THE CAMPAIGNS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17701, 30 January 1918, Page 4

THE CAMPAIGNS.

j>TflE reports from Germany shoAV that £no solution has been found for tlio difficulties, and those from \ Austria indicate that the economic i 'crisis continues. We cannot discuss ithese questions in precise terms, because so far as Germany is concerned fthe information comes chiefly , in the ishape of .unconfirmed rumour, and the ! Austrian difficulties may disappear as .Upon as adequate food supplies are I available. The German crisis, if ft (crisis can bo said to exist now, is ijilainly the aftermath of the annexa-

tion controversy, which reached its acute stage before tho resumption of negotiations at Brest Litovsk. So far as published reports go there is no reason to suppose that the victory of tho annexationists is seriously challenged, though at any moment a formidable counter-movement may develop, particularly in view of the pronounced Austrian preference for the policy of no annexations. The very violence of the attacks on tho moderates, indeed, may have tho effect of rallying the people to tho support of the saner statesmen, and the controversy now raging in the newspapers may take on a more important aspect. It is stated that tho Chancellor may shortly make a supplementary statement on the subject of Belgium, but there docs not appear to be any reason for expecting that Germany will bo revealed in a more conciliatory mood. Tho Austrian divergence from tho Berlin programme is, however, complicating the whole political position. Concerning the internal condition of Austria and Hungary there is little fresh news, possibly because the newspapers have again been brought under censorship and possibly because it is increasingly difficult to send uncensored newspapers across the frontiers. It is always to be remembered that tho dead season of winter is peculiarly favourable to the development of political troubles, and without in tho least discrediting the reports of the political differences in Berlin or of the industrial and economic troubles in Austria, wo may say that if there wore more fighting there would be less discussion of internal troubles. The position in both Germany and Austria ought to ho clarified next month, for then wo should be better able to estimate tho depth of the popular discontent. If the troubles continue after the resumption of aotivo military operations we shall be warranted in attachiing a larger measure of importance to them. Beyond an encouraging statement from America there is little in the military position to call for comment. The official declaration that the United States will have half a million troops in Franco early this year implies that the transport of men across the Atlantic is proceeding much more rapidly than seemed possible, but of course it is not necessarily to bo assumed that tho whole of the half-million will bo fully trained men. Indeed, the suggestion that an additional million and a half will be "ready to send" implies. that tho intention is merely to mobilise and equip the recruits on the American side and to give them only a, preliminary preparation, leaving the real training to be carried out in camps in Great Britain and France. "Wo need not expect more precise details of the arrangements, but tho statement, as far as it goes, is very encouraging.