CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 8, 13 December 1915, Page 5

CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

perienced.. If a man has strength in wind and limb, but has, say, bad eyesight, an .attestation form can be found for him as easily as an exemption; card. , , »,. . •

;'),,. ' r '-j :•!.■'■ ' . ir.'t.l*H/;- 'f.r.'.j!. * The military ' situation"' in' ! Macedonia is very grave, and apparently' the Allies are 1 aitemplmg"; an* impossible task in endeavouring to stem the enemy on a« large froUt. The course adopted by General Sarrail is. apparently, to retreat *siowly down the Varda? on Salonika and there entrench' and hold on under cover of the Allies' fleet with the naval guns, which can work; effectively on the enemy positions. The fleet also can easily > bombard' the Greek position.. Thus the Salonika salient is a very, suitable and strong one, which can be held in force against a strong enemy. j General Sarrail is apparently satisfied with the way things are going, and while holding Salonika, he will look with confident mind to the Italians at Valona with the rerarined Serbs and the Russians in Bessaraoia." , ,

IJn Berlin there seems to be a lot of fuii. We have often recorded , food; riots, but now the "cry is one for peace,, thousand people in Berlin I made. a demonstration in favor of peace and had, to be dispersed by the ed. These reports may be merely a part of Germany's propaganda sysj tern, meant to mislead. But the truth will out, and there seems no doubt that these demonstrations really occur.

Concerted ,action on the Allies sideseems now necessary a.njjl,,, when things are about as serious as can,,be, it would not be surprising if such was taken at once. The War Council at Paris has' been active and has sent a Note to Greece worded with calm strength demanding -immediate settlement. We read that Ministers of the Quadruple Entente met M. Skouloudis ,whom Mr Donoughoe says has accepted the Allies' main demands. But there is probably the old story of Greece's sovereign rights, which are put forward on every occasion and must not be violated. It is announced that there is no intention of abandoning the Balkans by the Allies. To do so would probably be a most fatal blow to the' Allies, because Greece and Roumania would at once go over to the Germans and another million fresh men placed in the field. The men at Gallipoli would be seriously threatened, if hot driven out by the Balkan armies. The retention of Salonika is imperative, because it is only, oy holding on there that the Entente is keeping Greece and Roumania out of the war.

It is good news to hear that the Italians have heen landing in Albania for some days. There are some 200,000 Serbs in Albania between Durazzo and Scutari, while King Peter with 40.000 men and his Government has arrived afc Scutari, in Albania. The Italian landing and the possible immediate re-arming of the Serbs is opportune, because it means that the alleged concentration of the enemy af, Uskub is the result of the arrival of the Italians. They will relieve the pressure on the Allies in the south to a certain extent. The iiext expected arrivals are the Russians, who cannot delay much longer.

Recruiting in Great Britain is booming still more, and the Royal household has given the lead in a national matter.* The whole of the Royal household staff has enlisted! In Scotland, the clergy, are doing their share, aril the theology classes ; are practically, "non-sunt." New Zea- , land has done very well, but it is sure that the splendid rally at Home will find an .echo in the Colonies. But un- ' til certain matters of pension and

positions for .. men who have physical defects which do not render ; them unfit for certain work, are arranged, there will be difficulty ex-