AND WAR'S REALITIES

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 21, 24 January 1917, Page 5

AND WAR'S REALITIES

CANNONADE ON FRENCH FRONT

AUSTRIA STOPPING PAYMENT RUSSIA'S POLITICAL CAULDRON The French Command reports a fairly lively cannonade along that section of the front between the Oise and the Aisne. German disappointment at the failure of their Polish recruiting scheme is increasing. The Archbishop of Warsaw has refused, with the Pope's approval, to support the formation of a Polish army to assist Germany. The Austrian Government has prohibited all payments for goods imported prior to January lof this year. The Swiss paper "Journal de Geneve" declares it to be Austria's bankruptcy, and suggests that Germany is about to adopt a similar course as remittances are long overdue. President Wilson's Senate speech on his peace ideals is freely criticised by the American Press, which for the most part ridicules him, and points out that while he is propounding lofty ideals for the peace of the world the United States is unable to pacify Mexico. Washington regards the speech as a rebuff to the Allies, and the German Embassy is naturally delighted at what is considered in many quarters to be an utterance in favour of Prussia's, peace terms. The British Press is more guarded in its comment, criticism being chiefly directed against such phrases as " peace without victory" and " the freedom of the seas." The " Daily Telegraph's " Petrograd correspondent states ; the political situation in Russia is full of dramatic interest, and that the attitude of the average Russian is one of bewildered suspense. Russia's devotion to the Allied , cause is, ho.wever, ; indicated in the Czar's rescript. ; The Brazilian Minister of Marine denies that the crew of pa interned German gunboat at Bahia escaped to join the Atlantic raider. He does not deny, however, that two German vessels were preparing to leave for sea.