from newspapers, or pig food out of the bath water. If we keep out one articlo they make what they want out of something else.
Take copra as a care la point. Copra is the dried fruit of the cogo-nut. From it oil and oil-cake are produced; the fibre The Turks wish to get the Suez Canal of the nut is used for making ropes and Turkish sentitzent, combined with the Ger the shell for fuel. From copra can coine man batred of England, desins animate. also, I am told, glycerine, one of the in- dite advance on the Canal. Englishuengredients for making explosives, Why think this is bluff. My opinion is that should our Navy be ordered to les copra unless there are great combined efforts on
pass through to Germany? the western front and in the Caucasus this Turko-Germans may achieve their chjects, The determining factors are the British naval pressure and a greater activity on tło western and eastern fronts,
"Whatever may be the result of the war, the Germans are getting such a hold in the Near East, that it will ho impossible
to drive them out.
"I travelled by the Bagdad railway from the palatial Gorman Haiza Pasha station, which is the starting place of all the great Gorman adventures in the East, The station was spotlessly clean. The time. tables were printed in German. No foot was available, the only refreshments ob- tainable being an unlimited supply of Ger. man beer produced at a local German brewery.
TYPICAL GERMANS.
invasion of the East. Two Hamburg mor- "The passengers typified the Gezinan chants, who were going to bring back Per- sian, products, were specially anxious about copper. Their conversation ndicat ed a Hamburgian fury against England Among the other passengers were Ceruan commercial travellers, German engineers, Geraas military men, and Geriana evil servants It was a remarkable demonstras tion of pan-Germanism.
The
To make proper list of contraband is not a lawyer's job. Surely the Govern. ment should appoint a committes of scien- tific experts to draw up a list of every conceivable cotamodity which Gormany
can use.
Sir William Raming has recently stated in that the necessity for proventing oils and fats frem getting through to Germany ja just as urgent, as was the stopping of her, cotton supply. We must stop all kinds of seeds, oils, and fat; all substances, in fact, waich yield glycerine." A list can be drawn up by our soientists to in- clude every commodity which can help er. strongthen our enemies. Let that list be prepared. Let every article in it be made full contraband of war, regardless of whe
ther, such articles are at present on the list of conditions) contrabandor ou the free list. By doing this we should give the Navy the legal right to exclude these articles from Germany. At present the Order in Council of March does pro- fess to "prevent commodities of any kind from reaching or leaving Germany But Article III (which deals with neutraj in ports) is of doubtful legality and is no being fully enforced. Unless our lists of contraband are made complete Germany will continue to supply herself through neutral countries,
AT EXPLANATION NEEDED,
By thus extending our lists of contra- band all this pother about the trade agree ments with Holland and Denmark will be of little importance. That they are not on Copenhagen. Once lay down that effective, as matters stand, is clearly shown by Mr. Basil Clarke's startling articles everything essential to our enemies shall bo absolue contraband, there need then be no fear of the exports to Germany, from neutral countries, because neutral coun tries will not get any contraband goods through our Fleet that are not for their bome consumption
"Everywhere on the railroad there was "In Turkey the Germans bribed the
a general atmosphere of activity. Arab chiefs to fight against the Allies
long traing were ful of new railway and telegraph material, lines, small bridges, with gifts of money. jewellery horse, and and new loenatives. Plodding Prussians Circassian girls. In Bulgaria the wils German handed over to the treacherous Bal prodded their Turkish slaves into unpre gan all the Serbian loot. This stuff is to think, as the Turkish authorities believe, cedented activity, and is impossible to be seen everywhere. The system of bribery that they wit ever shake off the yoke. i effectual. The Bugarinn sna Gorman elkoers fraternise, and German soldiers I saw a huge quantity of light rolling and Bulgar girls are to be seen sweetheart-construction of light desert, railway to stock, and was assured that it was for the
ing.
"There is no sugs in Bulgaria, but convey the Turks and Germans to the Suez Canal I was also informed that the com. tickets are given out for: black, broM),
bined Turko German aray at Aleppo nun. There is a shortage of coal, and already bored 90,000, and that General von der the inhabitanta are feeling a dezren of Goltz was at Bagdad, with a young stuff.
To those who have spent years in the reverte under their German mestors Constantinople gays that the old man is
enervating atmosphere of the Declaration the feelings of the people were politically merely a figurehead, but he was extremely of London it may come as a shook that any- fomented the result, would be diesengine popular, At Konia, I thought it advigable body, let alone a lawyer, should dare to despite German cajolery and gifts and
to run no further risks, and so I returned suggest making all essential commodities promises"
I saw 300 French contraband. But Isubmit that that would prisoners at Kenia They were totally be fully-in-accordance with the Common neglected, had little food, and wore dying Law of Nations. Whatever subtleties faw liko ies. The sanitary conditions. wers.
yers and diplomats any evolve, the fact remains that, to quote my legal lexicon, indescribable"
ON THE DAGDAD RAILWAY.
