CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 57, 12 June 1916, Page 5

CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

Hie news of the immense successes of the Russians in Gaiicia and also in Bukovina is electrical. We might expect to hear almost any time now of their appearance before the fortified city of Lemberg, which they captured and lost twelve months ago. Showing that the success is of general character, the advance into Bukovina i 3 particularly gratifying. The inhabitants of Crernowitz and other places in the south have been ordered to leave by the Austrians, but it is statfd that they are satisfied to remain, being of opinion that the Russians will bring supplies of food with them. The report, that four divisions of Austrians have already left the Trentino bears out the contention on Saturday that something of. the kind would follow shortly if the Russian success was as great as had then been * cabled. But it is more of a big move than anticipated at this end of the Globe. Their captures are enormous, and it almost seems that Russia is going to be the pivot on which the success of the Allies will, turn for a finish. The latest figures enumerating their losses are stated to be—one general, 1649 officers, 160,000 men, 12-1 guns,and 180 machine-guns.

The position in the Balkans seemed to have eased slightly, and the relations between Greece and the Allied countries is seen in the latest decision of the Allies to allow some Greek vessels to leave port. The demobilisation order has cleared the atmosphere a little, and hope is expressed by Mr Martin Donohue, the, well-known cor respondent, that other difficulties might be satisfactorily! arranged. Evidently, this has been done, but there is stated to be a

great deal of, feeling in the country

oyer the Allies' - thumb-screw, and, it j|is generally recognised that thei'o is ' more behind it than simply the blockade of commence. The'Daily Chroni-

ele puts the position in a nutshell

when it advises King Constaiitine, if he wishes to retain the friendship of the Allies, to use his army to expel their natural enemies, the Bulgars. from the country. That is, of course, what the whole strength of the Entente diplomacy has been directed

on ever since the opening of the campaign. Still, there is no saying what may eventuate. We learn to-day that the people are distinctly pro-Ally, and tha ; " the Government is in greater disfavor now than ever.

A short cable states that the French have occupied Thasos. Thasos is an - island in the north of the Aegean Sea, only a few miles from the Thracian coast, off Kavalla, and will be used as a base of anti-submarine operations for the eastern end of the campaign. At any rate, the movement is full of significance, and is not likely to assist ■ the populace to a calmer state oi mind, or to hold out any hope for a less* rigorous handling of the position by the Allies. Thasos has an interesting history. It was occupied first b.v fhoenicians, ami was colonised In Parians, about G3O B.C. Its great attraction was its gold mines. It was conquered by the Persians in 192 B.C. After the Persian wars- Thasos' joined the Deljan League, but revolted in 465, and was conquered by Athens after a two years' siege. .After 405 Thasos was for some.time dependent on Sparta, but for most of the 4th ceii tury B.C. it was again subject to Athens. Later it was under Macedonian rule, but in 197 was made a free state by the Romans; After the fall of the Eastern empire it was for some time possessed by .Venice. The island is mountainous, and not fertile; the chief exports are fir timber, olive oil, and wax. The area is 168 sq. m., and the population 8000.