THURSDAY, JULY 5th, 1917. THE RUSSIAN DRIVE.

Grey River Argus, Volume 05, 5 July 1917, Page 2

THURSDAY, JULY sth, 1917. THE RUSSIAN DRIVE.

iTHERE were few people in New Zealand who had not lost faith in Russia, and the majority felt certain that she was to all intents and purposes out of the war. We shall now see great • efforts on the part of some journalists to square their previous statements with present events. No doubt, anyone reading the; cabled reports ' of the various troubles iv different parts of the great Russian Empire without considering other factors, would be justified in coming to a pessimistic conclusion. •Not that' we wish to give the impression that the messages were entirely .without foundation, for we believe that very - serious troubles were facing the nation, and it will . be with grea.t . difficulty that the Provisional Government will overcome them. The economic and intlustrial position is very badj and tlie. revolution has unearthed many serious matters which were hid; den by the old regime. One of the greatest difficulties has been the-de-tnand on the part of workers, both skilled and unskilled, for enormous mci eases in wages, making it impossible for niany employers to continue their businesses. A spirit of Extreme Socialism has taken possession, and the result has been industrial chaos. All these things have caused people in the Allied countries to take gloomy viewa, and to abandon hope in Russia as an ally. It must' be remembered though that the revolution was made to overthrow; German influence, and many of the. present, difficulties are the result of German propaganda and intrigue. The very fact of the revolution is an earnest *x>±. the nations- intention ■to continue to fight Germany, and to secure permanently the freedom gained by the revolution. Such a. drastic . change was bound to carry with it chaos for- a time, and when the magnitude of the task is appreciated it ijs little short of wonderful that Russia is able .within six months to launch a. great offensive, \yhich has resulted in. a very definite . success. M. Korensky and General Brusiloff have: shown an optimistic spirit throughout, and it is clear that tljey y have not misled the world* ; Rjussia/s army is probably better equipped to-day than at any time since, the war. began, and the spirit cf freedom will prove as powerful a frroe 49. guns, and shells. 'We have ovory faitir-'in .General Brusiloff who- is 'Vuniloubtedly one 1 Qi •; the greatest strategists -in' : the ;world. His \ biow last; yeaf cost, the Austrians dearly, and it looks very much' as if he is about J;o repeat the operation. The: diffefpncel.-of course will ■be that, whereas last ,:,year he was '-. hindered by lack ,of transport and by. the 1 ; treachJorous. aeti|)n". ; of'V.tke Government in. withholding this ■ yiear 's '. forward move ■■ \^H be^ wfSU supported. .Tit will be, ''A>mej^berpd that|-l^at^'-y^ar''>.wheii\-the.;grH^t'':.Ru9^^' offensive' was .'launpedr.i^{; relative

positions were, the same as to-day as regards the disposition of forces. The Geimans were preparing for a thrust at Petrogiad, and we, read of much naval activity. Brusiloff J s blo\y prevented the German effort. One message published yesterday stated that German deserters reported . that nayal operations on a grand scale were being prepared in the Gulf ,, of Riga, that I ! troops from other fronts were being ! concentrated on the northern part of the line and that a big attack Avas promised for this month. It may be that the Russian High Command had learned of this German effort and has forestalled it in Galieia. Anything in the naWe of a definite drive on the southern end of the line will force Germany to send troops from the north. Russia knows that the best j foil to the German efforts in the East is to hammer at the Austrian, armies, because Austria soon calls for help and hinders Germany. Any real success 'against the troops of the Dual Monarchy at the present time is likely to produce very far reaching rosults, as the two countries are in a state which makes Emperor. Carl's rule very difficult. He has been plainly told by the loaders of the parties that peace lrufst be secured this year or a revolution will result. The censorship has prevented news of the upheaval in Bohemia reaching the outside world, but the tone of the messages concerning Austria has told of more than a little trouble. The haul of ' prisoners by. the Russians, which by the way, exceeds the total taken by tHe British during last month, must have an immediate effect upon the Austr,ians and, in spite .'of all that has beeril said to the contrary, there is a possibility that the war. will end this year. II; is practically certain that : if Austria draws out of the conflict her bullying neighbour will be forced to submit to defeat this .year. Another effect of Russia's victory, will ,be the upsetting of Hindeuburg?s plans for a great offensiva in the Trentino, for which the Italians have for months been, waiting. Viewing the .whole .of the theatres it seems that there is now a better chance than ever before of the Allies delivering one great blow, and, if such is the case, there, is little likelihood of tho Central Empires being able to resist it. We may be much nearer the end than is generally thought, and if the Russian armies gather momentum they must prove a very powerful factor in bringing about a final decision. We hope iliat nothing will hinder their' progress, which, has come , with such suddenness and Avhich ' has already brought satisfactory results.