In another article the traveller says that the most dangerous part of his work was- when travelling on the Bagdad Railway
The Future of Internationalism," which, surveyed the field of these, views,
It way, he said, a tenable proposition that there might be no future to interna tionalism, bug is it and European civilis tion were bound up together he refused to entertain that gloomy prospect.
But it was certain that we should not get a world unity on the lines of Bright and Cobde and it was equally evident that most of the plans of the pacifists in the direction of arbitration would not meet the case,
They would have to ask themselves, what js n guarantee, and who will guarantee the guarantors The most disastrous result of The war was that the standard of good faith bad gone down, coinage had beoni de.. based, and we could not assume that es. gagements made would be carried out. I we were to save internationalism we must look to some form of·confederation of States and political unity; but Germany was the stumbling block to a European federation. It seemed impossible that we could join hands with our chif enemy in a great cor- Tederation,
JAVA-CHINA JAPAN LIJN
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The Steamers are all flsted throughout with Electrio Light and have socommodation for
a limited number of Saloon Pamangera, All starmers carry a duly qualified surgeon. 'Carge' taken at through ratan to all ports in Netherlands Indis and Avatralia."
For Pariseniors of Freight and Prenga, spply to the
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The best hope for the future peace of JAVA, MAKASSAR, MANILA, HONGKONG & SAN FRANCISCO, the world in his opinion lay in the final grouping of the Powers such as Europa bad been netually following for the last 30 or 40 years. When a clash, came it was bound to be a catastrophe on a large scale, but on the other hand, just as in Parlia men, there was a better understanding and more stable condition when two great par ties were opposed so with all the great Powers in Europe ranged on one side or the ather we might get longer periods of pence and more facilities for negotiation (han in the anarchis conditions of the past, and it was possible that if we went on working our way through the grouping of sations we might reach the smooth waters of a pacific internationalism,
TYRANNY IN BULGARIA.
ELECTION UNDER REIGN OF
TERROR.
Very reliable information from Sofa says that on the vote in the Sobranje for the war credit for five hundred million francs the United Socialist party abstain. ed
The Marxist Bocialist voted against
it, Radoslav If obtained a majority by the assistangs of the Stamboloflist Party. The split in the lat or party, however, co tinues, and no reconciliation took place be tween the two leaders, MM. Chenadieff and Pethoff. The former is now a partisan for pence with the Allies, on the basis of keeping the present territor al acquisitions, While M, Petkoff, always Austrophile, is in favour of the prosecution of the war,
the Agrarian party, the man who threaten- M, Alexander Stamboliski, the leader of
ed King Ferdinand in his palace before the war was deposed from his office as a deputy, and condemned to twenty years'
imprisonment. While being taken under. escort to Philippopolis to be interned ho followers. Ho wa), however, retaken, and tried to escape, assisted by a group of his
four of his frienda were killed in the fray that ensued.
M. Stamboliški was deputy for Sbumba, and in the by-election that was held to f the vacancy_nans of M. Stamboliski's followers wore allowed to vote. The eloc- tion was bold under a reign of terror, and M. Atharassoff, M, Radoslavoff's nomince, was elected.
The samo methods were followed in the Gumuldjina by-election to fill the vacancy left by the assassination of Mehmet Pasha, an opponent of the Young Turks in the Bulgarina Parliament. The Turkish elco- torate for there are no Bulgarians in Gomuldjina-were forced, under threats of death to vote for a Bulgarian nominat ed by M Radoslavoff All through Bul- garis one sees the military domination spreading, abolishing all individual liberty and suppressing the existence of parties opposed to King Ferdinand's policy- Daily Telegraph,
everything that may be made directly available for hostile purposes" can pro- perly and legally be under contraband. Limitations placed upon this principle in the days of professional armies and before the times of bureaucratic control over everybody should have no bearing in these days of nations in arms and national or
In Germany the ganisation at home. whole nation is organised to fight as.. Therefore anything that is essential to any German can, and should, be unde contra band,
It seems strange that such a plea as this should be advanced in the eighteenth mouth of war. But let bygones be by gones-till the political trucs enda. If the Government will not enlist the help of scientists in the preparation of lists of commodities which are essential to Gor many, let our scientists come forward an
use officially and tell us exactly what goods that are not yet contraband are of essential
to our enemies Then let the Foreign Office explain what reasons there are, if: any, why these goods should not be made absolute contraband an
The public has to play the role of on- looker in this great war. But surely it is entitled at least to an explanation of the policy pursued in its name. I should be very sorry to see this question of con- traband made the subject of political electioneering or intrigue. But the only way to avoid that is for car ruler to take the public into their confidence and ex- plain why we do not Pies of any kind from reaching Germany. And if there is no real reason, let my dor it at once, however later we may be Daily Mail,
KARIMOEN
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9th March. 13th March. SAN FRANCIS O
7th April 11th April
12th May.
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For Particulars of Freight and Faunge, apply toʻ
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THE
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VESSELS EXPECTED.
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