THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 January 1917, Page 3

THE WAR

lAuatralia-New Zealand Cable Service GERMAN PROFESSOR'S VIEWS. London, January 3. ■Professor iMoincke, in an article ii the Frankfurter Zeitung, says that only; in a non-apolitical sense did Ger many begin the war. In a military sense it was a knockout war: it wa intended to knock-out France 'ant Russia- and Germany then would bi able to compromise with England, who would have been disarmed. Af ter referring to the Marne collapse he says that the attack on Verdui was a politico-military move to prove to the French that they liac'i better end a war 'which they coalc not win. Germany's enemies had pulled themselves together for a gigantic achievement, and a great trouble offensive began in the east. :and west. The biattle of the Sommo led to a conviction in Germany that no' longer was it possible to arrive at a military decision, in full and l a peace-coimpelling sense was therefore statesman, like, intelligent and wise; they would abandon the intention of destruction and-seek a reasonable compromise. The war, had proved there were limits to the possibilities of knock-oujt strategies. Between Germany and other Powers the motto in future would' be "Not to overthrow, but balance the tames." EXONERATED. Ottawa, January 3. An Inquiry Board has exonerated the Canadian iWar Medical (Services from Colonel Brace's charges in connection wherewith the Minister tof Defence (Sir S'am Hughes) resigned. (Receved This Day 9.10 a.m.) A DAILY MAIL, CRITICISM. London, Jan. 3. The Daily Mail asks what the Salonika Army is doing, and says thac 200,000 Bulgarians are holding up 450,000 of the Allies forces. The Allied army -might well have turned the seal© in. the west in .191(5. Germany's vulnerable point on the great Balkan railway), is nowhere within ■'"reach between Salonika and the railway:; it streclies over an expanse of 'roadless mountains which no modern ;£nny would be able to traverse. -The 'Germans have railways; we lack them and have to secure our communications. There was no fear of submarines. The Allied armies would be delighted if the Salonika mistake were undone.

ON THE SERjETH. Latest news from Rumania states that General Brusiloff has arrived at headquarters to confer with Ivin.g Ferdinand and the iF.reneh military advisers. Despite- the resistance of tfho K'Usoo-Biimamiian forces, 'General Mnckensen is pushing on to Braiia and Fosani; the enemy also has broken through till e Carpathian [Passes into Moldavia, and is forcing his way down tlie valley leading to the Sereth whose rivpid 1 pj.irrent makes the passage most hazardous. It is 'an admirable spot for the Ruse o-Rum an ian stand'. Thus far all the Germans attacks in the Braiia region * have been broken. The Russians axe resisting the Genu an advance from the Motldaviaa highlands in nearly all the valleys. If the Sereth lines prove untenable owing to the enemy converging from the west and south, tlio Russo-Riumanians probably will retire beyond tlie Bessaraban frontier. The Germans meanwhile are carrying out .demonstrations and preventing the Russians from sending fresh effectives southwards; also there is increasing activity in Tohikserada, in order to hamper Russian freedom cf manoeuvres. The length of the RtissoRuimanian front beginnig at Tohikserada and skirting the Sereth is 200 ikilometiree.

THE ALLIES 1 NOTE. Washington Jan. 3. The Allies' Not© lias been sent to G-eemany. It is believed that whatever itlio reply of the Allies may Tie, President Wilson will not drop the peace movement, ARMED MERCHANTMEN". Japan states that she intends to arm merchantmen defensively ,and asks the United States of there are any regulations governing armed ships ■using the Panama canal, of which Japan is one of the largest users. This is interpreted' as being indicative of Japanese belief in the danger of an extension being made of the zone of German submarining. FRENCH DIPLOMAT Paris', Jan. 3. The -Government has appointed a

diplomat ta Salonika, and rccognisf the Venizelist agent at Paris. PEACE MISSION; DENIED. ) Mr Caillause, at Naples, denies tli story cabled on 29th December tres pecting an alleged peace mission. j GERMAN RULE IN BELGIUM. The Germans fined the burgomaste ' of Antwerp' ten thousand 1 .marks he 5 cause lie irefused to supply a list of mei in unemployment, preparatory to de 1 porta tion. The Echo* de Beige sayi that 304 deported people at Quareg ' non included 227 employed men, an< > seventy per cent" of the taffs of th< 1 brast furnaces and factories at Li Louiviere. SDepoirted summonses arc ■ arriving while the hands are work ' ing. FOOD ' RIOT® IN VIENNA. Rome, Jan I 3. Reports from Berne state that food riots occurred in Vienna on Christmas k Day. iCrowds raided the railway stations and pillaged warehouses. (Router Service). / London, Jan. 3. Mr Prothero has been appointed to the advisory committee. Ten farmers who are agricultural experts will assist the scheme of home production of food. Agricultural war committees will be established in the English counties. (Received This Day 11.50 a.m.) A GERMAN REPORT. (A.-N.Z. and Reuter Service.) (London, Jan. 3. A.German official message sa(yis that tdia Archdtike Josef repulsed, wufch heavy losses, strong attacks against Mount Faltucanu and stormed several hillls between Susita Valley and Putna Valley. We also repulsed RussoRumanian coiiiruter-aittacks and. occupied Barsesos and Topesci after a stubborn battle. General Mackensen further progressed and stormed thiree positions in the iFoesany region. "We | pushed back the Russians in the I>obrudja despite stubborn resistance. THE ARMING OF MERCHANTMEN. (Reuter Service. • London, Jari 3. The Admiralty issues a warning that the German wireless paiess is using unauthorised comments "of British newspaper in order to cast doubt on the defensive character of the British arming of merchaiitmemt. The Admiralty ireiterates that "the policy of arming merchant vessels is purely for defensive purposes. I