A conference of Inangahua aud Grey County- Councillors will lie held at Greymouth to-day to go into the question of timber royalties. On Friday evening a meeting of all motorists .interested in the formation of a branch, of the Canterbury Automobile Association is to be held at Harley 's offices, at 7.30 / b 'clock. ' Motor car and motor-cycle owners from the surrounding districts, as well as from Greymouth, are invited to be present.

A hearty laugh is a good tcjijic, "Winter Pie" iov IQI7. is the -Book' the price asked for, viz. 1 s 0d pawed 2s Procurable from B. Dixon Tainu'i Street. "

• '- By and Act of Parliament passed on the petition of the trustees the provision made in the will of Mr. Rhodes for a certain number* of German scholars to be nominated jeach year by the Kaiser has been cancelled. The scholarships thus, set free ay ill, under the Act, be. distributed among communities within the British • JfcJia 1 pire not provided for under IJierVwilU?.' —-Extract from the . report of the Rhodes -Trust submitted at the meeting of the Victoria College •Council.:

. Saje Bargains. . in Moirette Underskirts, 15 doz. only, 3/11 to 4/11 each., former prices were 5/11 to 8/11 each. All colours, at .Walker 's Sale, Boundary Street. — Adyt.

At the conclusion of .his statement with regard to the curtailment of the railway services, the Hon. W. H. \Herri.es. (Minister for Railways) said : " I cannot do better than to quote from a speech made lately bjr Mr. ; Lloyd George : The. next time you find your self in an overcrowded train, the next tiiiie you find that the time-table is ijicouveuienf to you, the next time you have got to pay an extra fare, do Edfc forget that- you are belping the Army in France by that means- more, than if you had sent three firsh Aim/ corps there.". ■- ' , I * ■ ■ I " ; The Ten Mile\Bluffl has been impassable along the befieh f or^ nearly three months now, and) is causing great inconvenience to the 'fearrytuwn settlers, and others. At y'estorda'y's meeting of the Grey County Council a letter was received from therßarrytowu Settlers' Association,- asking that if the association sent a deputation*! to Wellington to interview Ministers in regard -to the Ten Mile Bluff, would the council allow one of its officers to proceed with them. C'r. Ryall asked the Chairman, seeing that Mr. tiiinnau would be in Wellington next week, if he could give the- deputation a day., Mr. Hannau consented. -Cr. Syder stated that there" had been no traffic found the bluff v for three montJto and a quantity of flax was awaitin^'shipinent. The Clerk' wass, instructed to write to the association telling it that that th« Chairman of the council would be iv Wellington on tlieltith, and would assist the deputation. Sale^ttrgaihsat: Walker 's-^Ladies' Costumes, former prices £4 to £6, now reduced to 45/-, 50/t, and 60/-. These are real snips.— Walker Street.— Advt. Replying to a question ; asked bytho Minister of, Defence Brigadier-General Richardson .'lias, given some information regarding gifts for the New. Zealand troops oh the West Pront. '"Gifts of parcels for troops in tic "field, " lie says "are ,ap.preeiated : highly \>y -ika jnen'if; tbey contain (A— specially" appreciated), socks, cigarettes in hermetically sealed tins (otherwise 'usel<?s;l, and are better supplied from England), milk Havelockrtobaccp, boot laees-j handkerchiefs, -s\ycets, chocolates; ,h(irmctically sealed ;(B— appreciated, -buli not essen Ual, as can bo obtained lot&lly from canteens), soap:(ijf 'i v tins or cases a Tad not exposed 'to .tobacco 'oif eatables), toothbrushes and paste, writing materials, and pipes. Qift parceiKjare sent to France, and!: not retained in England. Personally addressed parcel*" shduJd not be sent [except; by ;p^bst. Tiiue \a reach tropps,, approximately five, months from 2\ T ew Zealand. " ' "' ■?"• ',' • If a stateniefltis true, aii a is ; certified ■v..tb, ■ ;..-;■ ■..:''■' ■'_■-; ' | ; ,- . 'l?o accept it as such is a Fise thfiig to ■''do; /■■■ ; v !'. ;. ' ' .'... ,-:' / j .-' It ;is( lutile to argue andlwrjaqgle and doubt- " : ." ■ •" I . £'V If there 'b -nought to Wringle^and argue 1 , abiput. - - .. •-. 1 -' If you 'suffer' from cougßs, bronchitis, or cold, . ' ; ■ \ I ■-. Seek relief at .tha.(a/uggis^ 8 where ijj sold : j' ; X .; '"■ • A 'glad , restoration |o : I health you'll -.^assure,! >. : -\ ;■. ;i .]-' f -'■. ; \' If'you asfc , fbt'"Woop Peppermint >'Cure. ''•■■':':■■ •■' ■■■fr-f-' : ■ '

