Northern Advocate Daily With which is incorporated the Northern Mail Daily. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1916. PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Northern Advocate, 8 December 1916, Page 2

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

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1916. PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Registered for transmission through the post as a newspaper.

Big events have been recorded since our last review of the position of the war, and big events are still happening, which make it almost impossible to give anything approaching a correct view of tho position. The Western front contributes practically nothing to the story of the week. Work may be going ou as usual, but we are told nothing. The same condition exists — apparently—upon the Eastern and Italian fronts. All eyes are now turned upon the Balkans, and the belligerents have clearly decided to mark time elsewhere 1 until the differences in .Rouniania and Greece are settled. Unfortunately for us the points in the Balkan duel have, so far been scored by the enemy, but if is necessary to here reiterate our opening explanation that events are taking place so rapidly that it is not possil.de to point exactly to what actually has happened. There are supposed to be two battles, or series of battles, now in progress in Eonmania. The enemy having forced a way through the western and central

passes.in the. mountains is now striking eastward from' the Danube towards Bucharest, the capital. Ou the other hand the: Russians have endeavoured to cut a passage through the wooded Car:, pathiaus from Bukowina with the object of traversing the Huugarian plain and taking the enemy in the rear. If this operation had been successful the Ausfcro-G'rnuan invaders Would have been placed in grave difficulty and the advance upon Bucharest speedily brought to a halt, but up to the time of writing news received, unhappily goes to show that the Russian attempts to debouch from Ihe mountains have not been completely' successful. hi the meantime the enemy is forcing, on to Bucharest an-d German reports yesterday -.slated that the capital had been taken. ' Official confirmation is lacking, but there is ground for accepting the capture as highly probable. The removal of the Government to J assy on the eastern boarder, shows that the Roumanians wen: by no means hopeful of holding (he capita 1- Xo operations of consequence are reported from the Dobrudja, or-southern front, both sides being prepared to seek" a decision on the north and west. -However, although the outlook is gloomy the day is not vet lost.

A serious feature;-of .the. Roumanian campaign, and-a most serious one too. -is its effects upon Greece. The ProGermans in Athens,'with King Constantine at their head, have taken full advantage of the Roumanian reserves to advance the canst 1 of the enemy. On the principle of being in with "the top dog" the King's party has not found it difficult to bring a large section of the people' to believe in the wisdom of the court, policy. Had the Allies been successful in the Roumanian campaign, and had the BerlinConstantino] do communications been cut, it is safe to say that the Court party could never have restrained the people from co-operation with the Entente. As events have turned out,'

The most modern siientlfic--prepa.ra- ,- tion for washing clothes-, is -"No Rubbing Laundry Help -as- it washes clothes clean without .rubbing and we guarantee it. not :to injure- the hands or fabrics,.—-J. Harrison and .Son&. .

however, tho pathway of the Pro-Ger- ' mans has. b'era made easy and thfty have profited thereby-, ; Durdic'«.t v v of the worst kind tiiis heejii j'.ru'ctisi>ifc I -'-IHimv -: ajtci ag.iiiii, when driven into a 'corner,J King Con'stantiire - h\v> pYonitsed to- ,'' play th»! gi'tioo,'' j but every time he has backslided. The last.demand of the Allies • was that, the Greek ii'oops which ccMisiuliiecl a 'menace to . the j Salonika operations, should give vp 1 arms. After resistance the King reluctantly agreed rd fid' demriiid and gave it" *>><mrahce that the landing of troops would cause, no disturbance Therefore small bodies of troops were landed and marched to positb'iK which ; it was understood tnV-y would amicably occupy, ihe result, was a treacherous attack causing the death of a number of Allied troops. It is said that the Allies are determined to demand full reparation, but the Greeks are in a dangerous mood/ M. Vcniz'el'os, the leader of,the Nationalists and the warm friend of the Allies, urges . .prompt . action., to-avert serious trouble. In the ,- meantime o]>erations in Macedonia, are ■hampered. ;> -, *-. . * .«. ■ -o ■ • ■ The yerviaiis, alone, in the Balkans, are making headway. With a determination which is truly- heroic they are fighting their way northward against the Bulgars, and after a six days' ■ battle they have captured further important heights. It is too iiiueh to hope, howtive'r, that their operation" can turn the tide in the Balkans. *• . 'i * # In Britain there Iras been, a sensational Cabinet crisis. The reports current are that Mr Asquith has resigned ami that Messrs JiiS'nilv Law. and Lloyd George are in ; the running i'or the Premiership. One section of the press holds the opinion that the whole thing is a Tory plot, while another openly expresses the opinion that a reconstruction of the Cabinet and general methods of administration is necessary to secure victory. The King has held a most important Council of all his Ministers, and conferences are in progross. r J,t iseoins certain, that Mr Lloyd Georgej wi]lbe, the.new -Premier.