ALLIES' CO-OPERATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8208, 4 August 1915, Page 5

ALLIES' CO-OPERATION.

THE OFFICIAL -RUSSIAN ' .a. •■ REFERENCE.

> -LONDON, August 3. '"The Times,'' commenting on. the passage in the Petrograd official message, suggesting active co-operation' between, the Allies, thinks there must be some', lack of co-ordination between the responsible military authorities in the East and the West,,if the publication of such official statements are rrally necessary. During the winter and the spring the German armies in the' West stood at about 75 per cent, of their war establishment, which was approximately 2,000,-uO. They have, quite recently been brought to full war strength. If a.few army corps have been, transferred to the.Eastern theatre the effective strength remaining in. the West is still greater than at the time of the Allies' attacks in the Champagne, in Artois, and the British front. Th.ire is no evidence that German strength on the West has.been weakened. A very large share of the recent operations in the East is due to the Austro-Hungarian armies. The British and French Governments ought to issue a statement giving the distribution of Germans in the Western and Eastern fronts. • They should immediately establish closer practical relations with the Russian ; staff., Mr!- Asquith ought to state explicitly what we are doing and what we hope to do. Parliament ought also to be re-summoned immediately to initiate legislation . increasing the acreage under foodstuffs. Finally, if we are to retain the Confidence of-our Allies, we must declare every man qf military age- liable to military service. >