The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1916. THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 30, 5 February 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1916. THE WAR.

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

The war has resolved itself into a get-ready stage. With the exception of a determined Germian effort to break through in the West there has been little actual fighting anywhere. War news has been very scant, but this to some extent may be attributable to a break-down or disturbance of the cable line somewhere between Australia and Europe. There is an apparent desire for peace in more than one of the enemy countries, while Britain and her Allies seem to be fully bent upon bigger things. Military authorities tell us they can afford to wait till their "armies are of such a magnitude and strength as to leave no doubt ab6ut the issue of any battle when 1 it eventuates. It has been asked what hope Germany has in the present War,-'and it has been declared by several of the greatest military authorities on earth that Germany is already beaten, and that she i a now trying to solve the problem ol winning without being victorious. We knew that history does disclose such instances, b«if,-Giter the"oAprossect dei

•termination to prosecute tb& war to a successful end by the Cx&r of Russia, the King of England, the King of Belgium, and the President of the French Republic, it looks as though nothing of the kind is going to happen- in this war. Time was from the beginning, of the most vital importance to Germany, 'and therefore she has been compelled to take risks in maintaining offensives somewhere, which, although she gained many tem -porary successes, have proved very disastrous to her. Men had to be sacrificed in supreme efforts to win while they could be fed, clothed and kept well supplied with 'arms and munitions. Her tangent in the Balkans, now current, is rather a bid for food and ether supplies than a direct thrust for anything towards achieving a mastery, and if she fails here her last opening has gone unless a suicidal effort is made which would inI volve Scandinavian nations. Germany knows that the longer the Avar lasts the worse becomes her plight and the stronger the Allies grow. ' It i s evident, however, that Britain expects the conflict to continue for many months yet, she is displaying the utmost energy in enrolling recruits and speeding up the manufacture of munitions. The Dominions are also hurrying up recruits, many of which, like those in Britain, cannot "take part in actual fighting for several months to come. Germany sees the millions being gathered together ■ for training and she will undoubtedly ; take an early opportunity on the Westi era. front to secure a victory that will [furnish her with a basis for a satis--1 factory peace. The Balkans, Egypt, Caucasus, Mesopotamia are mere side issues which Germany must leave to B'ulgars, Turks and Arabs. The German main strength is in the West and will become more so as spring I approaches, for it is there only a dei termining victory can be gained. What can it matter if either Germany or Britain gain the Balkans, Turkey, Egypt and all the other- places if 'all chance of victory in the West is forfeited. Germany understands all this and she is now making well-prepared and carefully designed sparrings to ,acquire the necessary information for ; a final thrust. Taking every aspect of the war into consideration the position of the Allies has improved, but i we must not be too sure that Germany is going to wait for the new millions of men that are to be put in the i lists. ag linst her. Germany has only one chance and that is to accomplish' such a something as will enable herto win the war without being victorious—on this all her energies are bent.