THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1917, Page 2

THE WAR.

{Per United Prees Association) RUSSIAN ThOBLEMS IVlanv Difficulties London, March 22

The Morning Post’s P*-iirogrsd correspondent, cH f o;i Monday, plates thsre is little poMt : ve nows, bfyond the satisfactory fact ti; at o e regiment haa returned to (hi barracks, a-, t ia again undo: 1 proper eomm-.nd. The food supply problem bca not improved, despite the attention devoted thereto.

Several necessities are unptocurable and ere aggravated by a coutinaed blizzard. In the Duma there was a scene at a meeting of a thousand so Hers choosing a representative Workmen's and Soldiers’ Council, which seems to command the general situation-. At the mass meeting in the precincts of the Duma rn my sol Here, French and Belgian woixmen, appealed to their Russian comrades not to forget the war, reminding them that the Germans were at Riga, v '*hin 400 versts of Pet it grad. While many s-.ldiers are bsgmn ng to realise what tbi- rppai s the m ;re violent elements reem to believe Uiat internal politics are of primary importance.

The extreme iniernaiionals have gained a fooling. Th ir aim ia to stop the war. Their newspaper hails Republican Russia, which any competent observer regards at present as inconceivable.

The Socialist Republican agitation momentarily eclipses the war.

Preparations for the Constituent Assembly are hastening, ignoring the absence of twenty five millions in the country in German occupation, a million prisoners of war and millions on the firing front. Korniloff has arrived f t Patrcgrad. It is hoped the soldiers will no>v realise the eupreme importance of the war. There is some apprehension at the continued loss of time in the making of munitions and the loss of discipline among many reserve battalions who should be preparing to to the front.

ANOTHER ATTEMPT.

To Smooth Matters. Washington, March 22 A strong neutral move, headed by Ritter, the Swiss Minister, is pending with a view to keeping the United States and Germany from hostilities. It is believed that Germany is contemplating a modification of her U boat oampaign. Mass Meeting Demand. New York, March 23 A great patriotic mass meeting at Madiaoo Square G irdea parsed a resolution urging Coagrees to declare a state of war exist?.

Mayor Mitchell suggested the sending abroad of at least half a million men.

Resistance increasing- [ retjter’s service.—copyright.] London, March 23 Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports : The enemy’s resistance is increasing on the whole front westward of St Qaentin to southward of Arras. Heavy snowstorms are impediug our advance. Argentine Crops(Australian & N.Z. Gable Association) Buenos Ayres, March 22 It is officially announced that owing to drought and locusts about half the maize crop has been ruined, The net production is estimated at 1,500,000 tons.

Torpedoed

(Received March 24, at 8.45 a.m,) New York, March 23 The Ilealdton was torpedoed off Tergchelling, an island off Holland. Twenty aboard were drowned and one fatally injured.

French Sinkings. (Australian & N.Z. Gable Association and Reuter.) London, March 23 French official—For the week ended March 18th, the arrivals of merchantmen of over 100 tons, excluding fishing craft, were 820 and departures 914. French sinkings were six ships over 1600, and six under 1600 tons.

Despondent Kaiser Vancouver Maroh 21 The New York Tribune to-day published a special London despatch in which the Kaiser is said to have intimated his expectation of final defeat. He is quoted as planning to abandon Austria fo its fate. The message adds that ihe Emperor Karl is seeking a union with Bavaria, backed by the Vatican.