MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1916, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

I DRAGGING OU" 1 I'.' A SEVERE CRITIC" : ;> f London, 12. Mr. Oarvin, writing in the Observer, states that it i? possible the u\> r way last beyond 1017 unless the Allies accomplish mighty things. The position is less favorable than in It is not true that the military collapse of the enemy is imminent, He is abb; to collect enough men for another year's fighting. There are indications that there will b; no break through in I9;(i on the West front, and it is unlikely that there will be even an extensive withdrawal of the German lines by C'h.istmas. Mr. Garvin blame? the diiatoriness rf the Allies and their bungling in the Balkans and adjacent theatre 3, also their fumbling paralysed action toward i King Constantine. The Roumanians made a n.lslake in not crushing Bulgaria first and severing the conucction between Berlin and C'jnstsntinoplj so as to enabi» the Allies to settle in turn Turkey, Bulgaria, Austria and Germany. The position is disagreeable, but not disastrous. The Allies' hopes are postponed. but not jeopardised. Russia will in I!' 17, for tho first time, possess an equality of heavy .guns and an immense preponderance of human resevvo. It is likely that Hindenburtf wii! make a crowning effort on the east front before then. The Observer states that the battle of the Somme practically ceased a few weeks back, wher. the Allies slowed down in a marked manner. There must be a new battle with a new character ■Vfore any important change develops. There will be no bieak through the German lines this year, gnd we must face the presumption of war lasting far into 1918.

If OFFENCE OF CHURCHILL. WHAT THE NATION OWES TO HIM. London, Nov. 12. Lf'i'il RothMiiere (formerly Mr. H. S. IlantißWoi'th) in tut article in the >Sur day Pictorial warmly defending M Churchill f/om recent attacks, remark', that the majority of the .m.irv.r : .n<» citicisrr.B against him centre rour.d the Dardanelles, but. as the matter is subject to a commission of inquiry the public must wait for the commission's report, when it may. form its own conclusions.

Early in 111" Mr. Church!'! wpined the Admiralty of the futur« rile of Zeppelins and urged the construction of similar aircraft as scouts. If his ' icw» wen* not carried into full effect tn«, resporsibility, no doubt, rests in a degree with Mr. Churchill, bui also, perhapsi in n greater degree, with the navil expe-ts. who v; ere divided or luke-warm In their opinions, and with Ministers who were ignorant or sceptical of the importance of aerial warfare. Mr. Churchill's opponents dwelt on the difficulty of obtaining money and were convinced t'ut hornet aeroplanes would ,«tablish a superiority by land and sea, so they determined to concentrate their stinted resources mainly on them. Mr. Chureh'Jl, in a.written communication early, ii: 1015, outlined the entire conception of the "tanks" to the Government, r.n;l at the end of March ordered the construction of a. considerable number identical yith those ÜBed on the £omme.

It v.'ould be difficult to exaggerate what was accomplished under liis ener getic regime in the early days of the war. It is to Mr. Churchill's credit that the outbreak of war, after % century of peace, found every ship, great and small ready and at war stations. 'J hat wonderful achievement of preparedness alone was sufficient to secure Mr. Churchill and all others concerned grate ful recognition in the records, and minds of their countrymen.

THE CHANNEL TUNNEL ORGED BY FRENCH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. Received Nov. 14, 1;20 a.m. Paris, Nov. i.l. The Presidents of French Chambers ff Commerce have passed a resolution, urging the immediate construction of the Channel tunnel, in view of post-war economic problems.

THE NEW BOND OF BROTHERHOOD. London, Nov. 12. A correspondent with headquarters reports that one effect of the war on the Empire will be the new bond of brotherhood. Oversea troops, since the Somme battle began, have held an honorable place in the fighting continually, sharing operations involving the whole front and invariably justifying the confidence placed in them. The New Ze&landers have fought finely throughout, and any list of the foremost fighting regiments would be incomplete which does not include them, so magnificent was their share m the capture of Flers and the lighting to the north-west, when they were a tower of strength to the British troops on each side. NEW 3EALANDERS AT r-LAY. London, Nov. 12. At Rugby football, the New Zealand Postal Corps, beat the Australian Pay Corps by 21 points to 9. Wellington, Nov. 13. A private cable states that a team of New Zealanders beat Wales nt Swansea, ,-at the Rugby game, by 0 points to 7. The victory is regarded as wiping out the defeat of the famous All Blacks by 3 points to nil. NEWSPAPERS DEARER, London, Nov. 12. The Weekly Despatch announces that the price of The Times will be lid *fter November IS, and expects other leading newspapers to follow, owin£ to the cost of paper. , PACIFISTS IN TROUBLE. London, Nov 12. a great procession wracked the Pacifist Conference at Cardiff. Mr. Rf.mssy Mac Donald and ether speakers escaped by I Jide door. -