NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1794, 5 July 1913, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

Whether War has been officially declared or not, very severe fighting over a wide , area is going on in tho Balkans between the Bulgarians on the one side and tho Servians and Greeks on the other. Moreover, Turkey seems to be looking for an excuse for taking part in tho struggle, in the hope of regaining some of her lost territory and prestige. The Porte has notified tho Powerß that it claims liberty of action in the evont of a new war in Macedonia, and has also demanded the speedy withdrawal of the Bulgarian troops from certain positions on the Turkish side of the Enosmcdia frontier. Unless the Powers are able promptly to bring pressure to bear in the interests of peace, a desperate struggle regarding the partition of the territory taken from the conquered Turks seems inevitable. Although both Servia and Bulgaria contend that they are acting strictly on the defensive, the fact remains that battles are being fought, and that the King of Greece has gono to tho front in order to take the offensive. If the former Allies aro now going to fight among _ themselves over the spoils, they will be in danger of forfeiting that sympathy which they aroused in England when they solemnly declared that the war with Turkey was undertaken as a great, just, and sacred task, with tho object of securing human rights for the Macedonian people. Perhaps even now it may be possible for the parties to arrivo at somo compromise on the basis of racial reunion. Bulgaria would have to allow some modifications of her treaty with Servia, and permit other reasonable considerations to l)o taken into account in effecting a settlement. A new war in the Balkans would add to tho difficulties which at present endanger the peace of Europe, and its financial effects would bo felt here as well as in those countries nearer tho centre of trouble. It could not fail to have a further unsettling effect on the London market, and thereby tend to prolong and intensify the existing stringency.

Some further light was incidentally thrown upon the naval and military policy of tho Government in tho House of Representatives on Thursday, Mr. G. W. Russell argued that the Hon. J. Allkn's action in London regarding tho proposed expeditionary force was similar to that taken by Sir Joseph Waup in rflforcncfl u, (.ho Dreadnought. In other words, ho con-..

tended that Mr. Am,en had committed the country to providing an expeditionary forcc without the consent of Parliament. The Minister gave this assertion an absolute and emphatic denial.' Tho Dominion, he said, had not been committed in any way. Tho Defence Department would bo asked to consider the. proposals, and to make any alterations or suggestions they might think necessary, and the whole question would be brought up in Parliament before anything was done. In any casu there would be no compulsion for men to serve outside the Dominion, but they would simply be "invited to volunteer." The position regarding the Government's naval policy was the same. The country was committed to nothing. Cabinet would consider the matter, and Parliament would give the final decision. This puts the position so clearly that there remains absolutely no excuse for any mistake. Wilful misrepresentation for party' purposes will probably continue, but' every fair-minded man will now know that it is misrepresentation, and treat it accordingly.

It will probably be found on investigation that the statement from the anti-militarist youths detained on Ripa Island on account of their refusal to obey the law respecting military servicc exaggerates the position there. No one wishes to see any undue harshness extended to the young men who object to undergo tho training which will enable them in time of need to defend their mothers and sisters, and maybe wives and families. But so long as they refuse to obey the law they must suffer the penalty of their action, and the penalty prescribed in this case is lenient enough. It may be that those in charge at Ripa Island have exceeded their authority. That remains to be seen. The deputation which waited on the Government yesterday was quite justified in asking for an inquiry, and it is satisfactory to note that Ministers at once promised to have tho happenings at Ripa Island fully investigated.