Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY MAY 7 1917 THE EASTERN THEATRE.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY MAY 7 1917 THE EASTERN THEATRE.

All eyes have been turned for so lorg to the Western theatre of the war, where the eplendid Anglo-French _ forces have been lighting with such consistent success, that the other threatres have been quite overlooked of late. The news from the Balkans has been very meagre, while that from the Italian front has been more negative still. Nothing much has been or could be attempted from (Lb Salonika offensive, because of the uncertainty, of Greece, and the position there after all these months of tolerance, is still grave. The Allies mission to that quarter of the arena is still inexplicable. On the Anotro-Italian front there has been a pause which could be . felt ever since the heavy fighting of last year. The cause of this cessation is a mystery. -That there must ba a cause is evidenced by the fact that . only recently when the British Prime Minister should have been in his plaoe in the House of Commons, he 1 was in Italy. It may be assumed 1 that he was there to adjust some matters of moment, and from the general outlook it may be accepted that the adjustment-was of a satisfactory nature.. But it is more to the eastern theatre— Russia’s region—that we wish to refer just now. Before and since the revolution there has been a disquieting feeling about , Rnssia’s part. At the outset ic was put down to the rigorous season of the year, and to the difficulties of transport. Then came the which startled the world, and the veil

was lifted, explaining many tjjjrgs, including the betrayal of Roumania, and what they meant. The latest telegrams aa to the internal situation of Russia, are not too re* assnring. Indeed, the Whole mystery of the Russian campaigns deepens, and with the meagre information available at this distance, it is not possible to solve the trouble. It is dear that the Russians will not come along this year as the expected steam roller to solve the duration of the war. In fact the chances seem to be rather the other way, whether the Russians will hold np the enemy even, and pie* vent filibustering raids on the wheat stores of Southern Russia. If Russia can be begged or bought off by the enemy, the prolongation of the war is very possible, and for such a contingency we may be sure the enemy will be only too ready to sacrifice a great deal. The fact is Russia is without leadership. There is no dominant party able to control and direot, and the great resources of the country are sot being co-ordinated as they should be. This phase of the war, combined with the submarine menace, are the two disturbing factors of the war. Just now time is not lighting on the ■ids of the Allies. It is to the ad* vantage of the Allies, as it never was before, to finish np the war as quickly as possible, for in the delay might be the opportuni y of the enemy by intrigue and bribery to wreak great

havoc in fhe Eastern theatre. For this Bpecial reason the Western theatre becomes the deciding pivot of the war. and it can be well understood that the Allies’ leaders there are straining *» every effort lo reach a material decision as soon as postible. Events m Russia will be watched with the closest interest, but it hardly appears possible that the nation can be reorganised in time to effect an early conclusion to the war.

The Jane for Okarito, and Defender lor Wellington, sail whed the sea moderates.

The Olympia tskating Ring opens in the Supreme Hall ti-night. Skating commences at 7,30. Popular price of 1/, inoluding skates.—Advt. A meeting of the Westland Acclimatisation Society will De held at the County Chambers this evening at 7.30 o’clock. The Committee of the Overseas Club will meet at 7.30 o’clock to-mor-row evening to deal with general busi- * The Worksop Dredge cleaned up last week for a return of 40oz. 19dwts. of gold for 107 hours’ work. A defaulter under the Military Sorvisc Act, was arrested by the local police on Saturday morning, and taken to Grey mouth by the one o’clock train.

|■: . ■ Two notices appear in this issue under “ The Land Act,” of applic»tions to purchase the freehold of two sections mentioned therein.

Sir James Allen has been advised of the safe arrival of the first portion of the Twenty-fourth Reinforcements at a certain pert. The health of the troops is good. r’

Mr Grimmond returned frem Uhristchurch on Saturday night, and wenY on to Roes. He reports that there was a lenetby business sheet be* foie the Canterbury Education Board and the meeting extended over three days.

Mr J. O. Shorland, a former well known cycle champion, now resident in Wellington, where he was recently elected a member of the City Counoil, was in town to-day, on a short vis-ifc to Hokitika. Mr Shorl .nd leaves for the north this evening.

For some weeks a number of reservists took to tbo back country near Ikamatua, in an endeavour to evade the Military Service Act, (says the Inangahua Times). On Thursday threo of these were taken by the military police, but one was found to be suffering from pueumonia and was sent to his home. The other two were sent on to Trentham.

