NOTES ON THE GABLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16507, 6 October 1915, Page 6

NOTES ON THE GABLES.

By Shrapnel. THE BALKANS. Tt seems clear tliat little Serbia is about to encounter another heavy blow. This time it is not to be from a purely Austrian force, but from a mixed force of Austrians and Germans. The movements of this force will be controlled by German officers —men set in a sterner mould "than those officers who had commanded in the former attacks on Ser.bia. These officers ore, from their training and experience more efficient than the Austrian officers, who, if all reports aro true, are of the carpet knight genus rather than the keen students of tho war given to live laborious days in the interests of their calling. .

From Bucharest comes the information that the redoubtable Marshal von Mackeneen is expected to be in char go of the) operations against the Serbians. It is not plain how he can be spared from the Russian front. If he has been recalled from operations in Western Russia, this suggests that the German General Staff is abandonihg the offensive along the Pinsk railway and through the Rokitno swamps. The employment of von Mackeneen against the Serbians means that artillery .will play a tremendous part in the operations. In all his attacks upon the Russians he was noted for the* great uso he made of artillery, and it was duo in a great part to his intensive and extensive'use of that arm at an opportune time that the Russians were unable to make, a stand. He saw his opportunity when he knew the Russians were short of munitions and heavy . artillery. If he is really ,to be the generalissimo of the forces, attacking Serbia, he will find, however., that in the "matter of artillery, the Serbians will r/ot prove as easy game' as were the Russians on their long backward march from the Donajec. ;, The .Allies have provided Serbia with heavy, guns, including some powerful nayal artillery, aiid troops of the Entente Powers are i there to handle these heavy batteries. ~ During " her rest Serbia has reorganised her forces, and .it is . said that her army is now in a better condition for defending its count,ry than it .was " before the beginning of the war; The Serbian Government has had the assistance -of British and French officers, and the country has been relieved financially, and been well stocked with munitions. That matter had long ago been taken into consideration by the British, reference' to it having been made in tho House of Commons to the necessity durir the early days of the munitions campaign in Britain. -The defeat of seven different attempts-of the enemy's to. cross the Danube near Semendria, east- of Belgrade, is the [outcome of the Allies' concern for the interests of the Serbians, and, incidentally, for their own. The British and French have done their share up to date, and will of course do more; but there are no reports to hand that tell of Italy lending assistance. The blow at Serbia, if successful, will destroy the ascendancy of Italy and jeopardise her influence and interests in, tho Adriatic; ' Moreover, it is a deadly strategic move against her flank,' which, if I tho Austro-Germans were successful, would j undo all that she has accomplished on her northern frontiers.

Italy lias to spare troops which she cannot use; in the north.- She holds the important passes, and' it would be a much easior ; task for.ber to defeat Austria through Serbia and Bosnia than through the Carnic and Julian, Alps. Italy should long ere now have' been prepared for such developments as have taken' place in the Balkans, and we should soon-hear of her taking a hand. She is very silent about the situation, but her statesmen are doubtless : seeing that she is not idle. . ,: .