DECISIVE PERIOD OF WAR NEAR

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13795, 3 February 1917, Page 2

DECISIVE PERIOD OF WAR NEAR

SUPREME TOPIC OF THE DAY. DECISIVE END OF WAR AND HONOURABLE AftD STABLE PEACE. MR ASQUITH'S SUMMARY'OF THE SITUATION. .;.'■!(.".■ (Australian and New Zealand Coble Association.) Received February 2, 5.50 p.m. , " LONDON, February 1. '. Mr A'squith, addressing" the Liberal Conservative delegates at Ladybanky said that he would not refer to the circumstance, of his resignation. Public attention should'not be distracted. • The-supreme topic was prosecuting the war to a worthy and : decisive end, and an honourable and stable peace. The Allies' resources were'wisely organised, .and they were assured, of inevitable.-victory. The idea that the war', would result in a stalemate was a mere dream. However the fortunes.of war fluctuated, the balance more and more favoured the Allies. Ultimate victory certain, but the Allies must employ the utmostendeavour and accelerate their operations. The British blockade was one of the greatest achievements in the Navy's annals. The submarine menace was grave, but the naval measures and shipbuilding, would counteract. It was useless waste of time to consider Germany's so-called peace overtures, which were transparently insincere, and. put forth with ulterior motives, but the Allies were bound respectfully to listen to. President Wilson's Note,'amounting to a declaration of American ideals. The ideal of a World League arouses the Allies' sympathy and coincided , with the British conception of the enthronement of public right, • as the governing- ideal of European politics did not differ fundamentally.therefrom. The Allies, in estimating their minimum peace requirements, must remember the dead. They must , also remember the enemy's character and methods as revealed by the war. The guarantees must therefore be tangible and solid. , '''By a victorious peace we mean," Mr Asqnith continued, "a peace in the interests of the social and moral welfare of humanity. We .do not desire more, but we could not accept less. We must concentrate our resources for a decisive victory in the field, which would be the precursor of an enduring peace." FREQUENT CONFERENCES OF ENEMY LEADERS. GERMANY'S FOLICY ON LAND AND SEA SETTLED, (Renter's -Telegram?.) AMSTERDAM, February 1. Marshal von Hindenburg is expected at Brussels to-day, en route to Ghent and Flanders. Dr von Bethmann-Hollweg (Imperial Chancellor) and Herr Zimmerman (Minister of Foreign Affairs) have returned to Berlin from Headquarters after debating at length the policy on land and sen, A telegram declares that the most serious and decisive period of the war is about to begin. / ' KAISER'S MESSAGE TO. GERMAN NATION. "GERMANS WILL DO THEIR DUTY TO THE LAST MAN." (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) AMSTERDAM, February 1. The Kaiser, in a proclamation of thanks to his people for , their birthday expressions of loyalty, says: "Hard times are ahead, The Fatherland needs to compel the concentration of exceptional forces. The German people will do their duty to the ■ last man in the defence of a righteous cause. I am confident that God is with us and will give us the victory." SIGNIFICANCE OF ALLIED VICTORY IN THE WEST. FULLY-PREPARED TO COPE WITH ANY CtERMAN OFFENSIVE. "WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED." (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) V "" v ■■.■-.•'■ ■ LONDON, February 1. The activity on the Anglo-French front is'increasing pending a gigantic clash of arms. The mighty armies, are taking each other's measure. French critics, whofully expect the 1917 campaign fp end the war, interpret the German attacks on the 30th' not only as feelers by-which' the staff was seeking to discover the well-kept secret of the Allies' plans, but as a prelude to the.German offensive. The Anglo-Freuch staffs are fully prepared to cope jwith.any German effort. General Rawlinson, discussing the possible German offensive,' said: "We have everything we need. If the Germans care to lose a few hundred thousand for no purpose, we have no objection." ' i Major Decioricnx, writing in Le Matin, points out that the mobility of large Anglo-French artillery reserves is assured by railway and motor traction, enabling, a crushing surprise offensive to be directed against .the enemy while they are engaged in another sector. The Allies, not conient with .the offensive , operations/ Will 'thus absorb .the enemy's effort and exhaust his 1 effectives. ■ , m *-

»"*M«»M m H I II 1 , mi I I inytf »■—Hi,,,, , STIREnm-MAKIFESTO TO ITALIAN ARMIES: ' ' ' " ■/' j.i. JS ' , 7 \ l ' 4C ;V ..."/'!> •,* "ITALY TRUSTS HER SOLDIERS TO DELIVER HER LOST PROVINCES.". • , , (Australian and N6w Zealand Cable A«soctotlon.) ( . ROME, February 1. j The supreme command has issued a manifesto to the soldiers setting out the Entente's objectives and recalling the enemy's, declaring that the Entente will not make any save a victorious peace. The manifesto concludes: "Italy trusts her soldiers to deliver Trentino, Trieste, Istria, and Dalmatia." BRITAIN'S PART IN THE WORLD WAR. OFFICIAL EEPORT OP JAHUARY'S LOW PERCENTAGE COMPARED WITH PREVIOUS MONTHS. (Australian and Kew ZealanC Cable Assoclatipn.7 ■' •.' ~ .' LtopN, ; ,;February. i, The Daily Telegraph states that the British: casualties ..pub lished in January were:— Officers. ~. Men, • ■ Killed . . . '282 .8,649 Wounded and missing .: ..-.■■ ..'. 674 ' '2sls{>' Prisoners ... 'v . . . : . . . , : . ''s ■' ''' ' 100 : 961 . 32,904 ■ compared with a total of 40,664 in December, 74,791 in November, and 106,606 in October. ORGANISING THE NATIONAL RESOURCES. WOMEN'S DEPARTMENT INAUGURATED.- ■'. (Anstralian and New Zealand Cable Association-and Renter;. LONDON, February 1. Mr Neville Chamberlain, Director of National Service, aii- ■ nmmces that a women's department of national service will be established, with Mrs H..J. Teiftsnt aa diwror and Ladv Violet Markham assistant. ..