THE SITUATION REVIEWED

North Otago Times, Volume CII, Issue 13460, 3 January 1916, Page 7

THE SITUATION REVIEWED

VIOTOIIY DELAYED BUT ASSURED. ; : : .T". •• STRATEGIC' ADVANTAGE WITH. ' THE'ALLIES. MAIN CRISIS ' •' PASSED. TRIIIUTK TO AUSTRALASIAN COUUAGE AND ENDURANCE; : , (Per o«bl«.—l'ress Association.—Copyright) ■ Received January 1) 10.30 p.m. LONDON, Pm'inbci' 31. : Lord Sydenham, who is recognised as mil! of the world*s, greatest military authorities, granted a representative,of the Australian Press Association nu interview.' ■ lu reviewing the situation of the war, Lord Sydenham ended by saying! )n the shadow brought'by many Biicri- ( lices without the visible success which might seem o offer adequate conipensa-. tion, the conquest of German colonies; wherein Australia and New Zealand; played an important part is the only countersroke from the side of the Allies' to the enemy's territorial gains in I'o-' land and the Near East. We have withdrawn a great part of the Imperial troops from Gallipoli. At Salonika, wo are ou the defence, awaiting an attack, while further efforts against tho Suez Canal nitiy be impending. Wo have met with a reverse on the Tigris. Nowhere can be seen the near prospect of a decisive military advantage.'

"If wo contemplate past cveuls in. detail, there may appear lo be grounds for pessimism; Imt, in war on this gigantic scale, it is essential to view tho situation as a 'whole. The year 1707 ended iu the deepest gloom for our fore'< fiithers. The great naval battles of Capo ■ Vincent ami Campcrdown had been won, bu here were acute internal dissensionsand almost intolerable public burdens. Tli p. Bank of England had suspended cash payment!;, Wltcit' the mutinies at Spit head and the Nore-broke out, alt. hopes of .victory tnlglit have seemed lost. "We-may well consider llieso facts now. The real crisis passed in Neptciuiher, 111 1.1,' when the German plan of ( , campaign was wrecked ami Paris saved. | The wonderful preparedness of tho enemy, and his Inwtfint perception of mnv needs, have I old heavily against (he Allies, who arc only now beginning to attain the. ascendancy of material which superior forces will enable t'heiu to establish and maintain. Foiled in tho t Wesl, the Central Poweis struck.wildly eastwards, but wore, llnally brought to a sandstill by the Splendid teuacity of the Russians. Certnin fortresses were abandoned, but the enemy failed to take Riga, and must now bear tlio rig- j ours of a Polish winter, with the. unceasing menace from Russia's masses, which are growing morn formidable as the at« liniments incrcafle, The enemy iB now held fast on the Eastern and Western fronts. His power of offensive appears ! to depend on the subsidised Turks and Bulgars. Moanwlille, the eager efforts of tho Germans have failed to destroy ttio imilx of the Allies, who, with flieir gathering strength and stem determination, await the eomiug of the spring. The economic pressure of tho navy is beginning lo tell, and the eueniy's in- • ternal situation is gradually becoming more acute. Winter is on the side of . the Allies, who will face ilie future with- ■ otil misgiving •'Kor Australia and New tfealanrt, Mil will always be associated with glorious memories. Their troops liavo ' shown a gallantry unsurpassed in the .< history of the war,,lf victory has been denied I Item on Galiipoli, I hey have won / nndying'laine, and have given onduriug examples of the devoted .sacrifice from which tlio whole Umpire draws its hope and Inspirattbn. France \n showing all tlie great qualities which built lip her finest traditions; Russia lias stenune.it the fierce onslaughts of the Austrian* and Germans with imlomiuntable spirit, and is silently developing the unrivalled resources of her splendid manhood; Italy Is lighting bravely, Our warlike, but unmilltary Empire, is solidly united in the face of lie common peril. We are raising trained citizens by tho million. Above all stands the navy, firmly holding the seas of world—far moro powerful than when the war broke out. Such are the conditions wherein the Allies confront the New Year with culm confidence,