CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 47, 30 May 1916, Page 5

CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

The invasion of Greece by the Bulgars as announced in a short message last night will not have cume as a surprise to many readers. There Was always more than a probability that the vacillating policy of Athens | would bring about such a move by the enemy, and the action of the Greek authorities in withdrawing before the invaders wo ■> bolstered up with an excuse that no distinction could be made between the belligerents, and that their decision was analogous to pievious dealings with the Allies. There is this distinction, however—and it is the view that is causing much indignation among the pro-Alliesand others among the population—the Hellenic Government is opening the way for the spoliation of the country' by its hereditary and implacable eriemy. Well may the Vehezclist press ask the question: Why is the Greek Army mobilised ? 'The report that an important movement of Greeks in 'Macedonia appears, imminent most. likely prompted the question. Between the two fires of the Allies ' and tlw Ger.mo-Bulgars, the position, of Greece is arj unenviable one,, and something better,in,backbone tj)an tire proverbial, jellyfish js, required by, the Government in dealing with the proposition. The enemy have now acted with the, Greek's on the principle that not being with us in the fight you must be treated as enemies. There should be no half-way house with the Allies, either.

The presence of 25,000 Bulgais and Germans at Bemir Hissar, within forty-five miles of Salonika, does not improve matters for General Sarrai!, although, no doubt, .it may not have any serious effect on his policy, as there are signs, that, an: Allied attack was in contemplation on the Bulgarian left flank. This, indeed, is given as the reason for the invasion by the enemy, but another sphere, of, operations by the Bulgars must not be lost sight of. Other forces have invaded the,'country from, the direction «-f Xanthi (or Eskije), which is about ten miles outside the extreme eastern frontier between Greece and Bulgaria, The enemy has crossed the border and is marching on Kavalla, twenty miles ro the south-west on the Gulf of the same name. Most of these names will be familiar to readers, as, in the early part of operations in the Balkans, these places were prominent in the cables.

Latest cables confirm the first reports tliat the Greeks are failing bach. beiore tne imlgars in ah parts invaded." ' Then tne presence ot tne ene-

my in tne iXiuir txissar region nas compelled tne Jb reach to relinquish the motor service which was instituted lor conveying supplies to tiie ftaniuestricken clistricLs ot Eastern Macedonia. Tho Bulgars must have come to the conclusion that the Allies were becoming too strongly entrenched, and that something in the nature ot an offensive must be undertaken beiore the Allies were in a position to do likewise. Anti-Lulgar demonstrations in Salonika show that the Allies have many friends in tho country, ana that there is still hope of the pro-Al-lied feeling being strong enough to influence tho Greek. Government to c»me in out of the wet! It does uot matter so much about King Constantino !

There is a lull to report at Verdun. A lull means a temporary calm; it is hardly as satisfactory as that, but only a slackening in the tremendous efforts on the part of the enemy to break through at all costs. To-day's news on the whole is good. Almost without exception, whenever the Germans attempted the offensive, they were repulsed. That they are not idle will be realised when it is stated that no'less than sixteen attacks were made on one day at Avocourt Wood.

"How use breed a habit." —Shakespeare. . Many families invariably use Baxter's Lung Preserve]- as a remedy for coughs, colds and bronchial troubles. They know it i« not wise to experiment when such dangers are prevalent. After a test of over half a century, "Baxter's" still prevails as the sure cure for chest complaints, sore throats and similar ailments. Besides, its value as a tonic cannot be over-esti-mated. Get a big Is lOd bottle to-day from any Chemist or Storekeeper.

We learn that the Crown Prince was responsible for the holocaust of the past few clays, as it was his intention to settle Mort Homme once and for all. Columns were hurled east and west one after another, but, as the cable says, "it was useless butchery." In fact, there is now, more than ever, the best reason for believing that the Germans are well held by the French, who, for a time it i seemed, were inclined to be over-confident of their strength. General Petain has evidently not lost hisgrip of the position.

The success of our airmen on the Western front makes great reading. There were fifteen combats in one day, and in no case does it appear that the Allies suffered any material damage. On the other hand, the Germans were given a very warm time, n Particularly was this the case in the contest where a German pursuer-i was "turned ;i into the pursued, and literally* run to earth. Among the successes reported, the motor-guns"at Verdun'' claimed two victims, which speaks highly for the efficiency of aerial defence on this front. ■'' "'!''' '' ■ ' : " ' '' ;

The 'position'on' the Austro-Italian front is full of possibilities. The Itat ians,' we learn, have abandoned their main line on the Arsiro-Asiago plateau, and the Austrians claim to have made important advances. In doing so, they have suffered considerably, their losses since the 14th being estimated at 100,000. he campaign here is said to be of a different nature to that at Verdun, where continuous lines of trenches are in vogue, as the mountainous nature •of the country is against such a system of warfare. The Italian people are said to be confident that the Army will be able to,withstand the assaults of their opponents, which is a consummation devoutly to be wished. , . , . ~ fl

Lloyd George, like Father o*Flynn, "has a wonderful way wid ' y im!" Again he has been able to conciliate the munition-workers over the dispute regarding the Whitsun holidays, inducing them to agree to have one day only, and postponing the other holidays to some time in July. Now, the question arises, How much better arc we going to be in July? Evidently, there is some big move on before then, for which an enormous supply of ammunition is required, and the authorities are not prepared to take the risk of being short. Lloyd George made use of some significant remarks in his conference with representatives of the engineering and ship-building employers at the Clyde and the Tyne. He pointed out that a two-days' holiday really men n't the loss of a week's supply of ammunition; that the French, Russians, Italians, Germans, and Austrians were going without holidays ; that Britain must make «. special effort in the production of munitions during the next ft'"' months; that the fight was getting hotter, and the army was clamoring for more guns.

"I should be ashamed," said Lloyd George, ''to write to General Haig and explain that I could only send half the usual fortnight's supply of ammunition, and hundreds feAver machine guns." That fetched them! Britishers like to be talked to and told the truth. When they know bow things are, they usually have enough intelligence to strike the right path, and however rough and stony be the.way, they are always willing to make sacrifices and do deeds which will land them at the top of the hill sooner or latter. It's a way they have in the British Army! Lloyd George is not the man to put off the evil day, and lie can be relied upon to have settled the difference satisfactorily now and for the future; that is to say, be will not have to fight the same battle with the munitioners when July blows lound.