The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1916. THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 18, 22 January 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1916. THE WAR.

(With which is incorporated The Tat hape Post and Waimarino News.)

Leaving out of consideration the desperate struggle that is proceeding between Russians and Austro-Ger-mans in Galicia and the conflict between the British and Turco-Germans in Mesopotamia, little actual fighting has been reported for some time. Nevertheless, the incessant cannonading and frequent air raids proclaims

that hugely important work is in pro- ’ gross on the Western front. In the Balkans where the latest sensations have beep created there is a distinct lull; Germany does not seem able to keep her engagements up to time in that locality. Attack and a general forward movement was blazoned forth to take place some days ago, but latest cables tell us that Germany is withdrawing cavalry and infantry units and hurrying them northwards; this certainly does not look ag though the Allies’ position at Salonika is to be assailed just yet. It may be the enemy thinks he is doing remarkably good work in caging up 350,000 Allied f soldiers with all the munitions of war such a body must necessarily have, with so little expenditure of German force. The only conclusion available with respect to the troops Germany is withdrawing is, that she feels that Bulgai’s and Turks can keep the cage door closed- while she prosecutes an Offensive or supplies much, needed reinforcement!;, ..either to stem the RusjSj hi iijwff''' ‘ ■ " ■*''

sian advance, or in anticipation of upsetting Allied plans in France and Belgium. All sources of information seem to indicate that the Allies are on the way to final success, but the resourcefulness of the enemy, his going off at tangents with surprising success, involving the Allies in almost endless trouble' in moving their armies to new fields of action; of keeping their and transports from woik of a more dangerous character to him, is becoming monotonous, and in Britain leading newspapers are already wanting to know when something is to be done of a clear cut character. Troops are being dragged from place to place without any semblance of victory anywhere, and it is not to be wondered at that the fighting spirit of the nation is stirring for action that would bring ultimate decision nearer. They realise that advance was to commence in the Western-front when Germany sprang the Balkan surprise and the west had to be left without the necessary strength. The result being that another huge army is now caged up in Greece while Germany prepares some other exploit. There are not wanting ominous indications of trouble in Mesopotamia that the Allies had no conception of; but whatever the position there may be it is very certain that large reinforcements are urgently required to take and hold the ■objective, Bagdad. Even this is likely to be forcefully challenged, for it is reported that Turko-German reinforcements have side-tracked the Egypt question and are hurrying on to Mesopotamia. It does seem that if the Allies do not evolve some action that will check the enemy enterprise in furnishing surprises and opening up new battlefields the struggle must drag on for another year or two. The military expert of the London Times says that the failure of simultaneous action by the Allies is much to Germany’s advantage. Most people would, however, realise that, and the sequential questions, are the Allies equipped with the necessary men, cannon and munitions to venture oh a simultaneous attack, or are the authorities now feverishly engaged' in organising such forces and arms that are requisite for assured success would arise. It is obvious that if a Council of War,, representative of all the Allies, could approximate their attacks it would be little short of what is understood by simultaneous action. The same expert, however, tells u s that a rapid increase in heavy howitzers and munitions, generally is what will punish Germany most, and it may be, that aspect is now having attention, and will make itself felt when the coming of spring renders it possible to move forward. At the same time the fact that Germany is also preparing for “spring-cleaning” must not be underestimated. This seems certain, that some desperate savagery has to be waded through as the storm that precedes the calm. The Allies have much cause for contentment in their rapidly growing strength in every thing that a successful war demands. The British navy is being increased by over 300,000 men, an amazing , fact, when it is understood that our. warships can do little more than police the seas. The probability is, judging from what may be learned from various publications ,a simultaneous attack i s being prepared which will produce such an upheaval, beside which all battles the world has yet experienced will be mere “scraps.” That the Allies are vastly stronger and their enemies more noticeably enfeebled than at the commencement of war cannot be questioned.