The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1917. THE SILVER CLOUD.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 15 June 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1917. THE SILVER CLOUD.

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

Events in Europe, military and political, are moving momentously and in rapid succession. Those that interest us most being the re-organisation of forces in Russia, the ominous changes and movements in Greece, and the arrival of American forces both military and naval. Most of this improvement seems to us, at this distance, to have been possible and desirable at an earlier date, but, of course, the Allies in Council have resolved otherwise. Militarily and politically, Greece claims the worlds’ attention. • It is probable that when Russia, failed last year to fill her part in the co-ordin-ated pressure that was to be exerted on every inch of the steel ring, Britain and France became convinced that the Bear was an uncertain aiid a disappointing quantity. By Russia’s treachery, not only was an advance rendered impossible from Salonika, but Roumania was abandoned to the Hunnish hordes of savages, and what comes nearer home, our men taking their full share in France were given a much heavier task than they would have had if Russia had played' the game on her front in accordance with the solemn compact mutually entered into. Russia failed, however, by the treachery of her rulers, and the rulers had to go. It is a new Russia the Allies have to deal with now, and although revolution has naturally resulted in some degree of chaos that condition is being dissipated and a multiplicity of parties have taken its place. It is the moulding and weldingtogether of these parties that Britain, France and America are now straining every effort to accomplish. That they are fast attaining their object recent cables give every reasonable assurance, and the first objective seems to be the marshalling of Russian forces for an early combined offensive by Russia and Roumania in which General Sarrail’s army, at Salonika, is to play no unimportant part. Passing from Russia into Roumania, the army is found to be thoroughly re-organised and strengthened; the personnel is perfected; the men are re-clothed, w ell-fed, and above all, well-munitioned and supplied with heavy artillery Roumania is ready. In Greece the old regime is wiped out with one stroke. Constantine heard the thunder of the gods whose united voices he quaked under, realising that the noise of the AllHighest Kaiser was inaudible in comparison, and he packed up his traps and left his country, taking with him his German wife and his pro-German heir to the throne, leaving his more reasonable second son to keep the royal institution alive. The Allies have now taken possession of every-

thing in Greece that matters, or that contributes to the safety of Sarrail's forces in the new co-ordinated move that is already plainly obvious. The Bulgarian Premier has proclaimed that he will never relinquish Macedonia, but he sees what looks like Nemesis in the near distance, and he is whistling to cover his fear and that of his Bulgar Kaiser. Ferdinand is truly monkey-like in his imitation of the All-Highest. The Kaiser a few days ago, with the of a brigand chief, told the world that his armies should dictate peace, that he would insist upon annexations and indemnities, and only two or three days after, in addressing the troops commanded by his sou, Eitel, he said they were fighting to break the Allies’ will to war, that, and nothing more. He never came nearer the truth, for he said, in other words, we are striving only for the most advantageous terms of peace, and looking for the safest back door whereby we may escape from the hell the Allies have built up around us. Ferdinand’s silly talk about retaining Macedonia will have its sequel, similar to that following the Kaiser’s determination to dictate peace. It is plain that both Ferdinand and his Master now realise that their efforts in Russia have failed, as they have failed in Greece; that joining up with Italy across Albania, Sarrail’s army will shortly be bringing retribution to the destroyers, slave-raiders, and murderers that have over-run Serbia, and that a wall of fire reaching from Italy, across Greece and Roumania, extending to the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea, will soon be relentlessly sweeping over them. With all Ferdinand’s nonsensical brag he knows his troops are not capable of withstanding attacks from Sarrail now that the Constantine treachery is eliminated, and that Turkey can give him little assistance owing to the Sultan’s men being kept too busily engaged in Asia Minor and in Mesopotamia. Not since Allied troops first landed at Salonika have things looked so promising for a successful advance. Hitherto Sarrail had the Greek Hanger in his rear, and the knowledge of Russian treachery, which meant no assistance from that quarter. One has now been entirely eliminated and the other is fast preparing to strike a coordinated blow r . Cables received yesterday state that something of extraordinary importance is going to happen, and it seems that the German Command and German newspapers are cognisant, or extremely fearful of whatever this something may be. Count Reventlow tells Holland that the B’ritish are shortly driving Germany out of Belgium and that the. independence of the Netherlands will then be. at stake, and that it will become politically, economically and colonially the plaything of England. But the phlegmatic Dutchmen know' that this is merely a recital of what Germany herself intended to do. The submarine policy has collapsed, thanks to American assistance, and the blockade of Germany has been tightened by America refusing to supply neutrals. German newspapers have abandoned' hope of success via the submarine. The German people are longing for the jubilant cry of victories while they hear nothing but their glorious armies having to retire before superior force; brave men are losing courage, and cowards are prophesying defeat. Germany is borrowing wherever possible, undertaking to pay back a shilling for every sevenpence borrowed. Hals are no longer lifted to the Kaiser’s name, the adoration of Hindenburg is nearly dead, Mackensen and Falkenhayn are forgotten, and the German Government are making violent efforts to avert the black, threatening storm. Gieneral Haig says Germany is beaten, and the position considered as a whole never did look so promising for quick final victory as it does now, despite the uncertainty about Russia.