Hokitika Guardian & Evening star TUESDAY, NOV. 20th 1917. MARKING TIME.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening star TUESDAY, NOV. 20th 1917. MARKING TIME.

Thu fact that tin* British offensive lias waned on the Western Front for the time being, and that the enemy are initiating the attacks, is suggesting the thought to some critics that the British Commander has been forced to mark time. A writer in the. “Otago Times” says that if Sir Douglas Haig has to sit. down where his lines now are, it means that the Allies have been hard hit by the Italian defeats, and that the Franco-British reserves have been depleted to assist Italy. There is undoubtedly a modicum of truth in what the Austrian newspapers are saving—namely, that the stroke against Italy has upset the A.nglo-Freneh-American plans. That was apparent the moment it became necessary to send men and guns into Italy. It means that: the German strategists have done in Italy what the British did to the Germans when they were within an ace of taking Verdun. While the Allies have been waiting upon the Americans and watching their great preparations, Germany has struck a blow which gives her breathing, time for the winter season. Of course, Germany could not have done what she has done, had it not been for the poltroonery which stjized. the Russian armies, and the underground work of her agents working from Switzerland and Austria among certain classes in Ttalv. The Germans have been skilfully applying the policy so aptly described by Afr Lloyd George as Boloism. It has always been maintained that it .is j not the German armies that we have to fear so much as the cunning and unscrupulous policy which the Prussians have always adopted to seduce one or jther of their enemies and to create lissension among the others. An i

Allied Council cf War, such as is being established, is what is wanted, and if the disasters with which Italy has been struck load to the adoption of united action by the Allies, instead of each fighting independently for particular ends, the misfortunes of Italy will have been productive of good. Unanimous action by the 'European Allies and one control are what is required to husband resources and defeat Germany. From the deliberations of that council, the man may be found and chosen who, backed by the resources ot Britain, America, and France, will I bring about more rapidly the downfall of the Central Powers. President Wilson has shown that he lias great strategical insight when be declared that Ger. ! many must not bo. left in the position that she can pursue the pau-German aims in Asia Minor and retain possession of the Baghdad railway. If Germany ,could count on bding allowed to retain the pathway to the East she would give tip Belgium, and even Alsace and SLorraine We may soon hear of more definite proposals on those lines. They will probably he hacked by the Pope, acting in accordance with the view that will he taken by the peace cabal now sitting in Switzerland —a cabal which has been encouraged by Berlin and arranged to undermine the will of the Allies while tney have been shaken-by the, attack upon Italy and by the chaos orßussia. If the Allies hold on firmly to their policy as oirtlined for 1918, and move their forces and resources under one direction, Germany and Austria must fall. All the Allies require is the stern will that no individual and no cabal, no fear of what may happen in Russia, will cause them to deviate from their purpose of bringing Germany to her knees, and it will be done. Even if Russia is out of the war, the reserves Germany and Austria cannot stand the strain of another year’s conflict, especially as the strength of America will begin to he felt in the spring of 1918.