Progress of the War.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15137, 28 November 1914, Page 8

Progress of the War.

Although, as 3!r Churt-hill says, the lo?s j of the battleship Bulwark does not sensibly affect the military situation, for tho public the disaster will overshadow i other messages in to-day's news. The J sudden and overwhelming destruction | of a capital ship while at anchor in | harbour, involving the loss of over 700 ! lives, is a .shocking catastrophe. Tho tragedy is all the more poignant l>eeauso thc-so men did not lose their lives in battle, because all this compli- j cated machinery, and all these highlytrained men in the prime of life, were* blotted out before they had an opportunity to fulfil the purpose towards which they were directed. While, however, wo mourn for the dead, to must accept such a disaster with calmness and patience, confident in the knowledge that the great strength of the Fleet is not seriously impaired, and in the reflection that, heavy as the toll of ship and lives has been, we have not really paid very heavily for all that our Navy has done, for us in the last four months. A naval expert remarked the other day that if "wo had lost six' battleships, we would not have paid tb*o uiuch for our command of the sea, involving the carrying on of our trade, and the strangling of tho enemy's, and the transportation of our troops. Xews from the western theatro this morning tells of tho failure of a German attack on the- Aisne. and of a French advance in that quarter. "The "Times" anticipates a determined German ofFensivo shortly, " perhaps accompanied by fresh "menacing activity elsewhere." ■ "We may bo sure, however, that the Allies in France and Belgium are well prepared for another attempt to break through either at Ypres, or at Lille, where the Germans are reported to be concentrating, or [ elsewhere. The reports from Poland j are conflicting. Tho Russians claim I that the great battle between the Vis- j tula and the Warta is proceeding to their advantage, but they do not claim more in this particular field. It is left to correspondents to report a great Russian victory, though the authorities ■"deprecate the publication of an in- ' "complete account of the fighting." Berlin claims a victory in this area of I operations, but Berlin reports do not j carry much weight now. The readiness !of Russia to tell us of reverses, and tho moderate tone of tho Government's communiques announcing successes, inspires confidence) in the official statements. In tho southwestern area tho Crown Prince, who seems as unsuccessful in ihe east as in the west, has been defeated. Whatever is the issue in the centre, the German losses along the whole front from tho Vistula to Cracow must be so heavy as to weaken their fighting power considerably. Tb may be that the expected offensive in the western theatro is a last throw for success, forced on Germany by her enormous expenditure in m en and material.

U is astonishing, in view of the completeness with which tho figures respecting the electoral rolls dispose of tho -uncandicl criticisms of tho Opposition, that anybody should have the hardihood to repeat thoso criticisms. Thft Dunedin "Star" docs so, however. It dismisses as absurd tho Government's statement that tho rolls will this year be cleaner and more complete than in previous years. Tho Government's statement, it says, cannot bo disputed as regards electorates "where "unofficial critics" cannot secure iniormation -which will rebut the claim, "but,"' it adds, '"it results elsewhere are similar to thoso hero 'in Dunedin)" the Government's claim cannot bo accepted. The "Star" then quotes figures which, if correct, show an average, decrease in the number of enrolled voters in tho Dunedin City .electorates of about SOO. The fact is that Dunedin is unfortunate in that its population is not increasing, and this fact, taken together with the fact that the 1911 rolls were inflated, fully accounts for the figures. As a matter of fact, tho outcry of tho Opposition -critics was purely tactual —they were merely preparing boforehand a sort of excuse for use later on, when they will have to explain the defeat of their party. One passage in our contemporary's article deserves notice: The Government's theory (it says) is that if people desire to exercise their electoral rights they should make sure of enrolment. The responsibly has been cast upon electors, which will be accepted by opponents of tho Government as another bungling instance- of their fondness for distributing their administrative responsibilities. This imposing-looking statement is either sheer nonsense, or else it means that an elector who attends to his own enrolment is usurping the functions—or "administrative responsibilities,' if eight syllables are better than two—of

the government of the country- 'l"« e "Star," no doubt, did mean just that, and we ounnot see how. with such a view of "admniistrativo responsibilities," it can acquit the Government of remissneii for not conveying voters to the poll.

Ir. a speocfi at- Philiipstown school. on March oth. IUI4, Mr G. W. Rusfccll laid down the maxims which should govern the ■■Liberal" Party--the maxims dear to Ids own heart: "Mere opportunism." he said, "was ui.ele.-%s. They must fix the goal in their mind s eye. and steadily work towards itMr Russell i>. however, not one oi those who content themselves with fine precepts. Ho furn:-hes l:elp:ui examples. Thus, on Thuisday i.icht. lie explained that although he objected to proportbna! reproseiitation. yet lie wai prepared, nay, eager, to swallow his convicticns. Of course, h>; put it another way. but not in a way tliat will hep liin:. '"Sir Josoph Ward, h<; says, "has accepted proportional representation, and I, as or.c of his mvjporteis, step inio hue with my cliK-i and accept iirc:x)iLional representation." This was good, but even better was'his reply to the question: "If Sir Joseph Ward takes up tho bare majority, are you prepared to give him that samo Loyal support, although you favour another majority—that of the three-fifths?" His reply was that he •would adhere to his pledge, because 1 know Sir Joseph Ward' so well thar. I can .insure you that there is not the slightest chance of him taking up tho bare majority." Keeping the goal in one's mind's eye, and steadily working tow.irds it. is not quite the simple thing it appears to be. evidently.

In the meantime. Mr Sulhvan has succeeded in finally roundir.g up Mr Russell in tho matter of tho defence system. Mr Russell is. of t-ourse, entitled to hate the defence system. Nobody has denied him that right. But ho is not entitled, holding the opinions he does, to como before the electors and appeal for their support on tho ground that the Act is ii good one. Mr Sullivan is opposed to tho Act' and cays s<). Those Avon electors, therelore, who do not desire to see tho defence system wrecked will have no difficulty ir. seeing that neither of these two candidates should be returned to Parliament.