1918-04-26 — Page 7

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, APRIL 26mm. 1918.

SIDELIGHTS FROM GERMANY THE COURAGE OF BELGIUM.

SECURING HER STRENGTH FOR

ALL TIME.

UY, CHARLES VINCE T

Belgium is to-day the most distant. Dr. Alfred Lanick's book on Clear- || country in the world; its people the most ness About War Aime," contains much that is interesting on the military mea sures which, in the writer's view, are Decessary for Germany's future security. Dr. Lanick is a writer employed by the Imperial Propaganda Department for the

TOWNSHEND'S KUT.

A BRIGHTER, PLACE,

[FROM EDMUND CANDLER

MESOPOTAMIA

unknown. Faw, oven of Germans then-

Hut when the troops who had taken selves, succeed in surviving the extra Banna-i-yat passed by it, not through it, ordinary sitting and scrutiny of the the day after we forged the passage of the Tigris, was a ruin. A gunboat stopped military authorities, and are allowed to there and an officer and some bluejackets cross the frontier. But one or two writed the Union Jack But the Army by the town which had been our ers who have succeeded in getting in have lodentar for over a year and our ultimats

mind's eye of I MADY.

OFFICERS OLD AND NEW

PROMOTION IN THE ARMY.

head of the War Office; the prejudice, if it exists, is to be found lower down. But it should, for the good of the army, ba overcome, and I believe the chief officers. [BY PROFESSON EPENCER WILKINSON IN THE Bt the War (ffice are anxious to make an end of it. They will welcome the up-

MANCHESTER GUARDIAN."']"

"port of public opinion for the effort.

Two questions have been put to me, which I will answer to the best of my knowledge and judgment. The first re refers to the Higher Command, the second to the officers of the New Artay

"Lord Derby's recent statement hardly seems to me to meet the case. His liac of numbers of the different categories employed in various capacities conveys nothing without the corresponding totals. General Staff and administrative ap- Here is his list of the numbers holding

Enlightenment of Foreign Countries, and told something of the truth when they forgot its existence; we left begin with the second. The country pointments ----

his book has been published by the wall known propaganda publishes, the politi. sche Verlagsanstalt of Leipzig.

Dr. Lanich beging by asserting that should Germany's enemies by unable at the Pence Conference to obtain the con-

were out again and free from the German Press Bureau; the horrible truth of the slave raid was not to be hid; and in unexpected ways we get odd pathetic glimpses of that mysterious and unhappy people, cut off from the rest of the world,

no post

is in the armies at the front a wide-

there; it was not a place to camp in. The has not made the best use of the Terri- gaping houses were stacked with filth, torial and temporary ofcers, and there The fleas that swarmed in the debris thrown out into the street bit one's leg as one passe lenped up and deserted the place. The ents that boldly raided the kitchens daring the siege and took away many a half-starved man's dinner from under the very arms of the

Begulara

∙1,944

210 -149 Ár: 640

159

ditions they desire they will inevitably We know a little of their hopes and their cook had fallen on one another to which I have access is convincing. But comparison with the totals can the pro

Teason it must be Germany's main effort 40 secure a durable peace, and this cari only be done by emerging from, the war stronger than she entered it, stronger

than her enemies, and by taking such steps as will secure her superior strength for all time

MIGHT MUST BE SEQURED,

first

and

RIVERSIDE COLONNADES Thu first thing the young political office, built was an imposing colonnade bazaar along the river Front. He began with a coffee shop and some retail shops which he brought up stream in mahalas (native boats) to make life endurable for the builders, who for a long time were the sole population. He collected skilled masons, then who had been employed by the Germans in the Baghdad Railway buildings and by the Turks in the repair ing of Ezra's tomb 18 years ago. He rebuilt and re-roofed the old búzafiri, widened old strects and built new onny, the Sunni and Shish mos ques, the

spread feeling among these officers that they have not been given the chances that might have been theirs. As to the facts I have no doubt, for the evidence to

as to the causes some consideration is necessary The New Army was an in- provisation. When the war began the

boto France, the Toricommunications et class and promoted according to their

were called

home or to garrison posts abroad, and were raised in enormous humbers. There new troops, both Regular and Territorial,

was a great scarcity of officers, and men of the class from which in peace officers had been drawn came forward in thou sands and received commissions, Terri- torial or temporary. To train the new troops retired officers, who rightly offered their services, were freely employed, This was all more or less inevitable Then after the retreat from Mons and during the struggle to seize and hold the new line between the sea and the for the now divisions. The Regular Somme it was necessary to create staffs officers of the original Expeditionary Force were freely drawn upon for the purpose. By the end of 1915 the staffs in France and elsewhere abroad, and to a great extent the officers in charge of were officers of the old Regular army, or

officers previously retired.

