DECISIVE WAR THEATRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1916, Page 9

DECISIVE WAR THEATRE.

WHERE WILL IT BE? London, November 12. The question whicli is to be the decisive theatre of the war depends on which side secures and maintains the real initiative. At present the Cerjnans have lost' all offensive in the East and the West, hut they are driving ahead in the South and have already opened direct communication with Stamboul. To do this they had merely to force the north-east corner of Serbia and obtain the allegiance of Bulgaria. But it now looks as though, if the Allies proceed as they are doing, to mass big forces in the Balkans, they may almost count on Greece and Roumania throwing in their lot against the Central Empires. Every consideration except fear has always made to this end, and once the fear of the German legions is really counterbalanced by the presence of effective Allied armies in the field, common sense and common interest will probably prevail. The Allied offensive in the South is proceeding well, and there are high hopes that it may be possible to prevent after all the complete over-running of gallant little Serbia. But even though the Serbians are put in the same plight as the Belgians, they are sure of coming into their own again when victory is won for freedom, as it will be before another year has passed. SIGNS ARE BRIGHT. This may sound like prophecy, but there is no one of any account in London who does not share that view. All the indications, reliably confirmed from many sources, point to a new move by the enemy. The Russians state that the Germans are withdrawing large masses of men and heavy artillery from their front, with the result that our Eastern Allies are now more than holding their own even round Riga. How far the enterprise of the British submarines in the Baltic has helped to thwart von 'Hindenburg's plans we do not know, but we can make a shrewd guess. Von Tirpitz has been shown clearly that "two can play at that game." The belief ;s that the Germans are prepared to retire in Russia to fortified lines elaborately planned against the coming of winter in that region. They will press ahead in the Balkans, where the issue is still obscure. If Russia marches through Roumania, as the French and British are now pressing through Greece, the Austro-German commanders may find themselves heavily embarrassed, not to say in great jeopardy. But the Germans are massing men and guns in the West. Whether this betokens a fear that the Allied offensive begins to threaten their stability in the West, or whether they intend to make another drive there, will presently appear. If the latter be their intention, and they proceed to renew the old game of hurling huge masses in close formation against our lines, one man will he rubbing his hands, and that man will be General Joffre. If the Germans have any notion that a Warsaw drive is practical military politics in the West, they aro welcome to their delusion. A cruel awakening is in store for them. It would suit our hook admirably to have the Germans hammering away at our lines. They might press those lines back a few yards, or even a few miles, but the cost would be calamitous to them. General Joffre's great aim is to kill off as many Germans as possible, as cheaply as possible, and if the enemy consents to play his game, the end of the war will come all the sooner.