Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17th, 1917. THE WAY OF THE WAR

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17th, 1917. THE WAY OF THE WAR

i I'ue news from internal Germany oonr tinues to discloso a state of affairs which indicates the approach of the inevitable crisis over the war in that country. The manner in which tne. nows of the naval mutiny was held up for so long, shows the splendid organisation within, but the ultimate dis- , closures, and the fact that the event ■ was so serious, bring home the feeling that with all the studied preparation for the war, the great organisation which has marked the whole conduct of it by tin* enemy, is breaking down in such a way as to make plain that disaster is ahead for the Central Powers. Germany appears to be arriving at a state which Austria laid reached already, both .in regard to the national view of the war, and to the food problem. These factors are governed naturally by the prospects on the battle front. The outlook in the j Western Theatre and o n the Italian front is without comfort for the enemy. Even in the Balkans the position can be little better, or the enemy would not have marked time for so long in that region. There remains the Russian front. On land the enemy continue inactive, probably for the reason that reserve forces, guns and munitions have had to be removed hastily to the Western Front, where the Anglo-French forces are maintaining such heavy pressure. ?n this circumstance the naval attack in the Gulf of Riga is resorted to. This mission will help in employing a considerable section of the navy, and keeping 1 the men employed wilj prevent further 1 mischief or ideas of serious mutiny in i home waters. The achievements will 1 he of some transitory help in buoying 1 up the people with apparent “victor- ( ies,” anj so relieving the discontent to some extent and malting tho rigor of the food supply a little more acceptable for the time being. The gain of j the enemy in the Riga region can Lave ■ no materia] effect op the progress of j the war, in view of the winter season advancing, and tho freezing of the j Baltic waters, the operations cannot ho Ion'" maintained or supported from the ‘ sea. F.ven in gaining a foothold on j . tho land, tho enemy will be little j . hotter off, than in pursuing the attack 1 from their present eastern position—from their present eastern land linps. The menuco to Petrograd might he 1 c useful even in awakening the Russians a to a spas© of their situation, if they t wjsh to assist in Working out some I portion'of their-own salvation. Should a

liioy fail to re-organise rwow in an effort to throw back the enemy and save the destruction of their capital, surely nothing eise can save them from themselves. 'The Russians have shown themselves equal to the task before, and they should be again now that thev are full of new-born hopes for the betterment of their country. Engaging and seriously holding (he enemy in tho east, they would play a useful part in helping the Allies on the Wost,.for with divided camps of danger the enemy would be hard put to it now to adequately reinforce to meet tho nowdangers which would then, present themselves. The possibility of a n enemy debacle might therefore arise from more than one set of circumstances just now.