|

HIMROD'S

OFKEA may be mudelig trommyhether ASTHMATINFLUENZA, ERASAL DATARRH, OPT -ORDINARY DOUGH,

meganwill find to this famous remedy. 4 "restoration power than lastopla

Sold in zona bi Sunces a brusatu

CURE FOR ASTHMA

YEATING

POWDER

IT SOMETIMES BAPPERS

817-2

Reserve of Officers Sproial Reserve. New Army Territorial Force Oversea Officers To give this a

this any meaning a third column is required showing the total number of officers of each class; only by portions employed on the Staff be dis covered Lord Derby's top note was How essential at the present moment is the unity of the country !!! All will

least as essential, and it cannat exist until the officers are all put into one

qualifications now not according to their superiority of the Regular officer con

Tho occupations of four years ago.

pists in the more thorough training which he received as a professional soldier before the war began. That advantago will be in his favour in a just system of selectigh and promotion, for no one sug- gesta that the Territorial or ternpurary officer should be preferred to the Re gular. The public wish, and I believe that of the army, is that promotion and selection should depend solely upon the capacity for the duties to be performed in the post to be filled, pens

The first question refers to the higher commands. The fact that come officers not Regulars have attained to general rank proves that the military authorities are not prejudiced 'n regard to the class to which oucers belong. But I think STEAM FOR STRAITS, CEYLON,

BOMBAT, EGTIT, MEDITER BANKAN PORTS AND LONDON.

riches are might; a great population is with the women of the house in which | and repaired baths and ice factor the training establishments at home, that the arrangements, due to the Press

and the flour mill, refitting the old engines

land is might. We must therefore see to It must have been a frank and friendly from which the Turks bad removed the s

eure-as irnch as possible all these forms honest man ready to listen and to be con- ant parts,

night; the possession of iron and coal gions and of abundant agricultural

it at the Peace. Conference that we of power, and that we win them at the expense of our enemies. It must be our ain, to ature this might in such super able to overtake us, and that they will never again entertain the thought that a time may come when they will be able

OF TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.

THE

Sprint Kesting's ever MA

KILLS BUGS

HOWALLEINBEGTE.

PENINSULAR AND

ORIENTAL STEAM NAVIGATION 00.

Tough Bills of Lading Ingrid zən BATAVIA, AMERICAN, CONTINENTAL, AND SOUTH ÁVEICAE PORTE." THE Homeward Mail Steamer, carrying

to attempt the destruction of the Central "Pportunity to point out to them that it hard a few doors off the Arab and, understood that many of them were well early to the war. The attention of the His Majesty's Mail will be despatched:

Powers"!

But Kut ly too important a centre regard a peaes concluded to their discourage, and how they keep these things

alive in their hearts. We know how an be neglected. It is a link between the advantage as inconclusive, and will await Brussels for a time even if no longer Euphrates and Persia. So, in the middle now, the last brave notices of Burgomaster of April, after Kut had ben deserted favourable opportunity when they

Max were preserved mysteriously on the nearly two months, a young political may begin a war with better prospects of hoardings and were still read by the officer arrived with a grant of funds Regular troops were sent us fast as cou'd Agree. But the unity of the army is at destroying the Central Powers. For this trendy by heart. We know, too, how struction thing to do was to clean the people of Brussels, who knew them set about the work of purging and recon they refused to live by the German time, or to speak, or even to understand Ger

place. The debris was dumped out of the man. But in a great town men and houses into the strect; the accumulated women may draw courage and hope and filth was buried and burnt; the barricades renew their sense of nationality from as were pulled down; the dug-outs”, end- mere presence of numbers It must be trenches were filled up. harder for those scattered on the country- to keep alive a hope which there is side little news to feed, and to remember the King, the Government and the Army of The author maintains that trenties

Belgium (still holding the last strip of its country free) when they can hardly alone and unsupported cannot guarantee.

over hear of them, w the security which Germany must have..

