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Progress of the War.

Farther local gains by the Australians astride the Sommo and east of Hazobrouck, and a successful raid by Scottish troops southward of the La Bassee canal constitute the only movements reported to-day from the West front. Th 0 imminence of the nest phase of the German offensive has provided subject matter for several recent cable messages, and, according to a report today, Ludendorff will probably attack before the end of the week. Discussing the delay in the resumption of the offensive, Mr Philip Gibbs, in one of to-day's messages, states that the German companies have been reduced to low strength owing to an outbreak of influenza in the ranks. Although it would be rash, he considers, to assume that the delay in the offensive is primarily due to sickness, being probably duo to more potent reasons, it is believed that a widespread outbreak is really affecting the enemy's striking power, and may hinder his plans for in>-. mediate operations. Whatever the reason for the lull, however, it is as reasonably certain as anything can be that the offensive will bo resumed at an early date, for, according to recent reports, the German preparations are now complete, and the whole situation demands an attempt to secure a decision before the scales turn again, which should be very shortly, in favour of the Allies. The news from the Italian theatre records further slight gains for our ally on the Asiago Plateau. It is also reported that Ludendorff has ordered preparations for another Austrian offensive, in the Trentino, and has hastened the despatch of Austrian reinforcements for that purpose. Tho messages relating to the Russian situation continue to refer vaguely to impending sensational developments,' but thoir exact nature is not specified. There seems no doubt now that the earlier rumours of tho murder of the ex-Czar, the Czarina, and Princess Tatiana were well-foundod, the latest Russian newspapers and special information recoived by the Copenhagen journal "Poiitiken," according to a Copenhagen message to-day, confirming the reports, although the Bolsheviks continue to deny the murders.

Tho epidemic of influenza raging in Europe at the present time seems to be of a more severe type than that to which \ve have been accustomed during the last few years. It recalls the epidemic of 1889, which was supposed to have originated in the Far East, and was of a very virulent type. Then, as now. a ftarked symptom was the rapid prostration of the victims, peopile being suddenly Btricken with the disease, and falling down helpless in the streets.

Contrary to a popular impression, influenza is not a disease of recent importation into England. Mr Thomas Creevey, M.P., who was born in 1768, and died in 1838, and who may be described as the Pepys of the early part of the 19th Century, refers in his entertaining diary and letters to a severe epidemic just before Queen Victoria came to the throne. It was no respecter of persons. Under date of July 6th, 1831, he describes how Earl Sefton was confined to his house with "the influenza (la grippe)"—so both terms were in use at that time. The word "influenza" is said to have been intrcn duced by tlio Italians in 1741. Mr Creevey, on going to see Earl Sefton, found Earl Grey there also suffering from the same complaint. "The two earls," he says, "looked shockingly, and were still labouring under the 'grippe,' and were as low as could be to begin with." Fortunately, Mr Creevey, a great diner-out, and most cheerful companion, managed to raise the spirits of these two suffering noblemen to some extent, but two days later he records— "Lord Sefton is again very unwell and. confined to the house. Halford [a fashionable physician], who had seen him to-day, is himself very unwell with this 'grippe,' and he says the way he is hunted after by a succession of invalids under the same complaint is Teally beyond."

Two years later, there was evidently a recurrence of this disagreeable complaint. Writing on April 10th,- 1833, Mr Creevey says: "How are you all as to influenza? Here it spares no one —man, woman, or child, and it is a decided epidemic. I can scarcely see out of my eyes for it at this moment." Fivo days later he adds:—"There is an unfavourable account of Charlo3 Grenfell, who is laid up at Stoke with this influenza. My Lord and my Lady (Sefton) arrived between 9 and 10 from Stoke on purpose to see Taglioni dance, but she was in bed with this complaint. There are seventeen servants at Stoke laid up with it, not one of whom can do a stroko of work." Again, on January 14th, 1837, Mr Creevey writes: —"I am caught at last by that infornal influenza. It's the most marvellous concern I ever heard of—nothing but common snivelling and wholesome (Pwholesalo) coughing, and yet producing such depression and incapacity as really to be beyond. No appetite, of course." The symptoms, it will be soen, have not varied vory much during the last hundred years. And we fancy that the doctors have not been able to improve very much on the treatment which was evidently resorted to in Mr j Creevey's day, namolv, for the patient to go at onco to bed, and stay there until he is better. If it is true that tho German offensive is being held up owing to the presence of influenza among the enemy's troops, it must be admitted that even influenza has its good points.

The Christchurch Presoytery, at its monthly meeting yesterday, carried an overturo to tho General Assembly in favour of "a definite movement, aiming at Church union of tho Presbyterian, Mothodist, and Congregational Churches of New Zealand, and of such other Christian bodies as may find it possible to come together on tho* basis of a common crced and a common policy." One result of the war is that Church union is "in the air," and it is being considered more sympathetically than at any previous period in our history.

« A striking example of the manner in which different religious bodies are being drawn together was afforded in London a few weeks ago. Dr.

James Cooper, Professor of Church History in Glasgow University, and Moderator this year of tho General Assembly of the Established Church of •Scotland, gave an address in the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral, with the Bishop of Lindon in the chair, at which he actually suggested union between the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church of England. The outlook. he said, had changed enormously within recent years, and it was now possible to say that representative men in Scotland in all three Churches had been ablo to look with favour on the outline of a tentative scheme whereby this wide and far-reaching union might be effected. Under such a schema Episcopalians would accept the Presbyterian system of Ecclesiastical Courts, which co-existed with Episcopacy in Scotland in the seventeenth century, at times that Episcopalians looked back to as parts of their own history; Presbyterians would accept Episcopal consecration for constant Moderators of Synod who would take part in future ordinations and be practically Diocesan Bishops. An arrangement oould bo made for tho period of transition. Episcopalians would not have to accept Sacraments at the hands of those whose Orders they doubted, and Presbyterians would not be required to deny the reality of their experiences in things spiritual. He suggested that after the war, when the Lambeth Conference assembled, would be tho time to take action in the matter.

It is a mere truism to say that the retirement of M r H. TV. Bishop from the position of Senior Magistrate not only of Christchurch, but of the Dominion, will make a very noticeable gap in the public life of Canterbury. Mr Bishop is, in fact, a Canterbury institution. Ho has his critics, of course, as has every public man of any individuality, but even his critics will boar testimony to his ability as a magistrate, his sound judgment and shrewd comrnon sense, and, above all, his inflexible integrity and independence of character. He has done particularly valuable service to the State by carrying out commissions of enquiry on behalf of the Government. He may be said to have a genius for work of this class, and wo imagine the Government will bo very glad to continuo to utilise his services in this way as occasion may require. He has certainly earned a rest from the fatiguing work which is the lot- of a New Zealand magistrate, and we aro sure our readers will join with us in wishing him many years of peaceful and pleasant retirement.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19180710.2.26

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16260, 10 July 1918, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,450

Progress of the War. Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16260, 10 July 1918, Page 6

Progress of the War. Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16260, 10 July 1918, Page 6

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