The Committee of the Greymoutb Jockey Club met on Friday to receive the statement in connection with the recent meeting. The result was considered satisfactory, notwithstanding the many obstacles the Club had to surmount. The net balance to. the Club is £25 15s sd. The Government tax amounted to £320.

A Dunedin correspondent states— I have good authority Jor saying that Parliament will meet in the last week in June and will deal almost exclusively with war legislation. Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward will reach the Dominion before the session, opens.

Speaking of the magnitude of the responsibilities of the Cliris'church City Council, Or. H, F. Herbert said That the Council had 405 employees, iucludJ ng th« office staffs and als) 11 casual hands. Thirty-four men were on active service. 3he wages paid annually amounted to £57,126, the salaries being £9,096.

Mr Leu Hill, son of Mr A. G. Hill, of Westport, has been granted a commission. Len Hill was one of the first 1® volunteer from Southland. He left witli the Main Body and served throughout the Gallipoli campaign, Egypt and France, without suffering a wound. He was attached to the Machine Gun Section and recently passed a very b : gh examination in that department, qualifying him as an instructor.

The police authorities in Christohurch have been informed by a telegram from Kaikoura that Samuel Herbert Yeaksley stepped off a motor-car when it was in motion at Charwell Forks on Thursday morning and fell heavily on the road fracturing his skull m four places. He was taken to the Kaikoura Hospital, and died there four hours after the accident occurred, He was thirty-seven years of age.

At fllie competitions of tlie Christchurch Literary and Musical Society on Thursday last Miss Edna Perry of Hokitika, gained first prize in the soprano solo “Night.” There were eight competitors. The judge Harold Cregson Esq., commended that *he section was pleasurable and interesting. The winner had a pleasing voice, the quality and colour ' of which improved us the song progressed. At the meeting of the Canterbury Education Board on Thursday Mr Grimmond brought up the question of repairs to schools on the West Coast, and urged that further action should be- taken immediately. The chairman said that written application had been made to Cabinet live weeks ago xor £IO,OOO to put the West Coast schools in proper order and condition, but had received no reply. ASi urgent . telegram on the same subject had bee*» sent that morning. The cable news in this issue a.# credited to the “ Times ” has appeared in that journal, but rnly where expressly stated is’ snob news the eiitorial opinion of the “Times.” For (Jhronie Chest Complaints Woods Great Peppermint Cure. 1/6, 2/6 Mr Edgar M. Philips, piano tuner and salesman representing Messrs Webley Sons and Gofton Ltd, is no w in Hokitika. All orders left at the Excelsior Book Hepot, Revell St will receive prompt attention.—Advt, For Influenza take Woods' Great Pepper mint Cure, Never fails. 1/6, 2/6. WOLFE’S SCHNAPPS irevents morbidness of the kidneys. For Children’s Hacking Cougli at night Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. 1/6, 2/6. WOLFE'S SCHNAPP& Possesses peculiar medical virtues,

Heavy ram fell at Christchurch on Saturday and the New Brighton trots were postponed till next Saturday. Sir James Alien charaoteiised as “ pure imagination ” the statement published that the Government proposed to prohibit the manufacture of pastry and the household delivery of bread. Ha addeo, however, that he would not aay that it might not come abou*a ■ No 2 Westland Industrial Building S:ci ty will appropriate £3OO by ballot on Saturday next at 7.30 p m. The crushing returns for April of the Con olidated group rf mines are as follows :—Progres , crushed 1626 tons, value

£IB3O, working expenses £1909, capital £ll. deve’opment £428. Blaekwater — 3166 tons, value £6203, working expensi s £3067, development £«44. Wealth. —1610 tons, value £1720, working expenses £I7BO, development £363.

Tie Second Wellington Military Serv ca Board continued its sittings in Wellington last week. The board can - Busts of Messrs J. W. Boynton (chairman;, T. A, Bamber and F. Curtis. Cap ain Oowiishßw was the military representative. Private James Wallace, J Company, 25th Reinfoicements. asked for leave in order that he might attend to private affairs. He stated that be had worked a farm in South We’tland iu partnership with a married brother, prior to enlistment/ He ht.d left bis brother in charge of the farm, but the brother had recently been drowned. He had two brothers away with the Forces, aud a o her brother, who had been drawn in *the ballot. The farm was in rough, isolated country, and could not easily be sold or placed under the care of a oimpetent man. The chairman said that the family record was a good one and the request made by appellant was reasonable. He was aware of the difficulties of farming in South Westland, Wallace would be granted indefinite leave without pay. The National Drink of Australasia— WOLFE’S SCHNAPPS.