A Wyndhamj youiU attending the! Technical College at Invercargill filled' in his lecentT term holidays of two weeks by ea'iniig a little money. He »ot two traps- aaid d-id some rabbiting. As the result of his industry he received £10 o's o"d. His intention is to use that to help in the payment of his education; r . • Ford Motor Cars can now be converted into a ton motor truck by the use of Smith's form-a- truck chassis, which is " easily ■ attached. The capital involved is very small and enables owners to make their cars a -good commercial proposition. Harley and Co. are the West Coast agents and will be pleased to give full particulars on application.. | Writing . from Mesopotamia, Sergeant Broshgeant says: "Concerning the heat and the flies, I could write pages; i ll fact, to tell, the truth, I couldn't write pages, because they would not let me.^ I am now wrapped •ftp in a bit of netting, sitting like a haunch-back, and to continue the attack they are biting my legs through ' my. socks. A meal is hardly worth j while, because one gets knocked out trying to have it and trying to keen the flies away at the same time. Weir I think I'll give them the white flag fur now and conclude." ! Owing to the enormous increase in their stocks, Harley and Co., Ltd., have determined to make slaughtering reductions. As. will be seen by advertisement a. great auction sale of new furniture will be conducted at their rooms oil Saturday, when over £500 worth of new goods will be submitted under the hammer, comprising: — 'A suited, - 3 duchess chests, bedroom suites, oak sideboard, 2 rimu leadlight sideboards, oak sideboard,, treadle sewing machine, hall stand, lounge chairs, Chesterfield suite, overmantel, new lady's and gent's cycles, carpet squares, ' hearthrugs, blankets, quilts, sheeting," crockery, cutlery, and one piano. Do not miss this sale on Saturday if you are out for bargains. '■ "Prometheus," the organ of the Goimuii. iron trade, mikes an elabor ate calculation as to the quantity of steel which is now lying on the hillsides ( round s Verdun. According to military reports, it often happened , that as many as one million shots daily !were fired from guns of various calibres, if, however, one million shells are tuken as the weekly instead of the daily (average, we reach almost incredible Botals. Taking the ground fought jovcr,as 260 square kilometres, and the average weight. of the shells as 901 b .; .no fewer than 1,350,000 tons of steel exploded on the area in question. This 'weight is sufficient to load 135,000 ieavy goods waggons, and works out jat 13 tons of steel per acre. Taking I the .price of scrap steel at £'3 10a per ton,' we have a crop of steel which ("Prometheus" thinks is well worth garnering. \.4 brilliant idea has been hit upon by; a correspondent who writes, to the 'editor of the New Zealand Times as 'fellows : — "ln reading the "Times" I j noticed a paragraph referring to the fact that the brayiess mule is one of the scientific developments of the war. | j-aad that large n umbers of mules have I been imported from America whose habit of braying at convenient niome- ( nts has been remedied by American yeIcrinary experts. Now, I thiiik it would be an excellent idea, not only for our embarrassed politicians, but also for. the general fair-minded public jif these six o'clock closing agitators .were subjected to similar operation. Of course it could be made only a temporary affair, so. that when the war is over they could have this habit of braying ,-at inconvenient moments given back to • them. The 'win the war' jry would | then be useless ijto them. /In "all probability they would have learnt their lesson, and would bray no more." ■ AH grades in United States Tyres., Nbbby. Chain and Usco Treads can be obtained on application to Harley and Co., Ltd., Greymouth, who are thte West Coast Agents.— Advt.