The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1918. THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1918. THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

With the surrender of Bulgaria, the first act in the terrible war drama, which has been developing for over four years, has come to an end. A profound feeling of relief is being experienced at the evidence which is now definitely conclusive as to the collapse of our enemies, and there must exist a devout feeling of Thankfulness that after so long a period of warfare there are signs indicative of the approach of the end. We cannot forget that it was against Servia that the original declaration of war was made by Austria, at the instigation of Germany, so that it is most fitting that the Servians should have taken a pv.-mment part in the offensive which has brought Bulgaria to her knees, and not only enables Servia j o come into her own again, but to be compensated, as far as possible, for the j cruelties, oppression and devastation she has suffered. Tie Allies have so far redeemed their pledge to reinstate Servia, but they have j still to ensure for her thai just re--1 paiation which; is her/due* The

blow delivered at Bulgaria is equally a heavy stroke against Austro-Germany and Tuvkey. and it will not be surprising to find that the enemy coalition will be speedily broken up by each of the nations endeavoring to save as much as possible out of the wreck ■I: their vanished hopes. By the fall of Bulgaria many illusions will disappear, not the least bring that 'o strongly cherished by Germany in connection with her "Middle Europe" dream. That intoxicating cup has been dashed from the avaricious lips of the Teutons just as other of their equally mad schemes have been frustrated by the champions of freedom and security. There has never in the history of the world been a transformation such as that which has occurred within the last few weeks, when the tide set in to carry the Allies to victory, the first fruits of which is the absolute surrender of Bulgaria. Our victory in Palestine runs side by side with victories on all the war fronts, and Turkey has had ample proof of the futility of attempting to withstand the might of Greater Britain. In all probability the next withdrawal from fidelity to Germany will be on the part of Turkey, it already reported that the Turks are negotiating for peace; and well they may, for even the Bulgarians are disposed to facilitate the cimshing of the moribund Ottoman Empire. There are even prospers that Austria may sue for peace, leaving Germany to face the end alcne—an outcast, deserted by the civilised world. Still the war may continue until the German manpower has been entirely spent, and at the present rate of diminution the end cannot be far off. The rent that has been made in the coalition vesture bids fair to split the garment into shreds, though by patching it would probably hold out for a while longer, and then —Nemesis. The meteoric defeat of the Bulgarians has opened the way for sensational developments affecting the whole of the war zone. We cannot forget what the Servians had to suffer when forced to flee across the mountains of Albania, where they perished by thousands. Their resurrection as a military force was one of the many marvels of'the war, and this remnant can proudly claim to have regained their country and crushed its enemies. No useful purpose is to be served by discussing why the offensive was not undertaken earlier. It is better to be thankful for the victory and rejoice that Servia can now feel that her honor has been avenged. The terms to be imposed on the defeated nations must be settled by the Allies, but it will be expected that they will be such as will justly meet the case. Those who inflict a wrong on humanity must be fittingly punished, the sentence being in accord with the magnitude of the crime or crimes. There is one prime lesson that will hare to be forced on the nations governed by military despots, and thai is that the world's democracies will not tolerate after the war that it shall be in the power of any autocrat to declare war on any nation—large or small. It is horrible to know that but for this one-man power there would have been no war, so that unless an end is put to military despotism the sacrifices made by the Allies will have been in vain. It is the future peace and security of the world that have now to be ensured, and there must never again be allowed to exist an evil that has deluged Eurcpe with blood, in order to gratify the ambition of a German autocrat. Bulgaria is the first to have tc pay the penalty, and the terms in her case should be a warning to. the Central Powers that war does not Pay.