WHERE THE WAR WILL BE WON.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 231, 1 December 1916, Page 8 (Supplement)

WHERE THE WAR WILL BE WON.

THE KEY TO VICTORY. By SIDNEY A MOSELEY, Author of "The Truth about the Dardanelles." Keep your eye on Salonika! Salonika is the key to the situation and probably only one person in a hundred realises it, even yet. In the Balkans great things are to happen, anl always the centre of the drama will be Salonika. It seems a long time ago when, after the Dardanelles debacle, people amazed and horror-struck at a repo z that a. French army had landed at the Greek town. "What! Another expedition?" was anxiously heard on all sides. But the public has a short memory, even in a big war, and so quickly do the scenes of the various theatres cf war change that the most momentous moves are quickly forgotten. How long since is it when everybody was waiting anxiously far the next step in the Balkans? If you spoke to anybody about the war the reply was a doubtful shake of the head. "Look at the Near East," they sail!. "'Look how the Germans are scoring—overwhelming us. We are too late ;:t Salonika." And so on. I wrote at the time that these gloomy forebodings were not justified by the facts, that Salonika would be a big factor in the future, and time has now shown that we were not so sleepy in our affairs East as some faint-heart-ed people would have us believe. Fortunately enough, another dramatic ict wrested the attention of the people ti another sphere of action. The scene was Verdun. Although it did not lessen the gloomv outlook of the same pessimistic student, it seemed to relieve the embarrassment of those who were conducting the war, and who were being continually asked by amateurish busybodies what we were going to do in the Near East. The splendid battles of Verdun have given the world an opportunity of 'ppreciating the fact that it sometimes pays to permit things to develop. Those who know their Near East must know that there, at least, engineering is much more fruitful than "gingering." The one requires the 'finesse Of the diplomat, backed up by force, the 9999999 th other is simply a process of rush in close formation. Sometimes you get through—but only sometimes. Our patience at Salonika will be rewarded, as I will show. Let me mention here first an interesting fact. WASTED? NOT A BIT OF IT! Few people—even those usually well informed—were aware that the schema to checkmate German ambitions in the Balkans originated in the mind of M. Briand, the great French statesman. It was he who thought ouc- and planned the Salonika expedition. His proposals, I know for a fact, met with considerable opposition from a powerful section. In the end his persistence prevailed. With the permission of the Venezelist Govednment, we occupied this very important strategic centre, sa.t down on our haunches, and waited. Soon those who wore opposed to the new venture cried aloud that the men ware being wasted. "What good are we doing there? We'ro wasting time!" And so on. There is no doubt now that the Salonika expedition was one of the most fair-reaching schemes of tire war. Its effects are bound to be seen before long. Had we not landed, the whole oi the Near East would have been overrun by the Teuton hordes. Roumania would never have come on our side —if, indeed, she had not bees compelled to come in against us. Greece, by the strange political gymnastics of King Constantine, would liave almost certainly played us false; Servia's gallant little army would surely have been wiped out; and even Italy's position as regards Germany would have been altogether different. To-day our prestige in the Balkans is at its height. And the meaning oi this can be observed in the Far East, not least in our cherished Indian possessions. By holding fast to Salonika we created a timely diversion, held up Bulgaria, afforded a new passage to, and later re-organised, the very valuable if sorely-tned Servian army; we protected Roumania frbm German threats of fright fulness being put into execution, and gave the necessary support to the Greek patriots who wished Greece to join the Entente. Now, if purely defensive operations have produced such excellent results politically —as apart from military results —what is likely to happen in the future?

To make a big and concerted move forward while the intentions of Greece were unknown would have been unsound tactics. Soon Greece will decide. Then a big advance, with Greek troops side by side with ours, perhaps, will follow.

Bulgaria, pressed on the one side by Russia and Roumania, and by our Allied forces on the Salonika front, can scarcely make a prolonged resistance Once she goes, fciie end of Turkey liecomes a matter of weeks, perhaps days. It might sound far-fetched at this juncture, but if Bulgaria could be made to declare war against Turkey and a mow towards Constantinople were made, tho Ottoman's last defence at the Chatalj. l . lines would be short-lived. Possibly a simultaneous move from tli'a Black Sea kind —who knows?—the Dardanelles would he made! Such r. move would crush Turkey like n matchbos.

"The Dardanelles again! - ' I lien" someone exclaim. Well, if public opinion rather than military advice precludes another landing here, there are other parts suitable for a landing jd the neighbourhood. More I cannot say. These theories may not be held li - the man in the £treet, but I have renson to believe they are not outside tlm bounds of possibility, according to tin* French Headquarters Staff.

THE WAD WILL BF DF.C'TDF.T) IN THE BALKANS.

With the breaking-up of Bulgaria and Turkey. Hungary secedes from the alliance with Austria and the doom of Francis Joseph is sealed. Imagine the spectacle of our armies marching from four corners to beautiful Budapest. Imagine th. l already half-smashed Austrian Empire trying to parry such a blow!

Hindenburg knew something wlioi lie demanded troops from the west lo (Ivfend the eastien front. He always insisted upon a mass concentration. knew that the Calais dream was ns shadowy as an entry to Berlin from across the Tthine. No: there is n liett<u- way to get to Berlin, and that tlint route w.is appreciated by our higher command some of us knnv on the dn? the Frenclt landed at Salonika! Watch Salonika ! Follow the movement of the half-million or so men who

form the French, British, Servian, Italian, and Rusisan armies. Probably when tiie great movement is made an enemy offensive will be directed against Valona, which is credited with being almost as strongly held as Salonika. Great guns have been placed on the heights around the city, and 1 should a venturesome foe endeavour to take it he will encounter a second Verdun.

It is not very probable, however, that Austria will hazard such an nitack. What is more on the cards that the Italian*, acting with the reorganised armies of Servia and Montenegro, will begin an offensive first, simultaneously with a forward movement by the Allies in Salonika. For the purpose of Italy's campaign Valona would make an excellent base. There would have been none of these possibilities had we not strongly entrenched ourselves at Salonika. —"Answers-"