Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY FEBRUARY 16th 1918. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY FEBRUARY 16th 1918. THE WEEK.

What a contrast there is between the attitude of Roumania and. Russia. The latter was the main spring causing the entry of the former into the great conflict. Now Russia has made an ignoble exit, and not only leaves it neighbour and ally to its fate, but the Bolsheviks are threatening to arrest the King of Roumania. In the midst: of this turmoil, is the ultimatum < Roumania from the Central Powers to surrender. 'Roumania remains defiant! and has coinnumicted a reply to succeed or all with the common cause of the Allies. It is an heroic decision and one which will go down into all history for its resoluteness in the face of fearful odds. Roumania has had an unhappy role to play in this war. King Ferdinand, who .is a Hohenzollcrn, succeeded to the throne on October 10, 1914 so that the whole of his reign has been a troubled one. For two years Roumania remained neutral. It was difficult. Both sides struggled hard to induce her to fight hut she held hack. There were many cross-currents. Her King was a Hohenzollern, and was credited with sympathising with the Central Powers. Ministers were divided Some were on one side and some for the others, whilst others were for remaining out of ’ the war altogether. 'Neither King nor Ministers knew who was going to win this war, and they all wanted to he sure of their ground. The fate of Belgium, the fate of Serbia, nearer home, did not encourage them to take un arms against the Central Powers. .But there were two strong men who toured country, making speeches on behalf of he Allies, and .urging that Roumania would prove the deciding factor. There would arise a greater Roumania; then would the Roumanians join with their brother in Transylvania, in Bessarabia, and found a great nation. The Allies had promised that their aspiration would ho realised : and chiefly had Russia promised it. The two strong men were Filipeseo and Take .Tonescu, great orators, both of them And finally on August 27/ 1916, Roumania declared war on Austria. This was followed two days later hv a declaration of war by Turkey against Roumania. We need not dwell on what happened, for it is a sad chap, ter. But if part of Roumania has been over-run and laid waste her army remains intact, and, to its credit he it said it has remained aloof from the fraternisation of Russian and enemy soldiers on the Roumanian border.

There has boon a strange chapter of incidents during the last few weeks. Following on the fraternisation and peace overtures between the Russians and the Austro-Germans, the Roumanians arrested some of the Rolshevik agitators, and later they arrested the Bolshevik Committee 6f the Russian regiment and some Austrian officers, who were fraternising on Roumanian soil. Lenin, the Bolshevik leader, demanded their release but we have had no news of their release so far. The other day we were astonished to read that Lenin had retaliated by arresting M. Dinmandi, the Roumanian Minister in Pettrograd. No charge was formulated against him, but we are now informed that tbe reason for his arrest was that the Roumanians had thrown in their lot with the anti-Bolsheviks districts pf south-east Russia. M. Diamandi, however; did not remain in prison long for Lenin ordered his release on pressure from the Allied and neutral nations. But tlie situation that has arisen between Russia and Roumnnia is an extraordinary one—“growing worse every hour, and even threatening war —and now comes the dramatic* announcement, that the Bolsheviks intend to arrest Roumanin's king. There will certainly be war before this happens. Ring Ferdinand by the way, is married to Princess Marie of Edinburgh. There are few things more remarkable than this present spectacle of the nation which promised protection to Rouman- 1

ia turning upon her and threatening her with disruption. But Russia is beyond our comprehension. It is Lenin who wants to malic peace with the Hohonzollerns and orders fraternisation. It is Lenin who proposes to arrest a Hohenzollern King. How he is going to do it is the interesting question. The immediate future for Roumania will not be pleasant. It is now some time since President Wilson indicated that the Allies would stand to Roumania in fair or foul, and this promise has, doubtless, buoyed up the nation, beset on all sides bv enemy forces. The fate of Roumania (like all other countries contending against the Central Powers) depends, on the outcome of the war. In this there is a common destiny, but all must ap predate as specially fine the superb courage of the Roumanians who now at the time of supreme crisis, defy the enemy and show a resolute spirit to stand or fall with the loval Allies.

