The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1916. CO-ORDINATED EFFORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1916. CO-ORDINATED EFFORT.

The interchange of courtesies between the heads of the various Powers constituting the Allies, on the occasion of the second anniversary of the war, gave distinct evidence that not only were the Allies determined on carrying the wur to a successful conclusion, but that they were working harmoniously and systematically together in order to achieve that end. There is every indication of the existence of intimate strategical connection between the various fronts, with the result tint well directed blows 011 one front affect all tlie others. When the German at tack on Verdun was at its height the Russians swept forward "in Galieia in such amazing strength that both the Germans and Austrians were forced to hurriedly despatch strong forces to stem the victorious march of their enemy. Then the Anglo-Frencli armies made a determined forward move, and Italy pj'ossod forward her attack in the Trentino.. When tli« Mstorv of tl>« war

comes to be written it will astonish many to learn how very materially the Russians have aided the Allies'-cause at critical phases of the struggle. In one of the recent Russian communiques it was slated that the movement of her forces in the East were according to programme, That announcement may not have created much interest, but it has an unquestionable bearing on the conduct of the war, for it means that definite plans of action have been agreed upon, and that there is a unification of purpose in all the Allied movements. This cannot but be a powerful factor in ultimate victory. We have seen that the Germans were forced to send troops they could ill spare from the West in order to protect Austro-Hungary, and that tne Austrian;; had to withdraw forces from the Italian front for the same reason. According to M. Marcel Hutin, the Russian objective in Galicia is not a strategical success, but the induction of the enemy's effectives. We venture to think that this distinguished French miliary critic was in error, and that Russia is working for both strategical success and depletion of the enemy's effective strength, and she has been demonstrating this to some purpose. It will be seen % this morning's cables that General Bothmer has been forced to retreat owing to his flanks being endangered; and it is by no means impossible that lii s army will not be crumpled up. ' Apparently he has held on too long, but in view of the Greek elections and the uncertainty of Roumanian action it was considered politic that the Germans should not evince any disposition to make a retreat, the moral effect of which would certainly bo apparent on neutrals. The Russians ha%e been forcing the pace, and the capture of Stanislav has had far-reaching effects. It would seem that a great deal depends on the enemy's ability 'o. hold Halicz, an& thereby facilitate Botlimer's retreat, but the Russians are w~U aware of the German plight, and are converging on Halicz from three directions Meanwhile the Italians are displaving remarkable dash and strategy, and they are compelling the Austrians to extend their fronts and lengthen their lines. Tlie Austrians are already "groggy," and It will not be surprising to find the Italians in possession of Trieste before very long. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the Austrians should be thoroughly broken in Galicia, and this process the Russians have, now in hand. If any confirmation were required of the trend of events being all in favor of the Allicg, it would certainly be found in the report of Iribuna's Athens' correspondent appearing in to-day's cable news. He states that both Turkey and Bulgaria have made overtures to the Allies for a i separate peace, which they refused to discuss. No stretch of imagination is uquired in order to realise how strong is the desire of Turkey and Bulgaria to avert their coming doom. The sitrns of ithe times are only too emphatic to escape their serious notice. losses ini fiicted upon Austria are equivalent to I losses inflicted on Germany, as the latter must supply the former's deficiencies. It will thus be seen that coordinate action on the part of the Allies is meeting with satisfactory results. All that is wanted now is for a decisive move to be made in the Balkans and then the crumpling up process will be fairly started. At the same time every available man is needed on the Allies' side if the duration of the war is to be appreciably shortened. The prospects are bright, but the supply of reinforcements must be kept up, as they are more urgently required now than previously.