The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1916. THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 24 February 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1916. THE WAR.

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

A most noticeable feature of the war is the almost entire absence of that boastfulness, bounce and brag that was so pronouncea in all its earlier stages. This may not mean very much, but it at least indicates that the German Kaiser and his war lords now know they cannot emerge from the struggle victorious by force of arms. The conduct of the war by Germany has been particularly noted for a series of tangents, with a view to impressing the world with military displays, heartening her own people, and damping the ardour of her opponents. In latter cases they also had the dual object of foraging for food and raw material, as a result of the effectiveness of the British blockade. There is little doubt indeed that if Germany had been sufficiently sure of her strength she would have invaded Holland, the nearest apparently helpless victim she could seize upon, and, if by submarining she can make time and render the transport of troops, food and munitions from England negligible, her robbing and murdering hordes may yet be turned loose on that country. We are told authoritatively, that time is no longer on the Allies' side, therefore we may be sure that German intentions will be, at least, partially frustrated and fighting will be forceu regardless of the submarine effort. Until the storm which is gathering to colossal dimensions, bursts, submarine operations occupy the predominancy on the menu of daily cable sensations. Of course, the idea that Germany can blockade England no longer exists, not even in the mind of a Reventlow or a Tirpits. The German superman, it seems, must hP.vo some fad for annihilating his enemies; his first super effort was with his goose-stepping, highly caparisoned super soldiery. When that'had all the super knocked out of it at the Marne, then Zeppelins and super-Zep-pelins came into vogue. BVitain was not lone: in Uridine an r.ntidcte for L-iat and now poor old Count Zeppelin

is Othello-like, his occupation gone. While submarines were building, more military fireworks to keep the super-people from becoming irrecoverably downhearted were freely indulged in, and campaigns of butchery that would cause the most bloodthirsty savage to blush were levelled at almost helpless little Servia. Then began the blockade of England; It is yet in its infantile stage, but it is old enough for Germany to distinctly that it can never succeed. It is one of those tangents that may do a great deal of mischief, but w 3 have it on tin, very best authority that the war will be won regardless of submarining;

submarines are to have no influence on the coming battles that are to bring decisive victory and peace. Tne statements of responsible supermen are extremely conflicting, for while it was estimated that six hundred tons of shipping per month was necessary to constitute effective blockade, with not half that destruction the German Chancellor says the " campaign had surpassed all expectations. He also makes the outrageous statement that not one single submarine had been lost. Britain had not increased her defensiveness and he was confident that shipping between neutrals and Britain would be stopped. We do know that British sailors cast the lie into German teeth by their readiness to sign on, even though they have been submarine victims, thus showing their contempt for that on which the

supermen are now placing their supreme dependence to win the war. In military operations there is little happening to base any definite opinion upon. We are not told what is happening on the seven hundred mile Russian front. That Germany is not

being successful is certain, or -we should have heard plenty of her glorious troops and victories. The RussoRoumanian army is gradually driving the invader back. In Greece, despite the strong evidences of German Kultur, the Allies are gaining many minor successes in readiness for the Jump off when the great move is ordered. That America will become involved now seems certain, and there is great probability that -her ships of war will be found with others not yet mentioned, taking part in the great nava l r>

nouement that is being so much hinted at in high naval places. The assuring utterances of Sir Douglas Harg are worth more to us than all the verbiage swept up in Germany and elsewhere, and they instil more confidence than could be invoked by all the politicians in the parliaments of Britain and her Allies.