The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1917. WHAT RECENT CABLES INDICATE

Taihape Daily Times, 20 October 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1917. WHAT RECENT CABLES INDICATE

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

Information of a definite nature concerning - three aspects of the war was cabled to us yesterday. The United States' Secretary for War told us for what the British were striving in Flanders and what the resulf is to be of the late series of offensives. General Alexieff has disclosed very clearly the true position in Russia, and has told his people that the Allies can win the war whether Russia strikes another blow or:not, and, thirdly, there can be little doubt left in the mind of any person about how desperately Germany wants peace. Taking the last subject first, we find that the needs of Germain warranted a diplomat with authority over the signatures of the Kaiser, himself, and his Chancellor, approaching France direct with an offer of peace 'that Involved the almost unbelievable sacrifice of Alsace and Lorraine, asking France to commence peace negotiations in Switzerland. With an amazing misconception of Britain's intentions and determinations Germany authorised a neutral power to consult the British Government with a view to making a separate peace, and then the wily, dissembling Teuton, turned round to Russia and asked its Government to stipulate its demands, stating that France and Britain would negotiate a separate peace. Cloven hoof methods did not succeed, however, even with poor distracted, internally wracked Russia. It was just Germany's little way, when after a secret session of the French Parliament had been publicly notified to discuss peace, on the basis of the return of the lost provinces, and when the French would not take the bait, to turn round and deny that any such proposal was ever made. Unfortuntaenly for Germany, 'however, is the document bearing the Kaiser's and the Chancellor's signatures. Peace points are not tvorth lab"bouring but they materially help us to see and realise that the much vaunted offensives by Germany in Russia, Mesopotamia and Macedonia, as well as that of Austria against Italy are tinctured very largely with humbug. The information General Alexieff has given us about the situation in Russia leads to the assumption that unless something like miraculous • reorganisation takes place Russia may be considered a cypher as far as the war is concerned; but he lifts the veil to a far greater extent from the whole Russain position

and suggests that Russia's place in the Entente will be lost, and that it will

be filled by Japan. He says that if Russia's utter feebleness is disclosed at the Allied Conference, shortly to be held at Paris, Japan must enter upon the Russian stage of this European War. No words can indicate more plainly that there is to be an European oastern military wall maintained against Germany; that Germans are not to be allowed to wander over Russia seeking out the sources and stores of food to feed their armies; that if Russia will not, or cannot, hold the

enemy within the iron ring, then Japan

must take her place, and the Russian J people must foot the bill. It is natural, Alexieff says, that Japan should demand compensation and Russia being ' the weaker would have to pay, either in cash or by considerable cessions of territory. He tells his people that they

I arc only lay figures in the war; he I will not attend the Paris War Con- | ference unless he can speak for a ■ fighting army; he will not represent a I mere rabble. He says England' Avill never end the war without victory and the utter exhaustion of Germany. America's entry has made the Allies independent of Eussia, but if Russia did not fight her position would indeed • be lamentable. Whatever fear there was of Eussia taking a resentful course at the refusal of Britain and America to further help her with money and munitions, has been entirely cleared away by Alcxicff's statement. The Allies are independent of Eussia, but, on th other hand, the consensus of news strongly favours the presumption that Eussia may yet become a useful fighting force in the near future. The third important item of news comes to us from a notably authentic source, and we may be sure that such information would not have been vouchsafed to us if there were any doubts remaining about ultimate success of the movement with which it deals. No less a personage than the United States' Secretary for War, "has been chosen to disclose to the 'Allies and to neutrals —of course. Germany already knows —what the real and immediate effects .of the British thrusts in Flanders are to be, therefore. the utmost reliance may be placed upon "the information he imparts.' His are not' ' the opinions of some particular expert or war correspondent'," but an official statement'by one of the leading participant nations iii the war, and we must so regard them. He has issued a communique in which he states that the Allies are driving a wedge in the German line apart, permitting flanking movements, at the same time eliminating costly frontal attacks. Gerany had been compelled to amend her tactical dispositions in an effort to meet the shock. The wedge was being extended, affordirig the Allies necessary elbow room at a low rate of casualties. As every word in an official statement of this kind is::wcll ; weighed and its significance tosted ; and verified it seems that futufe • thrusts will be participated in by .United-States forces. The communique states that the Allies are driving a wedge in Flanders permitting a flanking movement and eliminating costly frontal attaeks. German tactical plans have been rendered mere scraps of paper; a typhoon of fire is causing the Germans real concern; and their armies are reduced to , contingent action in trying to meet the shock. The infinitive nature of the verb in the last sentence leads to the conclusion that America, Britain and France are quite convinced that Germany is incapable of stopping the wedge from splitting her lines, and of preventing the flanking movements that must result in her withdrawal from France and. Belgium. Taking what the United States' Secretary for War now states, with what Lord Northcliffe said two days ago we realise the connection between the two statements. Lord Northcliffe said that the hammer blows in Flanders would be continued right throughout the winter; there would be no cessation until object of the Allies had been fully attained, and now the American Secretary for War lifts the veil and shows a clear picture of what those objects are, and, moreover, he indicates that their attainment is humanly certain. The cables commented upon above clear our understanding and enable us to form definite ideas upon the more recent war happenings, and taken in conjunction with another report of mutiny on a German battleship at Ostend, they remove all cause for concern about Teutonic diversions, in Asia and southern Europe. We have the knowledge that Germany is more troubled about her western frontiers than about anything else. , i