Northern Advocate Daily With which is incorporated the Northern Mail Daily. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1916. PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1916, Page 2

Northern Advocate Daily With which is incorporated the Northern Mail Daily.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1916. PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Registered for transmission through the post as a newspaper.

Some anxiety has been caused during the week by reports of a .Russian political crisis in which it was disclosed that certain Ministers bad strong proGerman tendencies and were intriguing for separate peace. We can now reconstruct the whole story. There w 7 as a universal desire to settle accounts with Germany in the most thorough manner possible. The jubilations in Vienna roused suspicion that this desire, which had produced a great solid majority Bloc iv the Duma, was not likely to be gratified. The plot for a separate peace, in fact, had leaked out, and M Miliukoff, the leader of the Constitutional Democrats, promptly accused the Prime Minister of negotiating for a separate peace M. Sturmei', who was already arranging for the dis solution of the Duma to secure his arrangements, left the chamber. Whereupon the Ministers for War and Marine entering supported Miliukoff with fervour, and then ensued a scone of frantic enthusiasm. Naturally, for these Ministers, not having the right to speak in the "Duma without the Czar's permission, it has become evident that the Czar was with the majority of the Duma ami shared the general desire for vigorous prosecution of the war. The tremendous scene in the Duma was followed by the despatch of assurances to all the Entente Powers disavowing the plot and assuring them of the energetic, determination, of Parliament, AUnisters, sovereign, and nation to continue the war loyally to the finish. A new Government \va* formed, and the rrisis ended with the complete frustration of of the pro-German plot. The one thing requiring explanation is that no one is punished. * * * * General Sarrail's advance is still satisfactory, the Servians and French having made a very important capture north-east of Monastir, with a corresponding Italian advance on the west. The importance attached by the German command to this movement is shown by the presence of considerable German forces of the first line in .the engagement. They were ordered to hold the position at all costs but they were driven out handsomely, and all their counters, stubbornly pressed, With full consciousness of the consequences of their loss, were repulsed disastrously. It is the first time the Servians have measured themselves against the best German troops, but nothing, it now appears, can resist the Servians, who are raised to fiercest hatred by the wrongs of their unhappy country. ,

A serious position has been reached in Athens. The (Jonstantino Government's threat of trouble lias taken the form of a preparation by the ollicors of the Royalist army for a St. Bartholomew massacre of all Venezelists, the signal to be the first shot tired by the Allies in their enforcement of the ilemand for the surrender of arms It has been devoutedly hoped that this resistance to the Allies' wishes would prove 'in expiring act of German lilntV, but mi fortunately the cables to-day inform us that the Athens Cabinet has refused to surrender. What this will mean we- cannot yet say, but the position is grave. The Allies forces arc no doubt Hiiilii'ient to deal with Greece, but the I rouble cannot fail to seriously irjlcrl'i.'U: with thr LJtiJl.au campaign,

besides creating internal strife which is likely to involve the fate of the Throne. The Venizelist Government has declared war upon Bulgaria. * • * o There has been practically no news from the Western front during the week beyond the announcement of artillery duels at various points. Today's messages refer to heavy gunfire at Douaiimoiit and Yaux. Aircraft have been also active. The Allies have the position well in hand, but there have been no important changes. * * ■» o Practically the same may be said with regard to the Italian and Eastern front. The last news of any import ance from ltfily indicated that a big Austrian offensive would be attempted in the Trentino, but the anticipated assault has evidently not taken place. The quiet in this region, however, is not unexpected, as winter condition? are now taking the mountains in their grip and extensive operations are wellnigh impossible. The same reasons may be advanced to account for the lull in the East, except that the additional factor of the Roumanian campaign ha? to be accounted for. Both sides appear to have decided to allow the fight in Volhynia and northern Gftlicia to stand over until the Roumanian issue has been deciddff. * * * * Unfortunately the progress of the fighting in Roumania does not give much encouragement. The Russiansappear to x be doing all in their power to asist in the defence of the country, but the enemy is slowly but surely gaining ground. The Germans have at command superior forces, plus wonderful transport mobility, and it is well that . the lesson in Roumania should be taken to heart, so that in future the optimistic critic who says "Germany is done for," may not be taken seriously. The Austro-Germans have shown amazing power iai this second Balkan campaign, and when an enemy can concentrate such forces for a given purpose he must be taken seriously. As pointed out yesterday, the possession of Wallachia or Western Roumania, does not necessarily mean the conquest of the country. The defenders are all the time falling back in the direction of Russian aTcL But the progress which the attackers are . making gives reason for grave anxiety. The removal of the seat of Government from Bucharest to ('uear tile Bessarabian border) shows that the outlook is by no means bright.