The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1917. DISSENSIONS AMONG OUR ENEMIES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue 13047, 10 January 1917, Page 3

The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1917. DISSENSIONS AMONG OUR ENEMIES.

We -yesterday made reference to the changed! attitude of Austria-Hungary towards her chief associate in crime, the arch-conspirator and- diabolical desperado Germany. To-day. some evidence is afforded that-Bulgaria has had about enough of German domination, and would be glad to escape from the toils in which she permitted herself to be caught in her blind -desire to ba avenged upon Servia. An Amsterdam message tells of the growing evidence of dissension among the Central Powers, and in addition discloses a significant fact. That fact i 3 the publication in a Berlin newspaper of statements from Bulgaria of a nature such as but a little while since no German paper would , have d'ared to give publicity. Thus the Vossiche Zeitung lias been permitted to circulate tho statements of | its -Sofia correspondent that there is. an agitation against German dominion in Bulgaria, and dissatisfaction in patriotic circles with the present state of affairs is growing fast. The publication of statements of that character would not have been permitted by the German authorities a short time since, and that it should receive silent sanction, now, is somewhat strange and provides material for much speculation. We are set wondering as to the reason ' for the change—the relaxation of the severe censorship that has restrained, and' guided) the journalistic course in Germany. There must be a motive, underlying the new position, and the question is ,as to the precise. character of that motive or purpose. It may be that the greater liberty accorded to tho press has been dictated l by intention to deceive those who d'esirc peace by presenting an appearance of sympathy and acquiescence in order to create a belief that Germany is carrying on the struggle because of inability to bring it to an end, and that therefore she is compelled to call upon her allies to continue to fight. In other words, it may be the chosen method of .bridging the widening gulf that threatens to result in the separation of the Central Powers. On the other hand, the whole thing may •be deliberately designed to prepare the way for the offering of peace proposals on a more definite and liberal basis. That view receives some .support- from the definite statement made a. few days ago by Dr BadoslavofF. the Bulgarian Prime Minister. "We are ready to conclude peace," he is reported) to have said l , "because we wish to end the war." He supplemented' his expression of readiness to conclude peace with the declaration: "Bulgaria's work has already' been brought to a successful conclusion." That addition was doubtless mad© with a view to justifying the readiness of Bulgaria to get done with the fighting, for it cannot be seriously contemplated l by any-, one that any peace having the sanction of ; the Entente Powers would leave Bulgaria in possession of Servian Macedonia, which was the reward she hojped to get-for joining the aggrandising Central Powers. The important point in connection with the whole business is that it is clear that the. quartette of enemies- are out. of harmony. They are no longer l a. happy and united famiiy, and Germany has a difficulttask to hold tftem together so that a semblance of unity may be presented. In strong contrast to this position of the Central Powers stands the unshaken unity of the Allies, whose determination to continue the war until peace can be secured upon a completely satisfactory and permanent basis' is.more likely to confirm the desire of Germany's allies to get out of the struggle. What has yet to be seen is how far Germany can be led ar driven by her allies. One thing, however, is perfectly clear: Germany no longer dominates the situation* She is, on the contrary, at the mercy of her allies, and must either, conform largely with their - wishes _or face the prospect of standing alone arid meeting her fate somewhat earlier as a | consequence, -