The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1917. THE WAR SITUATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1917. THE WAR SITUATION.

It is somewhat disturbing to learn that the military situation, admittedly critical, is complicated by economic troubles and a severe winter. Food queues, we are told, are lengthening in Britain, France and Italy, while difficulties regarding fuel are intensifying public restlessness. Under such conditions, it is conceivably hard for the people to keep a stiff upper lip, and maintain a staunch war determination. Wc need not fear for the British workers, who tealise the gravity of the issue, and have not suffered to the extent that the French and Italians have. They also are not without fuel in the cold winter months, like the othc, , whose sufferings in this connection last year were very great. Food, too, is more plentiful in Britain than in either France or Italy. The people of the latter countries have had the war brought home close to them; they have seen their sons and fathers, sisters and mothers at the mercy of the barbaric invaders; they have seen their fair lands devastated, their priceless buildings razed, and everything they hold dear outraged. For three and a half years France has kept back the foe, suffering grievous losses in the process, but maintaining always an invincible spirit. Italy has never been in the war to the same extent as France, there being a considerable section which has new had any sympathy with intervention, and this section has not wanted fev support from the German agents, who never were more active than sine-) the recent gitat drive commenced. Probably they are conducting, though in a more subtle i\r.y, the same propaganda in France, 20 as to undermine the resolution of the country to see the war through to the bitter end. It is natural, perhaps, for peoples who have suffered so much, and are still suffering to gee the war brought to a conclusion and peaceful times ushered in again, and the Teutons, who are in a position of considerable strength militarily, but who realise they cannot expect to gain their original objectives, are playing-upon this feeling—or weakness, fed- weakness, it is. Never was there a time during the present struggle when it was more necessary for the Allies to shut their teeth and resolve to pay the additional price for complete victory. True, it will be a heavy and grievous price, almost overwhelming, but measured by its far-reaching consequences, it will be cheap. For, on the smashing of the military power of the enemy depends absolutely the future of the world. No longer can militarism and democracy coexist. If a peace is arranged now, it will mean a German victory, for the Hnns have got much for which they set out to secure. That would mean militarism had justified itself, and the world would never be free from its menace. There can be no safety for the world until the German nation is compelled to acknowledge that this war has been a failure and a disaster proportionate to the crimes of the authors. The war must go on until there is a change of heart and system in Germany and Austria. Abraham Lincoln said that the American Union could not exist halfslave and half-free. Neither can the' Europe of t.he future. The horizon at.

present., it has to be admitted, is dark and gloomy. Russia, as a fighting force, ia practically 11011 est. Peace pourparlers between her and the enemy are about to eo.'miie:iei\ ami, '.he outcome inay be, the fact huts to be recognised that no longer can we look for any assistance from Russia. If that were all, it would not be so bad; but, should the negotiations succeed in their purpose—and the Germans will go a long way in order to placate their whilom foe—it would mean Russia giving up the million and three-quarters Austro-German prisoners, whilst Russia would be exploited by the Germans for foodstuffs and war materials, thus nullifying our maritime blockade. This would give a new lease of life to the enemy, and the war would be prolonged considerably. On the other hand, the Allies will have the help of the men and resources of the United States. Just what this will amount to is shown in our Cables to-day. The States are under no misapprehension to the gigantic nature of the task ahead, and for that reason are making tremendous preparations. Next year there will be two million Sammies in the field, backed by every mechanical war contrivance, and supported by thousands of aeroplanes. The United States, like Britain and France, and Italy, too, will never accept defeat, nor anything but decisive and unquestionable victory, The spirits of the Allies' soldiers were never higher, nor their confidence in ultimate victory surer, and it only remains for their folk at home to hang out bravely, and bear the hardships a little longer, in order to enable the Allied armies to exert overwhelming pressure and crush the enemy and all the evil he stands for.