One of the odd chances of war has gives The best arrangement is that which ex-us the opportunity to catch a glimpse of tends our military power and possibili-a scene of courage and stendlustness in ties." He proceeds: Might can assume some unknown house in Flanders. We various forms. A strong army is might; owe the thanks for it to a German pri- better internal inilitary organisation woner. It go chanced that a German than that possessed by other Powers is soldier who was captured in one of the might; higher intellectual training and battles of Flanders had recorded in his better technical knowledge are might; diny a talk he had about war and peace he had been billeted. They were an old woman and her daughter of twenty-two,

of improvisation, which I have already debate between them, and the Germen an

described, have been detrimental to the flints and shoals in the middle of

search for special ability among the Territorial and new cfficers, and that the radicted. The two women knew some the Tigris were converted into vegetable thing of war. They had been living so gardens, each with its osier-like screen of close behind the German lines that they liquorice scrub to keep off the driving officers were little appreciated. Not till ordinary gifts and high education was During this period the Territorial importance to the army of men of extra had been moved further back by the sand. The women are now winnowing after the Territorial troops had proved not appreciated in good time. The ablest their value in action did it begin to be men of Oxford and Cambridge all went authorities us the British Army advanced; peacefully in Lynch's old Sera. In a and the Gerinen had evidently taken the

police are being drilled by un qualined and some of them very good authorities was called to them nearly was those wicked English guns which had Arab sergeant to

English words of commers indeed. The temporary ofheers two years ago, and the suggestion made from this port as brual, taking Passenger destroyed their home and that they owel mand their removal into safety to the kindness.

in ruins is a In order to protect ourselves from of the good German authorities. He was bet though still not on, began to show their quality as the that some of them should be given and Cargo for the abord Ports, Passengers and cleaner town. Most of the struggle continued. The position now is opportunities of the best training and of accommodation in the connecting vessel honestly puzzled that they did not, there people are back again behind their old and as for some time been that at the advancement proportionate to the quali-red before departure from Hongkong.

front, in the fighting, the Territorial and fics they should reveal was received with doors which have provided sholter" in

Silk and Valuable Cargo for Italy, France all time-and this will to destroy us will före, hate the English and love the Geturn for British and Turkish dug-outs temporary officers furnish almost all the ready sympathy. But somewhere in the London" (ander arrangement) will be

ans

Strange the

The bazaars are thronged on Sundays leaders, el platoons and companies, The machine there has been obstruction. Bombay and there transmipred to the ponveyed by this Steamer proceeding bo whose hearth and home the English have Nearly 5,000 have returned out of a command of battalion is almost always During the two years many of those to organe in Secon shelled to ruin, who have been evacuated

population of 8,000. And they prosper in the bands of Regulars, and the Staff whom attention was thus drawn have London, he

Marseilles abundant labour for them in posts with rare exceptions are also filled been killed; of those that are still fight- Parcels will be received at the Ofice until to this so much territory as in the allocated to them here"(you can almost the Kutawis will never come back Fight pened is natural in the circumstances temptein on the Staff. I think it would and value of all package arakehared

lives were in danger and have had a housd Kut opinion of our economic authorities will hear the pride in his voice as he dwells including the Sheikh and his sons, the that have been described. But that it be for the good of the army and the For farther particulare, sailing tatas, Fuarantee us our cenomic development on the beneficence of German authorities! Turks hinged by way of reprisal; some should continge would be unfortunate, nation if the chiefs were able to be a apply to These territories must be politically in the bitterness of

spirit which 30 were shot,

The qualifications of a regimental officer Advantageous and compatible with times finds expression in their concern hralthy principle of nationality. For tion are still

that the but the roof and balcony are still pitted with regimental duties, and some power are a suitable character, a familiarity this reason there must be no sort of English will liberate Belgium and will with shrapnel. Seven shell-holes have of dealing with men. These qualities the

hoping bs and timidity at the adoption of measures be able to drive the Germans out! When been plastered over. The memory of the old Regulars usually had. There were which may seem to be temporarily harsh, we expained to the girl that we had held general survives in the nameboards at the exceptions, but these may be treated as a Auch, for example, as the deportation of a our line here for three years, while the corners of the streets. There is Towns whole population. For such measures English had definitely hoped to break hend-rend Delamain rond, Meliss-road, negligible quantity. The same qualities serve to eliminate the possibility of a through our front in 1917 and had only and the names of brave regiments are have been acquired during three years of war by the bulk of the ferritorial and future war, and therefore conform to the run their bead against a brick wall, she recorded in Dorset-road, Norfolk-street, high moral object of a world peace."

