The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1915. WAR HAPPENINGS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 182, 9 April 1915, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1915. WAR HAPPENINGS.

I (Witt whicb is incorporated The T<\\ hape Font ~a;l Wainiarmo New a.)

Only for the rapid and rather surprising progress the Russian* have made since the fall or Przemysl, war news would be of quite an unsatisfying character. Although apparently small things have been achieved in the west, i; seems that they are, * in manv cases, not devoid of major importance. The enemy's troops facing British,Freneh, and Belgians have to be kept well occupied to prevent, their transference to the east, and, from what is said in the meagre scraps of intellegence thai pass a relentless censor, sonn positions that: do not seem much to us are necessary to control roads, and as vantage grounds for further successful assault with the least possible expenditure of men and munitions, as well as tu place the enemy in just the reverse position. We must realise that so long as Germany holds Belgium and Northern Prance hforce, it would be extremely ex pensive in lives to attempt anything; but the most cautious advance. Trenches, equal to tin best of fortifications, have been dug everywhere it is in Germai interests her soldiers should remain, and the whole of the eoiirtry they occupy is without doubt one immense and veritable minefield. To attempt to cross this country in force would involve an unwarrantable expenditure cf the loss of our men, and so long as a much easier road to Berlin -s to be found from the eastern front, it would, so far as information allows us to judge, be mad-' uess to throw away the energy and loss it would involve, even if if were successful. Indeed, if is I very likely that Belgium will .be! cleared by pressure brought •; ! bear from the opposite direction. I With respect to what is being j -lone in the Dardanelles we are! kept in ignorance, but that some I prodigious reorganisation is taking place there can be no doubt. Great changes must be taking | place in Egypt; three official war' correspondents have been a:--! pointed to accompany the armv there, of which Australians and, New Zealanders form no incon- j siderable portion. These corre-' spondents would not b« needed

unless some jy. eject -of the nrst • magnitude v.;.:; in viev,'. Tneu, j the other day we were surprised to i learn that Sir lan. Hamilton had ; been bestowing praise on the Aug- | Iralaslan troop's, whom he. had; just reviewed. Whn.i was Sir lan doing in Egypt? It could not be that in this time of extreme stress j he was perambulating just finri >thc purposes of inspection. He ; was appointed an Army Corps Commander sometime ago to take part in the great forward more ment that Lord Kitchener announced would take place in tin spring. It is quite reasonable to assume that Sir lan Hamilton was in Egypt on a much more import- \ ani mission, and that at this vertime he may be leading the erstwhile army on the Gallipojl attacking Turk- , ish'forts on the Dardanelles from the laud, in conjunction with operations by warships from the I straits. It is evident that rapid i subjugation of Turkey is eonsidlerod important, and the probabil- | ity is that Sir lan and Ins army will pass on through Turkey. I eoalese with the Russians in Hun

garv, and press forward to Berhii from that direction. It is claimed by many military experts thai Berlin can only be reached by this route; anyway, it seems to be the most convenient way,, as well as the line of least resistance. If some such tactics are not intended the large army waiting off the Turkish coast,- ready to land, and . the immense concentration of French troops in Northern Africa seem meaningless movements. The fall of Przemysl made this view practicable, as may be gathered from the wonderful progress Russia has since made. Russia has forced a way through the greatest natural fortifications. : country could have; throng:; snow, ice, ravines, woods, mountain torrents, and the obstacle:, such as a range of mountains lik< the Carpathians present, Russian troops have forced their way and are now driving the Austro-Ger man army back across the beautiful and well-roaded plains of Hungary. This is by far the most important advance Russia has yet made, . and it will undoubtedly 'Shave the effect of throwing GerriTarty out. of its stride to an exten» never before experienced perhaps, the surprise encountered on the banks of the Marne win.so near to the coveted Paris. W ; t' Irigh pressure kept up on _ all fronts, it does not seem possibP that the latest Russian ad vane can be turned; supreme effort.* •will be made, but nothing beyond a check is anticipated. Surely with the suggested advance V way of Constantinople, the rin of iron round our enemies will ! Ho complete that its tightening grip will cause them to see th useiessness of further waste « human life.