The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. SATURDAY, OCTOBER, 16, 1915. THE WAR IN THE BALKANS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 October 1915, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. SATURDAY, OCTOBER, 16, 1915. THE WAR IN THE BALKANS.

-Developments hi the isalkans during the last week or iwo indicate tliat the Balkans will be Uie luturc testingground for Llio eastern combatants iu tlio world's greatest war. For a while, this probability seemed only barely nkcl,v, but the present posaibilit-y of Great .Britain refusing to accept the GennanyAustrian gage oi battle there thrown down seems little. The theory that the Allies would do better, tactically, by continuing to make their main effort o;i the Franco-Belgian frontiers seems sound, but their inability to do so becomes apparent in the light of the statement made to the 1' leneh Chamber oi' Deputies, by M. viviani, last Wednesday. TJie French nation, in short, has been seized with a, feeling of general niisgiviug, though iinding tlie French initial advance through Salonika unbacked by the '.Russians or .British. Aα doubt the degree oi support given there by Russia dniung the last lew days was given in response to diplomatic pressure on tlie part of her ally; and likely enough Great -Britain will iind it advisable to follow .similarly the French lead. JSoiie the le&s, the apparent disinclination of Great Uritain to participate in the movement is casv to understand, seeing that the landing of French forces at Salonika- was a breach of the neutrality of Greece that makes l'olks see in it a. resemblance to tlie action of the Germans in advancing through Belgium. (Similarly, the action of another great f'owor in the Allies which allowed the minor friendly Power oi japan to dominate the Chinese Empire (against tho spirit of an existing guarantee; shows that treaties and guarantees count only for what is convenient, wheu ■war's necessities are become inconveniently acute. Germany's unfair breach of .Belgium neutrality was given as our reason for declaring war uga-inst Germany. J3ut in the light 01 later events we think it had been Uetter ajid lairer had the British Administration fairly said that Great Britain clearly recognised (as undoubtedly she did do) the great menace to world progress and national happiness that a wovld-wule domiiiatjion by the Gorman Empire would become. And the German Emperor's hopes and aims in that direction aro well known. In view of that mattor of enduring import Britons must stand united, letting'go all sectional cries about "national dishonesties" and barbarities, '"scraps of pnper. ,, ".slimness" "traitorous procedures," and so forth. No doubt tlie initial breach of treaty (Germany's in Belgium) was heinous, bint the exigencies of fighting companionship amongst the nations have led to lesser (but deplorable) breaches of treaty agreements on our own part. In saying this we speak advisedly. We hfive no love for tnat kind of patriot who affects a loss of memory concerning any and all events that do not suit his particular prepossession. Tho true patriot should face events Mβ they are, and not endeavour to twi«t them. To out mind, the uphill nature of the present war. and the grave issues as to liberty and happiness flopendmg upon the contest, demand a clearinpiiway of the fogs of sentimental regard and the firee of passionate hatred thai arc deranging great sections of our people throughout the empire. The time has come for all Britons to recoß-

uise that the wan , Ts not won by fcJio exchange of epithets nor by vocal clainoiiir against the enemy. The man who admits that there have been n few faults on his own side since tlio war hega.n :s none the less a patriot lor that truth; he simply helps to ionn, against the need of a future day. a basis for a helpful public opinion to counterbalance that volume (usually preponderating) that yields little to reason and nothing bv design. But, with this reservation, we express again a hope that the Allies will fight on determinedly until the enemy prove reasonable-minded in respect of peace. He is crippled already. bo far as the financial ■barometer indicates his case, but unfortunately ii» still holds commanding position in regard the offensive operations, and there seems likelihood that immediate development in the Halkans will strengthen him still further, whatever the later operations may ofl'eot. It is in full recognition of these facts, ami of the reality that the evanescent excitements of "public rallies' <md exliortalion.s will not suffice to key-up our nation for the enduring .struggle that plainly is hefore us, that The Chronicle ha.s ventured to put in print a tew truths such as those which here and there lingo our article with tone colours quite utiusufll in print these days.--•whatever may ho tho case in private discourses.