The New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1915. THE ORIENTAL EXPEDITION

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9174, 14 October 1915, Page 4

The New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1915. THE ORIENTAL EXPEDITION

If the Bucharest statement that the Grand Duke Nicholas is taking supreme command of the troops of the Allies in the Balkans is correct, it is very reassuring. It demonstrates not only the present determination of the Allies to place their forces under a single command, but the resolve of Russia to strain every nerve for the defeat of the Austro-Gorman attempt on the Turkish position. The realisation by Russia of the supreme importance of the policy for which this Oriental expedition stands is not surprising. - The Turkish position means even more to Russia than it means to Germany and Austria combined. Russia has long been working for the capture of the great city on the Bosphorus, which commands one of the main arteries of Russian life. To appreciate the position, we have but to review the reasons, financial, military, and naval, which are compelling the Entente Powers to persevere with their attempt to force the Dardanelles. Summed up; these reasons mean that the opening of the Bosphorus will give equipment to the Russian armies and an outlet to the produce of the Russian cultivators and egress to the Russian fleets. These reasons have kept the Russian needle ever pointing to the Bosphorus. In the first Bismarck days, Berlin had a supreme contempt for the Turkish position—“not worth tho hones of one Pomeranian grenadier.” Since then the Kaiser has developed a great Eastern policy, which aims at dividing the East between Germany and Austria, tho latter, the inferior partner, to bo settled at Salonika, while tho former dominates Constantinople as tho “Protector of Islam.” The Turk was brought into this war in furtherance of that policy. To-day the is pressed forward by several hundreds of thousands of Pomeranian and other grenadiers. It is well to cry “India” and “Egypt,” hut the crash of their march threatens primarily the Russian interests of the immediate future. At present there are no Russian troops in this field, but we may learn from the dispatch of Russian munitions to Serbia by tho Danube, as recently reported, that there will he a strong ■effort of Russian strength presently. Bulgaria and Turkey know that well enough, for the one has taken precautions against Russian landings, while the other is reported to he arranging to send troops to oppose the same, the Bulgarian soldiery not being trustworthy for a fight against the Russians, -for/ whom they have grateful memories. The greatness of the issue, in fact, makes it certain that Russia must rise to the occasion. Tho years during which wo backed the wrong horse in that region ought to make us’ feel sure that the right horse will presently take command of tho field in perfect condition. The Serbian armies would serve under the Russian commander willingly as commanding in tho name of tho protector of the Slavic race. Greece could have no objection—apart from the dynastic leanings of the Queen —for tho Eastern policy of the Germanic Powers is entirely opposed to the interests of Hellenism. Roumania should come into the combination easily, because the national aspirations of Roumanians are realisable only under the wing of Russia and the policy of the Entente Powers. Bulgaria stands apart, hut if the combination is formed, Bulgaria may break out into a revolution fatal to the interests of the reigning house and probably to the life of its chief. At all events Bulgaria and Turkey represent the enemy in the Balkans, which the combination has to prevent functioning with the Austro-German forces. The nucleus of the combination is found bv the Serbian armies, and the troops of the Allies are steadily increasing on that nucleus. They had to. for the combination has to do the double duty of staying the march of Austro-Germany and of crushing the attempt of Bulgaria 'and Turkey to join hands with‘it. The question of the share of tho various Entente Powers in the combination is very definitely raised in Paris. There the plea is urged that nothing must he allowed to weaken the Western front. Naturally enough, because the first object of France must be to recover her territories—some of the very best of her territories—from tho hands of

Germany, who is exploiting their wealth in tho most masterful and prodigal way. This ruled tile French contribution to tho Dardanelles expedition in tho beginning, very few troops having been sent from France, the greater part of tho French contribution being of colonial units. France and Britain found all tho forces for that expedition, and now they have thrown troops into tho Balkans which are in the presence of superior local forces, and, therefore, exposed to some danger. The demand in Paris is that tho other members of the Entente must now take up their share of the burden which concerns them quite as much as those whoso shoulders are already loaded with their just proportion—Russia, for reasons which are obvious as aforesaid; and Italy, as a Mediterranean Power with very important interests, especially in the iEgean, interests seriously menaced by 'the great Eastern expedition of the Germanic Powers which the Entente combination is now helping the Serbian armies to hold up. As the advance of the Oriental expedition is slow, there is time for the arrival of Italian and Russian troops, in addition to the respectable,forces placed by Britain and Franco already in the field. The chances are that when the critical moment arrives the Grand Duke Nicholas —assuming the report of his appointment to. be true—will have adequate forces at his disposal to deal with all phases of the situation.