The War.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 27 July 1917, Page 3

The War.

Sir E. Carson has been presented with the freedom of the City of Belfast. In the course of his speec 1 of acknowledgment, describing Dr Micbaelis's speech as that of Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg, Sir E. Carson said: J 'lf the Germans want peace we are prepared to-morrow to treat, not with Prussianism, but with the rest of the German nation. If they are sincere in repudiating tha wish to acquire territory or exercise violence towards others, we tell them to come forward and offer to enler into negotiations, but conditionally upon their first withdrawing behind the Rhine. When they show contrition for drenching countries with blood we will be willing to see what can be done to release the world from the terrors' of arms; but there mast be a real peace, ensuring that the sacrifices of those who have fallen will not have been in vain;" -

It is stated in diplomatic circles that the Emperor Charles intended last week to officially appeal to the Pope, King Alfonao, and Queen Wilhelmina to meditate for peace. Notice was given to Germany, and approval secured, when at the last minute news reached Vienna of impending troubles in Russia which had been foreseen in Berlin for several days ahead, and thereupon the mediation plans were relinquished. % It is evident that National Service in Britain is a complete failure, and will shortly close down. It has been a great expense, while the results have been negligible. The functions of the relations, control, and substitution of labour will be transferred to labour es changes. Mr S. Samuel, M.P., in a speech at Wandsworth, said he thought he was not revealing a secret in saymg that the Government intended to adopt aip reprisals, and was making preparations to hit back with similar warfare.

The Sun's Rome correspondent says that it appears certain that the Pope will appeal for peace on the third anniversary of the war next month. There is good reason to believe that, instead of making a general exhortation to all the warring nation?, the Pope will aim at meditation between two nations not technically at war with one another as an initial step lowards negotiation with the belligerents.

Such a suggestion clearly applies to the United States and Austria.

The Germans have occupied Tarnopol. An appalling official account of the situation on the south-western front received by the Russian Government says that a fatal crisis has occurred in the morale of the troop?. Most of the units are completely disorganised, and the "offensive" spirit has utterly disappeared. Orders are unheeded, and exhortations of comrades are replied to by threats and shots. Some elements voluntarily evacuate positions, not waiting for the approach of the enemy, and sometimes urgent orders for reinforcements are discussed for houra. For a dißtance of a hundred versts long files of robust shamelesi deserters are proceeding to the rear, »nd frequently entire units desert. Extreme measures are necessary to avert a catastrophe. The comrrander-in-chief on the western front has ordered deserters to be fired on, as they must take merciless action ogainst the cowards who are selling the Russian revolution.