new officers, though among them, too, said, shrugging her shoulders, 1017 is Mahratta-row, and the like, until one not over yet. There are four months comes to plain Hai-street. Every associathare my he caption somewhat higher tion in the nomenclature of Kut is glori-mand of a battalion a somewhat begin It is not hard to visualise that socne. ous to the memory of its defenders. grade of power, intelligence, and decision in the Belgian room. The mother look-

are required. The regimental officers of ing on the solid German soldier pre- But the thing in which folk at home the old tray are not distinguishable in senting his ananswerable arguments, and will be most interested is the cemeterytorial and new forces. But circumstances these qualities from those of the Terri- the girl with her frank" the English will free Belgium and will drive you Germans who fought and endured here, so staunchly The long-drawn agony of the garrison out"; and then her shrug and 1917 ju to the edge of starvation makes the most into the commands and left the others in not over yet and, last of all, the Ger- tragic story in our military history subordinate posts, with the result that man shaking his head and turning away One thousand seven hundred and forty not infrequently the subordinate arc in amazement at a folly which no Cernan six British and Indians died of wounds superior in intelligence adaptability, can understand.

and disease between December 4th and and power of dealing with men to their In that little scene you really have the

April 28th (in the siege) commanding officers, whs have been ad- In its physical aspect their resting place vanced not because they were better men is an uninspiring scene, a redid held or better officers, but because they were enclosed by a mud wall with a few stars id Regulars, and because it was assumed palms in its, and the hueles desolation that a Regular officer must be better than all round-that is Mesopotamia. The Turks, dug fire trenches all along the doubt in theory that might be the case

Territorial or temporary officer. No. walls, but they respected the graves. Volunteer parties of bluejackets from for dozen years, and Regular offers Bat the Regular army had been at peace

The following passage is interesting

the destructive will of our enemies for exist in the future-we must. Gest-of all frontiers, which inc extensions of our in the opinion of our nnyal and military experts are necessary

these

het for our security Further, wo anust add by the German authorities because their for there ghbourhood. But some of by Regulars that this should baye hap.ng the most brilliant is at this moment the day before sailing The contenta

A WESTERN MARCH ON THE CHANNEL. After this prologue Dr. Lanick asks: "What territories come into considera tion either for the purpose of frontier regulation or for purposes of annexa tion The final answer can only be given by a responsible Government, which is in the best position to weigh advantages and disadvantages, and which has experts nt its disposal. But we can nevertheless express desires, and it is expected that at the Peace Conference these, desires will

be found to be those also of our respon

sible statesmen,

識

more

its

Townshend's hono has been repaired,

BRITISH GRAVES IN GOOD ORDER.

have put the one class almost invariably

a

little more insistent in the search for brilliant careers to fight for the country, power among the men who gave up who by now have become inured to the business of war, and of whom some have the force of character and the power of mind that have marked the best leaders of past time

EVD FARR

Superiatudent,

NOW READY.

THE

DIRECTORY

AND

CHRONICLE

The public at home and all those who watch the war with the fervent desire for victory are eager to support the leaders we have, civil and military. But the leaders must give the public a little more of their confidence. We were told the other day that at Cambrai there was a the Headquarters nor the Array Com- breakdown, but that no one, either

That was mysterious. It would hate CHINA, JAPAN, STRAITS BETTLE mand for the troops could be blamed. been simpler to have explained how the

MENTS, INDO OHINA. PHILIPPINES, ETC.

so fortunate as to have been told by one breakdown came about. I have been who was present exactly what occurred That known, the official statement be comes intelligible. But evidently I and not free to publish what the Government thinks must be kept secret. To my mind

be simpler and would have secured for the appeal made for confidenes but ae-

a plain statement of the facts would have

the Government a heartier support than

picture of Germany a tailure, as who can conquer a people but cannot under First of all, we wish to sco stand it; she who must go through the Western march on the Channel under world in that, add darkances of her own Lerman protection, not an independent self-evident to her is hidden from every Belgium which would again be in a ono ölse; puzzling even when she meets #position to become an advanced military in others that love of country which is

work for our enemies. We must hold the pride of her own people. SANG BERT passing gunboats have landed and trim of five or ten years service went into the companied by reticence... Verdun, Belfort, and the entire fortress And in that unnamed Belgian girlmed these mounds of earth, which are casin of Eastern France, we must hold with her steadfast hope and her ready this firmly in our possession as the best answer, you have a figure of real heroin, guarantee against the everlasting disa figure which (like the puzzled German et which has characterised, warlike soldier) stands for something more than Franco ever since the time of Cæsar.

Her name is unknown, nor does The military situation at the end of the war will show us whether euch demands can be put forward. Here we are only dealing with what we wish, and what is absolutely necessary for us."

