WAR NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 16335, 30 January 1917, Page 4

WAR NOTES

fßy Ex-Yeoman.] LONDON, December 19. —Peace Temis.— The event of the week has been the Gernia.ii offer of peace terms, and it. i? more than interesting to'scan the various opinions on the latest Hun trick. That it. is a trick few fail to observe, the Press throughout, the entire world being satisfied on’ that point. Some, authorities consider the action of the Germans to mean weakness, but it, would not- do to bank on this. Naturally, when one side commences to talk of peace it, sounds as though that, one had just, about had enough. There is another side to the question, however, and one which will need to be very closely studied. Host people know, or ought to know, that the object of this war is to smash the British Empire. The Genii mis have prepared for years, and their agents and dupes in this country are still hard at work helping in (his. ’ The German ambitions look very rosy at, the moment, for whilst the Central Powers have pinch enemy territory, resources, and labor in their posse.s.sion, which releases men for the fighting force, we are besieged. That is the, true situation, and the number of ships sunk every week indicates that, the enemy have a means of hitting us in a vital spot. Of course, wo can improve, our position by building more food-carrying ships, arming them against submarine attack, and cnltivating every scrap of land in the country. Thai., nowever, will noi beat the enemy, winch must ho done on laud, ff he Germans understand the situation verv well, and recognise that, i ime is on their side, and that the longer the British Empire dclavs in making proper provision to administer the knockout the bettor chance they (the Germans) have of bringing about a. peace which would leave them free to strike at us again with better prospects. Now, if (hoy ran spread the idea that they are ready for peace, plenty of their agents and dupes in this country will aovanco their cnu?e. J-Ivcn if this only delays proper efforts on our pari, it- will be something gained. 7ho new measures m Germany, hv which ali men up to 60 years of age will lie called on for national service, wii! mean a big increase to the, army and in war productions. The result will ensure the Germans ■wing stronger next spring than at any period of (he war. If we do not latte, off our coats to the job at once, we, shall not bo in apposition to make real headway during 191/. It. wilt -thus be .seen how necessary -,t. is that the German peace offer docs not, lca<l 1.0 any on our to push .’toadiiv on with iho all-imponan* work Pou-iou m\m always tear in jnimi that this is a question of smashing Gottnanv or being smashed by Gornianv. Already ope significant point has come nut." J; ■> in the German declaration that each of the Allies must, answer separately, and that the fivst to respond to -the offer of peace will -wt the most generous tonus. How eagerly would Germany make terms with b’n-siu, Fiance or Ha.y, or with all. if only loft tree to push on tne campaign against, n s. Fortunately the Aliks know what Dm German worr, means, or. rat Iter, how link- it worth, so that, the bkelihood of nnv “railing ' is small. —Good News.— The happenings from the Rumanian seat or war have not been very cheering of late, hm belter news comes from other fiuar(«r«. lucre i? the A erdtm offensive by Inc French, tor instance, which must, give the encmv much io ponder over. Any overdoing k in the way of withdrawing- German troops from he western trout for service agaiiir-i the Rumanians will be fraught with danger to the Him. inul ilu* Verdun a!Vaii* during (hr* a*f. IW thy* i> l)i ore fore verv vahmb'n lr “" tj'h Alims’ point, of view. Tlio best, nows oi all, nowever, is ecnveved in the few words that “the British have again a(i . vanced on ihe Tigris, and arc wiihin a mile •oi mu. Jiiat is indeed bright n< it means so much. Readers of these' note? have ofi.cn been told how essential it is to mst do,cot -| lc , I-,,vies as a means- to an etui. , l (,c ' r| inuis are trying to carry Through the railway from Antwerp and IJnrlin to iinguad. and complete domination of the hue would sail sty them (for iho time,, and lor Jt they would gla-ilv give hack Belgium atm Northern France. They ate well on the va; to their aims at the moment, and it, is ]usl a raco ns to whether the British can oocupy Bagdad before the enemy make good TIT ° ? :U1 , we 6ct about it, properly >-nd promptly, and the opera lions in that important part of the battle front, will be closely watched in the next, few weeks. It !s also to be hoped that Turkev will be WiiT kP w -'i I' nl ' ”* A--a -Minor. ''iih a British, Jucuan, African, am] Ati.-Jt-ai-as-nu force opera ling on the ’'IT-rU "a Rus’an torce front the east, and a Britl-h’ French turd Italian y,,ve a Hacking from the west! v° , llrl “ s ' Vol >ld soon collapse, and tin- Dardanelles would bo open to m-., with all that u incaiu?, particularly to Russia. —Exchanging Photos.— If the following story is no,, t,,,e. in all particulars, it is a good one. and worth I , t Vf ha I s .?' lrell<] - v Hffwarcd in print, but it is doubtful it my readers have seen it. hifK,H ry r rUnS A huS: - A l<«t T battalion after an advance was rrud<dnw along the road towards his headquarters when he was overtaken by a. motor car counhVhJ" tW ,° ° ffiCeJ ,' 3 ' Th ' y sa - w Ule num’s paghL, and gave him a lift. f or which he Wd3 xerv graLefid. and he and the vonnger Oi me officers were soon on good terms, exchanginff views and cisrarctto:. After a while the soldier produced a photo of his gml, and seemed quite sorry when the vomm officer admitted that, ho had not got a eirh AM-be ond of the journey the soldier said • ion have been very kind to me, and if you will accept it, I .should like in ffivo von a Photograph of myself, which 1 happen to have. The .young officer said he should be pleased, and then added: “ Lorry I cannot, give you one of myself, but you are welcome to -this one of my father,” whereon he handed the soldier a sovereign. Needless 10 Ba 7> Tommy” was considerably embarrassed to discover that the young officer he had been talking io in such a confidential manner was the future King of England

A maxim for the barber: Think twice and .cian before once.’ ■’