The stories of strikes and anarchy in Germany have died down. Either the position was greatly exaggerated or the authoi’ities exercised ruthless control to enforce law and order. ' The fact that the Kaiser and military'leaders are making such bellicose speeches, and quoting the possibilities of the immediate offensive suggest that the enemy peoples are being again lulled into a sense of false sincerity by their apparent hold on the West front, the deciding theatre of the war. Writing in the Fortnight Review for December, Mr. Archibald Hurd remarks that the position of Gerinany to-day is very much the same as that of France when Napoleon’s star was in the ascendant; Europe was at his feet, and yet the fruits of victory were denied to him by some unseen and incalculable power which neither he nor his Ministers, nor his generals could 'comprehend. The armies tramped over Europe, everywhere imposing their will by the bayonet, and the sword, and yet victory eluded their grasp; the final victory necessary to complete the tally of successes seemed always slowly receding.- To-day the German people study the war map and are mystified because it offers no solution to the riddle. Why arc they denied the results of the victories which they trace on the map? That is the riddle of the war, Psychological in- . fluence apart, says Mr Hurd, tlie deI termining' influences in all world have been naval power and economic power. The submarine campaign, with all its Illegalities, and inhumanities, is Germany's desperate effort to break a constriction which is sapping her life blood. Sometimes impatience is exhibited when for a long period the, fleet maintains silence. The war will be won by the army and navy acting together. They constitute not two services biit one.

Ix the political controversey at Home much is heard of the recent conference at Versailles. Apart from the issues affecting the high command of the uava 1 military operations—which must of necessity be left to the judgment of the experts/—we may expect that the Allied Premiers, will not be slow to take advantage of the present internal conditions of the enemy countries. We may look for a' further tightening, it that lie possible, of the blockade; and, among other things, it is not unlikeL that the recent air raids' on London and Paris will lead to what M/ Marcel Hutin refers to a s “efficacious reprisals.” This is, as President Wilson says, tin most critical year of the war. The events of this year, will, without a doubt determine the issu'e of the war. Much, indeed, depends upon America. Tlie fact that the announcement is now made that American troops permanency occuipy a distinctive sector on tlie Western front is evidence that 1 number of Americans now in the fighting line is by no moans inconsiderable. The task is to hold the line until America's contribution is so numerous that the enemy’s case will be hopeless ; and not the least interesting item of news in to-day’s cables is the statement that the shipping control committee expects to be able to transport 1,000,000 American troops in a year. How many there are at the front already we do not know, but the fact that they have taken over a definite portion of the line, and that the British front has been extended St. Quentin, will enable the 7 French to strengthen their own front. We read, too, of troops being sent from China—we have known for a long time that many Cl nese were working as non-combatants in France, but of fighting units thei\ have been none so far—whilst Brazil i sending ships to join the British fleet in European waters. Brazil can sen;’ men also. Germany has the wlioh civilised world against her—the whole world from China to Peru.

It is significant that American troop are holding the western front in the r< gion whence a German onslaught is believed to he likely by way of Switzerland. A military movement of the character lias been forecasted for son it time past, and it- is now being anticipated by thousands of American troops being stationed in the danger zone. That these troops have not been sent to tli other flank, suggests the British are -well able to bold the sea board, and it is cheering to find as indicated by Mr Lloyd George's statement this week, that the British are able to take over more and more of the French lines ol defence. This shows the growing strength and might of the British, at time when it is manifest America rsending troops to Europe as fast as transport can he arranged. America's part in the war is discussed by Air. James Davenport Whelplcy in the December Fortnightly. To the fighting line America is contributing more men every week, he says, and the tide will know no turning until the need is satisfied. The problem of ocean transport is greater.than that of man-power, —otigh it is being taken care of to a most .satisfactory degree. 'lt is the greatest problem of its kind ever faced by a nation at war. In view of this task the embargo upon shipment to neutral countries, or unnecessary export of any kind, becomes enormously important, not only that the enemy shall not benefit, but that every ship of cargo-carrying power shall he available for military purposes, filio American theory as to the use of ships at this time is that the whole world must necessarily hold its desires in obeyance, the neutral as well as the combatant world, while the needs of the hour are satisfied. Regardless of how long the war may continue, and as to what state the world mjiy come to before the i

end, says Mr. Whelpley, there is no question that the spirit and resources of the American people will he T'fjual to the burden imposed. With exports from North and South America controlled in the interests of the Allies, the Germans will have to look elsewhere for xnanw hundreds of thousands of tons of food and other materials needed to carry on. It can be but a matter of time until bankruptcy in men, money, and materials puts an end to the pou er to resist the growing strength of t Allied forces.