THE EASTERN FRONTIER

It is interesting to compare Dr Lanick's views about an arrangement, on the Eastern frontier with the peace com ditions as formulated by Herr von Kühlmann. He writes: "A satisfied Poland would be more desirable than one that is dissatisfied, and the extension of the Baltic march to Lake Foipus means a larger territorial extension than a frontier on the Windau or Dvina. The military situation at the end of the war will decide this,

Chir military and political experts must decide whether we shall now annex what is necessary for the maintenance of our food supplies, or whether we must wait for a future war to secure the land we want. The same idea, must dominate us everywhere in the West with refer.

it greatly matter, for she is something more than a mers personality. Yet for is called. It is that British soldiers one reason only would we know how the might go into battle with her name upon their lips feeling her confidence in thers feeling that she was calling to them to free Belgium even though it must be across the ruins of her own home.

BIG GUN 79 FEET LONG. A dispatch to the Times from British Headquarters in the West says the new gun with which the Germans are bom barding Paris is believed to be 78 fout long and is probable capable of firing from 200 to 300 rounds without lose of seven, of these guns existed in January. ecourney. It is stated that four, perhaps

DEPORTATION;

$

འཐ་

clean cut and defined now as in a hone churchyard. A brick wall is being built round the enclosure

The place is grassless. But grass will come in spring The sombre aspect of the cemetery will disappear when Water is brought on to the land and the scrub stature and shade. palms are fertilized and increase in

Three miles below Kut is the only enemy relic in the neighbourhood an obelisk put up by the Turks in commemoration of the fall of Kut. It is a kind of Cleopatra's Needle on a square plinth, all kiln-dried brick ond plastered over; an old con verted British cow-gun stands as a trophy on each side.

One of the guns had tumbled forward, the plaster and brick monument was still volled when I passed are already mouldering, and though the down stream in Jupe the canvas sheeting. was ultimately blown away by the wind.

their Territorial or temporary comrades. The probability was therefore that after war with no more experience of war than

three years of war a percentage of Territorial or temporary officers would be in every pespect, the equal of their Regular comrades, and that a percentage of Regular officers would be below the general average of their own or the other. classes. A determined attempt to secure the best men for promotion would ignore the accident of the various classes Regular, Territorial, mporary and would look for personal qualities and attainments without regard to these labels: The moment that plan is adopted there will be a great splifting of the spirit of the army.

"THE" STAFF' POSTS. The qualifications for staff duties are different froin those for regimental work, They imply much that is not picked up

GRAND DUCHESS OF LUXEMBURG regimentul life, and has to be learned REJECTS PRUSSIAN PRINCES either by study or by experience on the staff. Only a small percentage of Be Inhabitants of Luxemburg, including gular officers had had the training for two Judges, and also several Swiss these tasks, and of the remainder not by tradesmen, who have arrived in Zurich, any meang all had the necessary quali declare that the refusal of the young fcations. There were among the Terri- Dr. Lanick asks his readers, not to be Duchess of Luxemburg to accept a torials and temporary officers many ence to our coal and iron supplies, inbring with them the hatred of the annex-

frightened at the idea that annexatione Prussian Prince as a husband continues whose experience in other walks of life the East with reference to our food sued populations, or that this hatred may royal circles. Nearly every three months Bed them to learn quickly all that a staff to cause the greatest irritation in Berlin or whos, high education specially quali- plies. All other considerations must be thrust to one side. If we do not secure bring about a new war. His answer is a new Prince is sent down to Luxem. officer needs to know. But the staff posts what we want now we shall be rendered thoroughly characteristic of the Prussian burg and the Duchess is obliged to were almost always kept for Regular defenceless in a coming war, and the spirit: “In order to avoid the danger of receive him. The Grand Duchess of Luxem- officers, and if new officers were attached German nation will be left at the mercy future war the populations of annexeti burg, now 24 years of age, the most to stalls they were set to minor tasks of its enemies. The more mighty we are provinces hostile to us should be deport beautiful of six beautiful sister not suitable for developing their powerd. at the peace the greater will be oured, and this on a large scale. Even in succeeded her father in 1912. All the There was little selection. When a co12- ability to compel our enemies to give as the case of a German protectorate the sisters were educated by French gover-manding officer was asked to recommend all that we desire for the weal of right to deport hostile populations must nesses. It is said that when the Kaiser an officer for staff work he would too humanity. For we know that peace is be maintained. If we have reason to passed through Luxemburg, a fortnight often recommend, not his best officer, but mcure, so long as power dwells in German believe that the annexed population will after the German Army had invaded the the one whom he could meet easily spare, oppose us in a future war we must not country, and called to pay his respects, These are unfortunate consequences of tolerate their existence either in the Maria Adelaide, the Grand Duchess, de improvisation. They are not the result Empire or on the frontiers."

clined to receive him..

of prejudice among the officers at the

hands":

(Continued at foot of new Column.);

1918

FIFTY-SIXTH ANNUAL ISSUE.

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