The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE SATURDAY, AUGUST 12th, 1916. THE PROSPECTS FOR PEACE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 12 August 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12th, 1916. THE PROSPECTS FOR PEACE.

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

The war has assumed a most important aspect on the Italian front. Allied co-ordination 'appears to be productive of all that \va s claimed for it, as it is quite evident that if Austria is to withhold these victorious Italians from obtaining their objective, their forces must be hugely strengthened. Unfortunately for Austria, similar conditions obtain on the eastern front, fao ing the Russians. To recover from the smashing blows the Muscovites are ad ministering, more forces in men, guns and munitions are increasingly necessary. No military expert has yet tcld the world where Austria is going for the help that must come if Russia and Italy are to be -held up. Ferdinand of Bui garia has 'All his forces placed for self protection, and needs more since Salonican activity has commenced. The Turk is now, from a military point of view, out of consideration. Austria must either reinforce or be driven back. Of course, she may elect to defend at fewer points and compel her enemies to concentrate against her, but her enemies have the men to spare while she is fast becoming bankrupt in men. With a firm pressure by tne Allies on all fronts, Germany's boasted advantage of being able to rapidly concentrate 'at any point for any purpose has absolutely departed, and Aus tria suffers as a consequence. Italy ha s taken possession of Goritza, a bridgehead most desperately defended owing to its importance as a key to Trieste and Fiume, the strong Austrian naval base, and it looks very probable that Austria will soon be in the position of having a navy in the Mediterranean with nowhere to put it. During the last few days Italy has taken 13,000 prisoners. In Galicia, Russia on Thursday took 8,000 prisoners; wlta the proportion of dead and wounded this represents a loss that speaks vol times. No armies less strong and less successful than the Allies could live long with such losses. It must be recognised the victors in each case are pressing their advantage, and as Run- ' sia officially reported recently, thou*- . ands of prisoners are being taken i every day. With all that reorganisation under Hiadeiiburfi? and his German

offici rs has been rble to accomplish, the Russians are advancing. A cable yesterday notified the capture of lue important railway junction a mile cr

two from Stan!s!au. Tbere is also foiward novement to tie north of Lem berg, and, from the ?* ap, it seems extremely likely that -memy armies \v«-st of Tarnapol must retire to safety to avoid these two vhrusts, turnine 10wards each other and functioning behind them. There need be no surprise if most tragic nappe; ings affect Austrian arms. It is apparent from mo number of German prisoners taken that Hindenburg has endeavoured to leaven the Austrian lump, but Germany has not the men to achieve her object in this case, as is indicated l« the fact that she -has now called to the colours all her men of fifty years old. The present phase of the war leaves no doubt about the respective strengths, equipment and morale or contending forces, and that everywhere superiority rests with the Allies. On the Western front, except for fairly general pressure by bombardment, there appears to be a lull. That is not the case, however, for when Sir Douglas Haig tells us he is busy consolidating his gains, he means that a further section of his plan is being prepared for. His miles of railways are being extended into the captured regions, new strategic emplacements are being; selected and prepared; more forward and safe munition concentrations are being got in readiness, and forces are being rearranged for another great thrust. What Sir Douglas Haig has already achieved constitutes a much more difficult task than that now lying in front of him, and it 13 satisfactory to note that the very utmost Germany can do has not enabled her to stop the creeping on of British forces into and over her elaborately fortified strongholds. The Allies are in possession of the highest points in the battle area, and can look down on what they have to conquer; this fact alone renders the next battle half won. Germany is being vigorously pressed back everywhere, nowhere is she gaining an inch of territory, and the map on which a peace was so much covetec is rapidly undergoing! change, and the invasion of her territory can be the only result. Germany is fast losing grip of that any support to her terms for peace. When peacw will come is a question that seems to have narrowed down to two Aiews; one is that this year will see the end of the war, the other is that it will continue for at least another year or two. While it is stupid to minimise the task in hand, one cannot disregarc the plight into which the Central Powers are iioav being enveloped, but the propensity for lying; unfortun-. ately for them falsehoods will not win the fight. There are one or two authorities who say, "do not expect peace for a lonigi time yet," but the host of highplaced men whose speech exudes the idea of peace nearly in sight cannot be lightly regarded. There are thoso who are tired of watching evidences one way or the other, and have fatefully relapsed into a passive, waiting condition. British statesmen and othe.authorities speak as though there were prospects of a near peace. The latest instance was cabled to us yesterday. Lord Derby, interviewed, said the Germans will be pounded until they break; we have them where they cannot swing men from one place to another; they haven't a man to spare anywhere; ground gained will never be lost; we shall tire the Austro-aer-mans, killing their men until they are bound to give up; the war- must result in victory for us; all portents show that the day is not far distant when Germany must crumble; her arm ies cannot survive the pressure." Th»s is Lord Derby's view, and who knows better. If Germany can get her armies out of the way of the millions of Russians, Serbs, Italians, French ancs British who are determined to tire anc kill them by continuous pounding, then the war may last indefinitely, but !? the Allie s persist in getting where they can continue their resolve to pound and kill, then will the rate be such as to bring a tolerably early conclusion. We are inclined to think it. will.