HOPES FOR 1917.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4458, 27 January 1917, Page 5

HOPES FOR 1917.

RUSSIAN OPTIMISM

BLOW PREPARING AGAINST

ITALY

LONDON, Jan. 20. The Russian newspapers are full ol military and political reviews and greetings to the Allies. There is a general note of confident anticipation of decisive victory in 1917. The frankness and dignity of the Allies' reply to Wilson is contrasted Avith the Austro-German running amok among the facts. There is much amused comment on the German reference to the Boers, as the Russians are most impressed with the success of the British policy in South Africa. The “Novoe Vremya” says paper guarantees are useless inutile case of Germany. Her rapacious claws must be cut. As the winter, draws on the expectation of launching the most terrible offensives of the Avar’s most critical campaign increases. Experts are sanguine of holding up the Bulgur-Ger-man forces on the Sereth, thus defeating Hindenhurg’s evident plan for a drive towards Bessarabia, disrupting the Allies’ strategy, and compelling the. launching _of a premature counter-offensive, as in 1916. All the belligerents are gathering unparalleled supplies of men and munitions. Germany’;-; neiv mass levy is operating successfully. • Bulgaria has called up most of her hitlierto exempted men. and Turkey has ordered a mass levy.. Reuters’ correspondent at Rome confirms the reports that the Austrians, aa 7 ]io are not heavily committed to the Roumanian offensive, are concentrating men in tlie Trentmo, Avliere they ■ are being trained in mountain Aval-fare, until a view to launching an offensive winch will draw- the Italians from fhe Carso, where Trieste will soon be imperilled. The Emperor Karl terms the proposed Trentino offensive a punitive move against Italy. _ ~