The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1916. SALONIKA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 54, 9 February 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1916. SALONIKA.

A leading Canadian journal has discovered a similarity between the Allies’ position at Salonika at this time and the situation in which the Duke of Wellington was placed at Tones Bedras, near Lisbon, in the year 1811). It is at least cheering to remember that the Iron Duke’s operations at Torres Bedras were a most decisive success for the British, and we may therefore hope that the parallel will be complete. The journal quoted reminds us that the Iberie Peninsula. Spain and Portugal, one hundred and live years ago was overrun by the French just as the Balkans Peninsula to-day is overrun by the Austro-Ger-mans. When the invaders, sweeping everything before them arrived in front of the lines at Torres Vedras, Cadi/, wag about the only town held by the Spaniards, and the French, to be absolute masters of Portugal, had onlv to break through the lines and drive the English into the sea. So far as Portugal is concerned, the situation of the British greatly resembled the situation of the Allies as regards Greece. The Portuguese were friendly. So are the Greeks. But the Portuguese Court party stood in fear and trembling before the “invincible French,” just as the Greek Court party stands in fear and trembling before tbi> invincible Germans. The Iron Duke could not count upon as much practical help from the Portuguese Regency and on as much stabilitv of policy in the Portuguese aristocracy as General Sarrail is likely to receive to-dav from the Skoulondis combination and the Greek Court party. A most interesting point of the parallel is that even in those farhack da-vs complications with neutrals could not he avoided for the great ( American Eagle Happed its wings and protested against the Duke of Wellington’s embargo on shipping in the port of Lisbon—the same old pro- j Vest of interference with trade. But, it wont no further and had no more real weight than President Wilson’s

Notes of to-day. The alarmist Press of 1810 was, of course, quite certain disaster would befall Wellington, as it is also to-day so sure that the Allies cannot do very much good at Salonika. We are also told that the War Office acted with almost fatal caution, and far irom sending Wel-

lington resources proportionate to the danger in which he stood, the Cabinet

supplied them sparingly for tear of encouraging him to keep up the struggle on the Peninsula.’’ i'he Canadian writer above quoted considers that in

a measure this is a picture of to-day. The military experts of 1810 were convinced that Napoleon, having reduced Spain and Portugal would concentrate his forces and crush the British. Is not that precisely what some military critics are predicting. “1 he Kaiser,” the sav, “having reduced

Serbia, is about to concent rate his forces against the Allies and drive them back to Salonika and into the sea.” The critics have merely overlooked the fart that while Serbia is invaded, just as Spain was invaded, the Serbian army, unlike the Spanish army and the Portuguese army, is still a fighting force to he reckoned with, and as regards resource the Allies at Salonika are more favored than were the British at Torres Vedras. Wellington’s magnificent position at Torres Vedras was not stronger than is the position of the Allies at Salo- * nika. “If we leave the Pemnsu*a, he wrote, “the general submission of Spain, perhaps of Europe, will follow. The expenditure which is refused for the continuance of the war around Lisbon will have to be incurred for the carrying out of a war between Dover and London.” Ho was quite right, and if the parallel now drawn is borne out in its entirety, as we believe and trust it will he, Salonika may prove the key to the situation and the real Waterloo of the Hunnish hordes.