NOTES ON THE WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17272, 13 September 1916, Page 6

NOTES ON THE WAR.

There is evidently considerable activity on the Macedonian front, hut the 1 communiques indicate nothing more so far than that tho Allies are making reconnaissances. The British, on the right wing, have been called on to deal with a strong Bulgarian raid across the Struma at the head of Lake Tahinos, and although tho enemy parties were ejected from certain villages they had occupied, notably Gudoli and Karadjalcoi, it is left to bo inferred that there aro still Bulgarians west of the rivor. However, it is certain that this raid would he dealt with thoroughly, and that the enemy would he driven back to tho eastern bank of tho river, more particularly as a British force has already crossed the Struma further north. This force made the passage on tho main road from Salonika to Sores, where the Bulgarians were bound to be in considerable strength, and as. a matter of fact the communique states that the crossing was made under fire and that strong opposition was encountered. Nevolyen, occupied by tho British, is a couple of miles from the east bank of the Struma, and Jenikoi, which would presumably also bo occupied, is eight or ten miles from Seres by road.

The British defensive positions aro well hack from the Struma., on the spurs of the Tvrusha Balkan and Beshik ranges, and the present movement is therefore definitely an offensive one. Probably it was undertaken primarily to ascertain the enemy's strength in tho region, hut it would also have tho purpose of dispersing Bulgarian concentrations. Whether tho advance is to be supported and continued remains to be learned, but in view of the general situation on the two Bulgarian fronts one would look for strong Allied offensives. The French in the Vardar valley and in the region of Lake Doiran opened a bombardment of the Bulgarian positions several days ago, hut so far there has been no infantry movement. On the left wing the Serbians ought to bo advancing, because a contraction of tho Bulgarian front commenced with the entry of Rumania into the war and it should still continue.

A statement by M. Take Jonescu concerning tho reverse suffered by the Rumanians leaves no room for doubt that tho affair was of some magnitude, and it tends to confirm the suspicion that treachery or trickery was responsible. M. Jonescu hints at the danger of “friendly relations” with the Bulgarians, as though the disaster was traceable to such relations; and the general tone of his not very definito remark suggests tho operation of enemy influences in the Rumnnian ranks. Considering the history of German relations, political and commercial with Rumania, and the recent strenuous efforts of the Central Powers to keep the Rumanians out of the war, it is scarcely to be expected that tho enemy should not have some agents in the Rumanian services. It looks ns if a very sensational story could be told about tho fall of Turtukai. and perhaps one of these days it will be published.

The reports concerning the position in the Dobrudja aro rather confused. A message from Bucharest states that the forts outside Silistria were bombardod by heavy howitzers and reduced to ruins, and that tho Rumanians had to withdraw in face of the superior strength of the enomy. The evacua-

tion of these advanced positions, however, should not seriously prejudice the Rumanian plans, because the old frontier ought to provide sound and shorter defensive lines. But there is ground for the suspicion that the Rumanians took tho situation on tho Bulgarian frontier rather for granted when they declared war against Austria. It will be remembered that they did not declare war against Bulgaria, aud possibly M. Jonescu’s comment will bear the interpretation that tho Government oxpected to avoid war with the southern neighbour. It may havo been depending on assurances given by Bulgaria in earlier negotiations, when, perhaps, Rumania had inquired what course Bulgaria would pursue if war wore declared on Austria-Hungary. Still, it seems incredible that tho Rumanian Government could havo believed that it could go to war with Austria and remain at peace with Bulgaria, aud it is equally incredible that tin Allies could have permitted the Rumanians to commit such a blunder. Thero was always tho threat of a Russian invasion of Bulgaria through Rumanian territory, and no statesman with his wits about him would have supposed that the Bulgarians would remain quiescent under such a menace.

It .is with relief that ono turns from tho obscurities and perplexities of the diplomatic problems to the military positiou, although even there tho course of evonts is not at all clear. There is an unofficial story to the effect that tho Bulgarians aro evacuating Varna tinder pressure from the Russian fleet on tho coast and a Russian force on land. The activity of the Russian fleet has been officially reported. but so far the land force has not been definitely looat-ed. It may have pushed southwards from the base on tho coast at Mnngalia and Compelled tho Bulgarians to evacuate Dobrich tuid Baltjik, the latter being the port bombarded by tbe Russian fleet. But the threat against. Varna has not been officially indicated.

Nows of the loss of the - Italian dreadnought Leonardo da Vinci comes through belatedly. She was blown up in Taranto harbour more than a. month ago. Tho. Leonardo is listed as onie of the three battleships of the Cavour class, of 22,340 tons, steaming 23 knots. Theso ships represent a stage in Italian experiment in armament, mounting thirteen 12-inch guns, nine of them in triple ’turrets and four in pairs. This design, however, was abandoned in later vessels., the triple turret having failed to satisfy tho experts. The intention in adopting it was to obtain the maximum weight in tho broadside, but British designs strongly influenced tho Italians and in four new’ ships proposed to be laid down in 1914 an armament similar to that of the Queen Elizabeth was adopted. No particulars of tho cost of recent Italian ships are available, but the Leonardo must have cost well on to two and a half millions by tho time she was commissioned. Her complement would be about 1000.