CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 24, 4 January 1916, Page 5

CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

" .. V ■ I With tlie opening of the New Year, fresh hopes rise in our breasts for the ultimate victory of our arms. Certain it is that success is only a matter of time, but, then, time means money and men, the loss of our fl ear flesh and .blood, families cut down to the roots, and brave women weeping. 'The year has been a trying one to the Empire, reverses overbalancing the successes attained; indeed, there is so little satisfaction in the so-called victories that it is questionable whether we have gained anything except the , that we were short of am- ‘ munition, and machine guns, and

M and—rthat we must be up qnd do- ( ' jng.-, ( Buf, after all,, that is a great deal. ; We know that we cannot go on , blundering,vdong as in the. past if we

are to whip, the enemy,, whose military organisation;,is the acme of science and a marvel of concentrated effort. As the outcome of the naked truth, which has 'had to be driven home to us, we see now the adoption of a temporary and modified form of conscription, which is apparently about to take place in Britain. Lovers of fair play—and Empire:—have foreseen this for some time. There could be no other way out of the new difficulty and it was bound to .j vr ».»V'i -4 4 p . . come sooner or later it we were to play the game with our and beat the' erteihy at their own game. Each forward movement on the part of‘German/'has increased the demand on our man-power, and this must now ''’ ‘tie ''immediately met with the com- ’! mahd of the whole of' the possible military strength—not only of Great Britain but of the Empire—to prevent further extension of the field of war.

■ Haphazard methods of raising and maintaining forces in the field cannot prevail against an autocracy which has had 40 years’ start. Germany is a nation in arms—7o,ooo,ooo people, forcibly educated into a state of one mind, and now the docile creature or creation of a vainglorious military autocrat. Such a nation cannot be beaten by the policy of “muddling through somehow,” as one writer puts it. The author of “Can Germany ■Win.?” said that Britain would get some shocks that would surprise her, but that the day when the last shock opened her eyes would be the. day which would see Britain on the high road to victory. If the,war is allowed to drag on through want of vigor, the Allies may lose more friends among the neutrals; but if these countries see Great Britain in deadly earnest they will come to her side. The present active policy in the Balkans is already producing its effect in Greece and Roumania, and if it 5s si-ill more actively and powerfully carried cut, even Turkey may throw off the German yoke which really means her obliteration: Apart from all other consider ations conscription is the fairest method of calling men to the ranks. In these days of education and general enlightenment, the methods applied for the enforcement of'conscription will be intelligently and equitably used. Every man who has no ties and no one dependent upon him should be compelled to tight for his country when the necessity arises. Too many, even in this country, are shirking their duties.

The cables continue to give us small references to the fight for HartuumnsWciller]topf. This is a lofty peak in Alsace, which commands the road to Upper Alsace. The struggle has been a long and severe one, but neither side can say they hold the summit in its entirety. The effectiveness of French artillery has been the stumbling block to the progress of the Germans, who have been strongly reinforced of late, until there is no doubt they are numerically superior. The report of a retirement by the French ori a two-hundred metre front in this region is not serious, as it was undertaken to escape the effects of a violent bombardment. Evidently, also, the enemy were doubtful of the reception their infantry would get, as they did nft follow up the advantage. .Regarding the news from the various

theatres,, there is agrowing feeling that the censorship is altogether too irksome. This applies particularly to the West, which is looked upon as the main and decisive centre of operations. To those who are inclined to become a little bitter in their thoughts and expressions against the authorities in this connection, it may he pointed out that perhaps we are being told all that matters. It is quite feasible that the operations, though continual, have no appreciable effect upon the issue. A slight advance here or an orderly retirement there is only part of the duty’s work, as it were, Rest assured, that when the Allies are ready and make a move, the world will hear about it and no doubt a few ihore papers in Germany will be suppressed because they told the truth.

The deadlock in the Balkans is not relieved ,l;y up, elusion by King Constantine, such ,as appears to be part pf. an, interview, the first portion'Of, which is not to hand. The fierce light from the Allies boating upon , hi,> throne appears to be worrying < him, and well it might. His attempt to justify his neutrality is mightily amusing, and if the Greeks db not soon realise the terrible danger into which their monarch is carrying Hellenism there will be a sad awakening for them some day. For Constantine to talk about allowing an invasion of his country by, the Bulgars, while at the same time being a consenting party to an agreement handing over Salonika to the other side is surely the sign of a very weak-kneed personage, if it is not actual treasonable; the reason ,is. not far to seek: it is done in the interests of his luo-ther-in-law, that Arch-fiend the Kaiser; (and notwithstanding his protestations to the contrary he is endeavoring by subtle and plausible statements to hoodwink the Allies. He may recognise too late that the Allies have a good hold of part of his territory, and it may be no easy matter to compel them- to let go.

The tragedy of the Persia on the eve of the'New Year will set aflame anew the demon fire of revenge, in spite of the better feelings, in thousands, of good souls who, before the war, were not guilty of harboring other than for an instant a single thought of reprisal. After the shock of the Lusitania horror had subdued, and other minor murders of less importance had been committed, all of which were vigorously protested against by the Nations concerned, there was a feeling that Germany or Austria had been brought to thenbearings and would no longer be content to be included in the criminal list. But there is no trusting them. Here was the Persia, which is essentially engaged in the passenger seivice, torpedoed withodt warning, and in five minutes nearly four hundred souls were thrust into eternity. We read that two boats full of people wore draw down with the sinking vessel, there being no time to cut the roues! How dreadful can Fate be at times! Is it any wonder that India is shocked, and that public opinion strongly condemns any peace until the enemy is crushed ? Can the American press be blamed for calling the enemy hard names, and reminding the world what Germanism means, and what it would mean if victory for them or peace at their own price eventuated?