BRITAIN'S PAST IN THE WORLD WAR

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13723, 14 November 1916, Page 6

BRITAIN'S PAST IN THE WORLD WAR

ENGLISH JOURNALIST ON DURATION OF THE \ STRUGGLE,

POSSIBLE TO LAST BEYOND NEXT YEAR. POSITION IS DISAGREEABLE BUT NOT DISASTROUS. (United Service) ' ' ' LONDON, November 12. Mr J. L. Garvin, editor of The Observer, in a special article i saysf— ' v "It is possible that the Avar will last beyond 1917, unless the Allies accomplish might) 7 things. The;*positio"li isjess favourable '•'••toi-'iii'Getober.- It is not true-that"an enemy military collapse is imminent, for our adversaries are able to collect enough men for another year's fighting. TJie indications are that there will be no break through in 1916 on the that there will even be an extensive'withdrawal'of the" German lines by Christmas. Mr Garvin blames the Allies' dilatoriness and bungling in the Balkans and adjacent theatres; also their fumbling and paralysing action towards King Constantine. He says the Rumanians were mistaken in. not crushing, Bulgaria first and severing the connection between Berlin and Constantinople. This would have enabled the Allies to settle in turn Turkey, Bulgaria, Austria, and Germany. The article concludes: The position is disagreeable, but not disastrous. The Allied hopes are postponed, not jeopardised. Russia will in 191Z, for tlie first time, possess an equality of heavy guns and an immense preponderance in man-power. It is likely that* Marshal "Von Iliiidenhurg will make a crowning effort on the East front before then.

NOBLE LORD • DEFENDS MR OHUROHILL. WHAT THE NATION OWES TO THE EX-MINISTER, (AlUlralian and Now Zealand Cable Association,) LONDON, November 12,' Lord Rothermerc, in an article in the Sunday Pictatorial, •warmly defending Mr Churchill from recent attacks, remarks that the majority of the unsparing criticisms against him centre : round the Dardanelles. As the matter is the subject of a Commission of inquiry, the public must wait the Commissioners' report, when it can form its own conclusions'. Early in 1913, Mr ••'Churchill warned the Admiralty of the future role of Zeppelins, and urged the construction oi ! similar aircraft scouts. If his views were not carried into full effect, the responsibility rests'in a degree with Mr Churchill, but also perhaps in a greater degree with the naval experts, who were divided or lukewarm in their opinions, and with Ministers who were ignorant or sceptical of the importance of aerial warfare. '• The writer goes on to say .that Mr Churchill was opposed by the difficulty of obtaining money. Convinced that the Hornet aeroplane would establish British superiority on land and sea, he' determined to concentrate his stinted resources mainly on that typo. Mr Churchill, in a written communication early in 1915,-outlined the entire, conception of the "Tanks" to the Government, and at the olid'of March ordered the-construction' of a considerable number identical with those used,on the Soinmo. v It was difficult to exaggerate what was accomplished under his energetic regime in the early days of the Avar, it was to Mr Churchill's credit that the outbreak of war after'a century of every ship, great and small, ready and at its.war station: -That-wonderful achievement of preparedness alone was sufficient to secure..Mr Churchill, and all others concerned grateful recognition in the records and minds of their countrymen. '■ SHORT SHIFT FOR ENGLISH PACIFICISTS. CONFERENCE WRECKED AND SPEAKERS DECAMP.' (Australian and New Zoaland Oaldc Association.) i LONDON, November 12. A great procession wrecked the conference of pacificists at j, Cardiff-. Mr Ramsay Mac Donald and other speakers escaped from the meeting house by a side door. , ■.- -