THE CAMPAIGNS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17934, 30 October 1918, Page 6

THE CAMPAIGNS.

It is reported from London, apparently on. official authority, that Austria has applied to the Allies for an armistice,; and the comments on the Note treat it. as an indication of ah intention to iiurronder. If tho text of the Note published in Switzerland is correct, it wtainly bears that construction, and leaves no room for doubt that the Dual Monarchy will, in the course of a day or two, he out of tho war. The Allied; Council, sitting now at Versailles, will define the termß of the armistice, and it h difficult to see how Austria and Hungary, in view of their internal troubles, can do other than accept, lb la expressly declared that Austria Is ready for an armistice, whatever the result of the German negotiations may be, Obviously this Austrian move has a most important bearing on the German position, and the air ahortly hi ay bo full of sensational stories. Uat at a time like this it is necessary that the publio should bo guarded in their reading of unofficial reports. Rumours are flying everywhere, and gome of fchem are caught up and transmitted to this part of the world, sometimes with every appearance of authenticity. Certain messages come to us from official sources and are to be accepted HH definite news. The messages that come through Renter's Agency are for tho most part gathered from official sources, but in any case their origin is generally indicated and their value can therefore be assessed fairly accurately. American messages are to bo taken as unreliable until they art confirmed, though it frequently happens that they are the earliest brief ttimmui'ici of official reports. Certain of tho messages sent through the Aub-

trnlian and New Zealand Cable Association are obviously semi-official end may come from the Ministry of Information. They are generally in the nature of comment or explanation, and they must not he confused with tfoo official announcements which are is6ued through the Press Bureau. It is difficult for the average reader, no doubt, to differentiate, but possibly this explanation will help him to distinguish between the reports that can be accepted without question and those that lack the official seal. Our own consistent practice throughout the war has been to rely only on the official messages or on those of which the source is Btated, and to use the others according to their general bearing on the position, and we are directing special attention to the subject just now because there obviously are great issues in the balance and premature announcements of sensational importance may be distributed by one agency or another. But it may bv taken for granted that when the big news does come there will be no need to guess at its importance. The campaigns call for little comment. There has been little fresh movement on the British front, but the French are continuing their advance north of the Serre, where a German retreat is in progress on a wide front. The movement of British and Italians across, the Piave has met with some success, but it is indicated that the Austrian resistance is still prorounced and that no sign <)f an Austrian military collapse is apparent, whatever the political position may be. The reconquest of Serbia is proccc.'i ; rapidly. In Syria General Allenb/'s mounted column is well to the north of Aleppo, and on the Tigris the British are moving north against comparatively small opposition.