Enemy Discord and Allied Co-ordination

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13949, 30 July 1918, Page 4

Enemy Discord and Allied Co-ordination

GERMANY’S TANGLED PROMISES. TROUBLE IN THE CENTRAL EMPIRES. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Last Night. r llie ■weekly official review of the war situation issued by the Ministry of information states: — There has not been time yet to see the full political reaction in' Germany and Austria in consequence of the failure of the most recent offensive; but it is confidently expected that the successes of the Allied counter-attack will prove a severe shock and disappointment to the Germans, who believed the promises of the Military Party that a. German victory and a German peace would be won by the present campaign. Apparently the Emperor appointed von Hintze as Foreign Minister by the advice of the military authorities, without consulting the political leaders. The Reichstag was seriously annoyed, and was not soothed by its adjournment, for 1 this means a further victory of the Military Party over the civilian. Yon Kertling's theory of using Belgium as a ‘‘pawn” iu I lie peace negotiations has been most (dearly and emphatically exposed and denied by Mr Balfour. Disruption continues in Austria. Largo numbers of Czech soldiers are reported to be deserting from the army, and have wandered into the mountains, where they have organised themselves in bands with the secret sympathy of the peasants. An olliclal order by the officer commanding the garrison of Przemys! abundantly shows the decay of -discipline amongst the Austrian troops. From this it seems that all army regulations, salutes to the uniform, and decorations, and order and decency of every kind are now completely neglected. The commanding of licer expatiates on the grievously complete and universal disregard of military discipline, and threatens to prohibit private soldiers using the streets in order to prevent the continuation of such a scandalous state of squalor, neglect, and disorder. So bad are things, he says, that “when. I drive in my automobile I am pained to notice that I am seldom saluted. ” Bulgaria, and Turkey begin to realise the dangers of alliance with the Central Powers. The Gorman promises to Bulgaria are irreconciliable with the German promises- to Turkey, and now that Bulgaria and Turkey are both claiming the fulfilment of the respective promises, both are necessarily on the worst of terms with each other and with Germany. But amongst the Allies co-operation, co-ordination, and un animity in the prosecution and purposes of the war are everywhere most remarkable. A great number of American troops has already, arrived, and more are still constantly coming, while French, British. American, and Italian troops have, all shared iu the military successes of the past weeks. On 24th July the Pood Controllers of these four Powers held a meeting in London, to secure further co-ordination in the production and distribution of fond. President Wilson telegraphed: “The American peoplewill be glad and willing to make any sacrifice in the consumption and production of foodstuffs to maintain the health, comfort, and courage of the Allied countries. We are. in fact, eating at a common table with them. ,r