THE HUNTLY PRESS PUBLISHED WEEKLY AT 1 P.M. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1915. The War News

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 10 December 1915, Page 2

THE HUNTLY PRESS PUBLISHED WEEKLY AT 1 P.M. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1915. The War News

WAR news of late has not been of a very satisfactory nature. If the cable is to believed, the situation in France may be summed up in the words “ nothing doing.” In Russia, things are a good deal mope hopeful than they were mohths ago. In the Alps there appears to be almost a deadlock, while in the Balkans, things appear to be distinctly bad. This last may be in appearance only, but, on paper, we do not seem to be making anything like the progress that we ought. The reverses suffered by the Servian army, havo resulted in practically the whole of Servia falling into the hands of our enemies, while the operations at the Daidanelles have been productive of little result. Greece is still vacillating, and appears to be riding (he rail, ready to drop on the softest side when the right moment comes. Of course, different people take different views of tile situation, and no doubt, there are who could take comlort out of the very news that is breaking the hearts of others, but when every allowance is made, it must be admitted by all that the situation is very grave. The men on the street is very prone to take an optimistic view or the situation, chiefly because we are far from the conflict, and because in a general way we are not suffering from the effects of the war. The question which is exercising the minds of thoughtful men now, is “ How can we bring home to the minds of the people the gravity of the situation, and their responsibilities.” It would seem that nothing but an invasion of the country would wake some people up. Recruiting is bad all over the Dominion, especially in the South. Many men who intend to volunteer will not do so until after the holidays. They want hi have a little enjoyment before they go —perhaps to their death. They would like once more to spend the festive season with their people, to go to the usual picnics, the races perhaps, and then, after they have had their enjoyment they will offer themselves for the Front. And much sympathy will go out to these men, for after all they as well as we, are only human, but at the same time, it would be to their everlasting credit if they would forego their very human desires, and complete their sacrifice by giving up their pleasures and offering themselves now, at the time when they are most needed. At the present moment, Greece is wobbling, and reading between the lines, one is led to the belief that, if given her choice, she would side with Germany. Roumania, too, although she appears to favour the Allies, is in such a delicate position, that if the Central powers should score any further big success, she would find it very hard to keep from throwing in her lot with the apparently victorious party. In both these countries the Germans are using the Press for all it is worth to bolster up their cause, and we may be sure, that extracts from the papers of the various British courtries, showing the apparent reluctance of the people to do their duty in enlisting, are made full use of. Thus the shirker is doubly a danger to t:,o Empire for he nit only withholds his active help from our fighting lines, but he serves as a text oil which to hang a discourse on the Britisher’s unwillingness to shoulder the burden which is rightfully his. The shirker is doing violence not only to the Empire, but to himself and his progeny. His little soul must constantly shrink as he tasks liunsMf to find excuses for not doing his simple duty old it will take generations to breed out the littleness which will have crept into the very marrow of his bones. May something bring home to him his viieness ere it be too late.