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100 Years Ago | 9 October 1918

On this day a century ago, these were some of the news items The Statesman readers got to read about India and the world.

100 Years Ago | 9 October 1918

OCCASIONAL NOTE

“Auntie Voss” is usually well informed as to mattes connected with the Berlin Foreign Office, and if she announces that Count Hertling and Admiral von Hintze have resigned there is a certain presumption, always allowing for the German inclination to lie, that the right nail has been hit on the head. The changes in the German Foreign Office are becoming as bewildering and as frequent as the revolutions in a Central American republic. It is less than three months since Von Kuehlmann received his conge for hinting, as tactfully as he could, that the war could not be won by German arms. Admiral von Hintze, who was installed in his place, is a Kaiser’s man, pure and simple. For years he has been the confidential messenger, the chief intriguer, and the willing tool of the “All- Highest.” He attracted the attention of the Kaiser early in his career, and had the dubious honour of being selected as the most promising person in the Court circle to travel about among nations friendly to Germany, accept their hospitality, take note of their points of strength or weakness, and if necessary plot their ruin. From this point of view he was a worthy enough incumbent of the seals of the Foreign Office, but he suffers from his crooked reputation even in Germany, where nobody trusts him. Two-and-a-half months in office and the Bulgarian debacle have apparently been fatal to him, and the Emperor, who, we are told, insists on being served only by successful men, has apparently had enough of him.

JAIN CONFERENCE

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At a special session of the Jain Political Conference held at Wardhaganj under the presidency of Vadilal M. Shah, resolutions were passed adhering to the resolutions of the Special Congress on constitutional reforms, protesting against the conduct of officers who entered the Delwara Temple at Abu with shoes on, inviting the attention of the Bengal Government to the conduct of the rioters who plundered the Colutola temple in Calcutta and broke images, protesting against the conduct of Behar officers who removed Jain images from Khandagiri to the Museum, protesting against the continued detention of Pandit Sethe, disapproving of the new income tax forms, and condemning the recommendations of the Rowlatt Committee.

THE ARGONNE BATTLE

Reuter’s correspondent at the American Headquarters describing the country in which the Americans are fighting in the forest of Argonne, says:- Extraordinary darkness and density are complicated by the difficulties of the ground. The ravines are so abrupt that it is possible to step upon the tops of trees immediately beneath. The enemy for years has lived in mansions dug beneath the hillsides, with porches of stone leading on the one hand to stone-lined trenches and on the other hand to a series of capacious chambers, papered, floored with mortised timber, furnished with suites of oak, walnut and mahogany pilfered from adjoining chateaux, and luxuriously lighted with electricity. Hundreds of miles of wire are woven among the trees, looking like the work of some inconceivable spider. This wire is mostly hidden by weeds.

AMERICA’S AIM

The newspapers throughout the United States, commenting on President Wilson’s address at the opening of the Liberty Loan campaign, see the definite rejection of the outworn methods of the old diplomacy and the pledge of the formation of a league of nations at the peace conference. The President has shown that this is a people’s war and is to end with a final settlement. It is not a matter which can be arranged by statesmen and diplomatists in secret conclave. The conflict is one in which the whole world is concerned and it is absolutely essential that right shall conclusively and finally triumph over might both in the field and forum and that just as we fight openly we must make peace openly. The Tribune believes it is a clear warning to the people of Germany and Austria-Hungary that peace is impossible with their present leaders. “Whatever may be the future of the peoples of Germany and Austria-Hungary there can be no future for the Hohenzollern and Hapsburg dynasties.

THE TURKISH DEFEAT

It is pointed out on reliable information that the reaction of the Turkish defeat in Palestine will be immediately felt throughout the Middle East. Apart from the danger to Syria, the Turkish communications in Mesopotamia are now none too secure. Coming on top of the Allies’ Balkan success, which must create the liveliest fears for the security of the Turkish position in Europe, the Palestine victory may be expected to paralyse Turkish operations in Persia. It has thus gone very far already to reduce the Turco-German menace in the Middle East, while its moral effect on the political situation in Turkey will probably be very great.

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