PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2955, 15 December 1916, Page 8

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The peace proposal' lately made in the Reichstag must undoubtedly te regarded' as the first step in a campaign in which Germany will exhaust every open and secret resource at her command in efforts to gain such a peace as she desires. Positive evidence on the subject is already supplied in a statement issued by the German Embassy at Washington (no doubt under instructions from headquarters) as a supplement to the main peace proposal. At an immediate view, tho Embassy statement looks like a somewhat remarkable descent from tho bombastic arrogance of the initial proposal. After being informed that Germany is prepared to end. the war on a conqueror's tetms wo are now told that tho terms stated in the Reichstag must .be interpreted as what Germany would like to get, and nob what she cxpects to get. Any terms suggested now are "talking- terms," and are less important than the . necessity of starting a Peace Conference. Obviously the...German-Government is anxiously bent upon creating au impression, at homo and abroad, tjiat it v is approaching the subject of peacc in a spirit of accommodation, and considers that more is necessary to produce the desired effect than the bluffing announcement made by Bethmann Holmveg. But for practical purposes thero is not the slightest distinction to be drawn between the lleichstag pronouncement and the supplementary statement of the Washington Embassy.

If _ Germany wants pcacc she can get it by accepting the terms fro Allies are prepared to grant, aucl in no other way. The only difference between the proposal of impossible terms and- that of a, Pcacc Confercnco with tho question of terms left open is that the second alternative would give the German Government extended facilities for pursuing its real objects in opening the_ subject of peace.. It is now plain-to all the world that these objects are mainly to stiffen the resolution, of tho German ' people, and to stimulate an anti-war agitation in neutral countries. lTie German' newspapers have already let the eat out'of the bag. They are stressing the idea that the refusal of the • Allies to open negotiations—this, of course, is anticipated—instead of discouraging the Teutonic population will fill them, with "flaming'wrath and .fiery indignation," and silence all talk of giving in. This, with threats of ruthless and bloody warfare—apparently in the German view vile atrocities, the wholesale murder of women and children, poison gas, and similar refinements, belong to some other category than that of ruthk'ss and bloody warfare—constitutes an accompaniment to the German peace proposal which very obviously exposes its true character. On the Allies the only effect will be to spur them to new efforts. There are grounds for hoping also that the enemy's peace campaign will fall very flat in -neutral countries, most of which have been the victims of gross outrages at his hands. _ Whether the effect in Germany itself and in the-other countries of the Teutonic group will be what the authors of the movement hope is as yet a matter of conjecture. But whatever the effect may be in Germany the Allies aro out to win the war and build stable foundations of peace in spite of the utmost that their enemies may' achieve or attempt. They have never expected to win the war ill any-other way, and bogus peace proposals, accompanied and backed by threats, will' only, awaken their contempt and -stimulate their activity.

Reports at time of " "writing disclose immaterial change in the war situation as it was depicted yesterday. The latest' Paris communique in hand rather makes against, the idea, lately entertained, that a-battle may. be impending in the Western theatre, for it speaks of a comparative lull on the whole front. ' A single report of this character,- however, does not divest of significance the exceptional activity and intensity, of bombardment lately noted on tho West front. A continuation of violent artillery fighting north of Monastir keeps alive the prospect o£ an early enemy attack in that quarter, bub at the moment the situation has not visibly developed. The same applies to Greece, where King Con-

STANTiNE is presumably -still pushing ahead with military preparations which the Allies have not yet found means of dislocating. The appointment of a new commander of the Allied naval forccs in Greek waters in place of Admiral do Fouknet carries, perhaps, promise of more vigorous measures against the Royalists, but these measures have, not yet taken visible shape. In Rumania, the .eaemy has gained some further ground in 'Northern Wallaehia, but it is not yet. clear whether he meditates an attempt to break through the Buzeu lincj extending . across_ country to . -the Danube, on which the .Rumanians are now established. The fighting in Wallachia reported to-day ■ occurred . west, of this line ; On the Moldavian frontier and in the Carpathians further north the Russians axe persevering in an offensive which is likely to serve it chief purpose meantime in withholding a certain number of enemy troops from Walkcliia and from Macedonia. '