OPINION OPTIMISTIC TO ALLIES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 52, 7 February 1916, Page 5

OPINION OPTIMISTIC TO ALLIES

Forces Distributed on the Frontiers

BULGAKS' SIGNIFICANT MOVE TO RUSIGHUK

Germany Prescribes Sedative tor America

The Appam’s Mysterious Capturer

the troops for their pluck and erdurance in facing the very severe difficulties of the camp-i.gn. as the climatic; conditions nail greatly increased the natural o')stxd?s by which the enemy were favored. General Gaudier mentions that a mirage generally lenders the Turkish trenches invisible, and travellers in hot countries can form a good idea what sdeh a phenomenon would mean to an attacking force. A mirage is described by one authority as a deui-uve appearance due to the rays of light being successively bent in their passage through the air. This bending is occasioned by layers of air at different elevations having a varying density on account of the heat from the ground, which curves the light rays so that the tau-t gent to the ray at the eye ol the < bserver comes from below, and therefore the image seems as if it were below the ground. Sometimes inverted images of distant trees and shgjs are seen near the horizon beneath the direct images. At other times, especially in hot countries, the ground is lost sight of beyond a certain distance from where the observer is standing, and he sees in its place "hat appeals to be a sheet of water, either m a state of quiescence .or in motion resembling waves.

Although the German Government refrains from publishing to the outside world any definite list of its losses in the war. some significant figures have been revealed in a cablegram received at San Francisco from Rotterdam, regarding the new Almanack de Gotha. This shows that in the first 10 months of 191.'), 186 German counts, 456 barons, 592 members of the old nobility, and 552 of later nobility were killed. The families of the Counts von Minckenstein have lost six killed and von Dohna four killed. The families of Dalwick and Wangenheim have each lost nine barons and of von Maitzahu and von Massenbach eight barons, each of old nobility. The family of von Wed el has lost 16 members in addition to two counts, while the von Bulows have lost 11 members.

A .patriotic suggestion that the National Anthem should be sung daily in the schools was made by Mr W. B. Scandrett to the Southland Education Board. His letter was read as follows: “I am informed by a friend in Melbourne that the school children commence the day’s duties in the schools in Victoria by singing a verse of the National Anthem and the following new verse ; God bless our splendid men, Send them safe home again, God bless our men. Keep them victorious, Happy and chivalrous, They are so dear to us, God bless our men." “They are no doubt very simple words, but worthy of the occasion. If you would approve of the suggestion to ask the teachers in the schools in the Southland district to sing this verse, I would gladly supply you with sixteen thousand copies of the verse, if you would send them to the teachers for distribution.” On the motion of Mr J. C. Thomson, M.P., it was decided to accept Mr Scumlrett’s offer with thanks, and school teachers throughout the province are to bo instructetl to have a verse of the Na-

tional Anthem and the new verse sung each morning by the pupils.

CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

There is still meagre news from the most important theatres of war. From the West comes a tantalising message of the closing of the Belgian frontier, and hinting at preparations by the Germans for a big offensive. But we must rest content and leave it at that. From the Russians in their own land nothing absolutely is to hand. A message with a good deal of political significance, however, states that there is satisfaction in the retirement of M, Goremykin (the Premier), which removes the obstacles to a speedy convocation of the Duma, hut the position is chastened by the fact that his successor, M. Stunner, is an intimate friend of his and holds identical views, while both are unprogressive in policy. ,

From the Balkans the position of Roumania is held np as a bright star in the firmament of war, and it seems that there is now further probability of this Nation coming to the assistance of the Entente very soon. The fact that nine-tenths of her forces are mobilised, and occupy strategic' positions on the frontiers whence trouble is likely to assail her once a decision to join the Allies has been made, is very reassuring. We learn that they are concentrating upon the Bulgarian and Hungarian boundaries, and also that a Bulgarian force has withdrawn from the Salonika front and gone towards Rustchuk, and piecing two and two together, there is much ground for hope that the help of Roumania will be of great assistance to our side in settling the Balkan trouble. German press comment shows that the authorities fear the time when Ronmania makes a decision to fight for the Allies, and towards this consummation devoutly to be wished, it is stated that the purchase of Roumania’s wheat supply after their harvest was a distinct win for Allied diplomacy.

Rustchuk, in which direction the Bulgarians have gone, is an important town in Bulgaria on the right bank of the river Danube, 139 miles by rail north-west of Varna, the chief seaport of Bulgaria, on the Black Sea. On the opposite side of the river in Roumania, is the historic town of Giurgiu, popularly but incorrectly known as Giurgevo, which is forty miles by rail south-south-west of Bucharest, the cauital of the country, and of which it is the port. The fortifications here were destroyed by the Russians in 1829, and in July, 1854,the Turks here defeated the Russians. The principal exports are grain, timber, salt and petroleum, and the population is now 20,000.

The fighting on the Bulgar-Rouman-ian frontier (which is the line of the river Danube, the lower part of which is under international control) should be o'f quite a different nature to that to be faced by the Roumanians on the Austrian frontier, as for the greater part the Transylvanian Alps form the boundary.

The diplomatic relations of America and Germany are reported to be still near breaking point, but Germany’s formula in reference to the Lusitania appears to contain all the ingredients of the necessary sedative for America’s complaint. It is like German greasiness to state at this stage that the Lusitania act was without intent on her part. It was an act of reprisal, states the formula, but as Germany agrees that reprisals ought not to be, applied to Neutrals, and expresses regret at the loss of American lives, reparation is offered in the shape of an indemnity. The sight of the dollars will be—most people are afraid—too much of a pull at the purse-strings for the Yankees to resist. Still, the Ottawa outrage is certain to have exciting effect upon .American opinion, and it most assuredly will not conduce to the settlement of the present bones of contention.

In Mesopotamia the weather conditions have moderated, clear cold weather .succeeding the floods which caused the Tigris to overlhw its banks. General Candler pays great credit to