CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 7, 11 December 1915, Page 5

CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

*• Tho! 'military situation in ' Macedonia has developed rapidly, and the, British liave, after three dhys’ fight-1 mg, made a general retreat. The Bulgars attacked in superior minibars,"’and all; attacks were;, beaten back/'finally ceasing after three days’ gding." 1 result is-that the Allies theii retreated generally. /Tins is not cheery, but it means that they are making a shorter front and conse- . qudfttiy, if the strategic position is good, they will be better able to fight more effectively. It is certainly not good, but it, on the other hand, shows that the Allies can' beat off attacks as they wish. Mons showed what one Britisher can do .against a five-to-one foe. The Bulgars. will no doubt follow up, unless their losses have been too (great, which is stated to bo the case. i • ; ;' v,. ■ > I nl . : | ,1 H ‘ ’ ’Splendid recruiting gnpq on in England, the result of ilia, approach of' 11th December, which was, the time, limit'set under Lord Derby’s scheme., Many apparently luid plenty of time to chew the matter over, and at the last hour decided, as they should, as true Englishmen. The boom is also helped by the seriousness of the pbsition in the Balkans. It is remarkable how the men do rush to enlist when serious disquieting news come to hand, especially of actual military operations. And here is where the authorities seem to make the mistake, in regard to the censorship. JNo one wants the authorities to let out secrets, but actual happenings in the various theatres, especially military are known o he enemy and reported by him. No one is inclined to believe it then, arid when questions are asked, the truth leaks out. Often the enemy chronicle our reverses'for us. Actual military reverses, known to the enemy, should be unhesitatingly reported, and then recruiting would go up.

In the German Reichstag,the Chancellor,Bethmaun Holhveg, has made a long speech about the war, in which he rightly says that his Yaterland and the Allies have made many advances and have carried out great military operations. But ( he makes the mistake in believing that the Allies are beaten down and cannot rise up. If that is so, why not conclude peace on your own terms, Mr Chancellor? Apparently Germany has sought separate peace with Russia, but llussia is stilly and more powerful to say “No, we will fight on to victory.” Russia is not beaten. It is equally known that, France has declared her determination never to yield, but to carry out her war of vengeance. Britain has never spoken of surrender, and never will. Hollweg has not reckoned with the spirit of his foes. The munition output of the Allies, with Japan, is amounting to unprecedented quantity, and in this direction we are only working up to such a standard and output that will, when the truth is known, astonish the world. Hollweg has not reckoned with the Allied resources and wealth. But his speech shows that a large portion of the Germans believe as he does, and that is what has carried them on. It is, of course, - deluding, but still Germany believes in • Pan-Germanism, and therein lies her strength.

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