THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1918. THE MILITARY SITUATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17427, 23 September 1918, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1918. THE MILITARY SITUATION.

It is observed by one of the British war correspondents that the Australian forces have, iu their participation in the latest advance on the St. Quentin Canal, taken the British array where it has never been before on the western front. The most- recent exploits of the Australians have served once more to justify the faith which their leaders piace in their military qualities. Tho general commanding these gallant soldiers, Sir John Monash, is himself the subject of an interesting reference in our cable messages this morning. He is reported to have said that while the end of the heavy fighting is doubtless still a long way off, the Germans are beaten, and, if the weather is favourable, it is conceivable that they may be pushed out of France, though not out of Belgium, lry Christmas. The qualification in tins

statement is highly important. The cnomy will make a strenuous cfl'ort to hold tho Allies back till the season- is too far advanced for further big operations, so that ho may utilise the winter months for a peace offensive while he still holds French soil. The worst of the approaching European winter is to bo expected after Christmas, but it would be rash to imagino that the weather will permit tho Allies to maintain their present pressure almost till tho end of tho year. It is to bo apprehended that in another five or six weeks tho conditions will have becomc sucli as to bring this year's campaign virtually to a close. In the meantime General Monash's confident nssuranco that tho Hindenburg line will be taken in duo course has from day to day the continued support of tho reports of I) at tie progress. Tho operations of British, the French, and tho Americans aro keeping tho enemy very busy on the wholo.. front. It is officially stated that 1,750,000 Americans have now been sent to France, and it is perfectly clear that the presence of this army, with the accessions that will lie mad© to it during the next few months, will be a factor of immense value in tho operations of nest spring. While it seems likely that the progress of tho Allies in the decisive theatre this year will only be terminated by the intervention of conditions that will interfere with their further activity, the military situation generally gathers an increasingly favourable complexion in Allied successes in other theatres. In Macedonia, where the Serbians and Greeks are co-operating with the French and British, an advance has been launched which promises excellent results. Even more gratifying are the,reports which we publish this morning concerning the latest achievement of General Allenby's army in Palestine. A surprisingly rapid advance, the preparations for which were made with great skill, has produced a victory of such signal importance that it is said to have had the effect of smashing " the Turkish army in Palestine. At the very least, it has brought into British occupation several important towns, including Nazareth, which represents at present the limit of the advance, and has been rewarded with a remarkable haul of prisoners and material. While the Allies have substantial cause to be satisfied with the progress of their operations, both in the west and in the east, the Central Powers seem to be correspondingly depressed. A statement by Marshal von Hindenburg, in which he repeats the somewhat stale story that Germany has been waging a defensive war, is far from being in the old arrogant vein: it seems almost to invite the construction that Germany has nothing much to hope for but peace on the terms laid down by her enemies. The recent appeal by Hindenburg, urging the German nation to keep up its spirits, suggests, when taken in conjunction with other evidence, that the German military leaders are apprehensive of a serious decline in the morale of the German armies. The most effective contribution to that end will assuredly be a continuance of proof of Allied superiority on the west front. A significant reflection of the effect upon public opinion in Germany of the failure of the great offensive, which was to have crushed the Allies, is furnished in the statement that a majority of the political parties in the Reichstag are firmly resolved to form a parliamentary Government, which will, independently of the military leaders, pursue such a policy as is demanded by the seriousness of the situation. Whether this plan, the accomplishment of which would involve nothing short of a political revolution, may or may not bo foiled, it seems reasonable to assume that Germany is becoming* dissatisfied with the political dominance of her military rulers. The idols that have been set up in the pastliave latterly been falling sadly into disfavour. A strong revolt of political parties against their influence is the natural result of their failure to carry out their promises of victory, accompanied by peaco.

THE COAL MINE SETTLEMENT. The settlement which has been effected between the Coal Mine Owners' Association and the Miners' Federation is one that closely concerns the public, because it is by the public that the increase in the rates granted to the miners will have to bo paid. As so frequently happens, however, those upon whom the burden of the increase in the cost of production will fall wore not consulted as to the terms of the settlement. Although they were directly interested in the arrangement which was arrived at, they were completely ignored in the negotiations. It is only in the adjustments of conditions of employment which are completed through the instrumentality of the industrial tribunals constituted by law that there is so much as a shadowy recognition of the fact that the effect of an industrial award or agreement is not restricted to the employers and the employees in the industry. But the question of public interest—in other words, the question of the interest of the whole body of the community—has not even been considered in the settlements to which the coal mining companies and the coal miners have been parties. The history of these settlements is peculiar and instructive. Last year an agreement was entered into, to operate for three years or during the currency of the war, under which the rates of pay were increased As part of the bargain governing that settlement, t-hfc offence committed by large numbers of miners in striking prior to the agreement was ovorlooked by the Government. In flagrant violation of the terms of the arrangement of last year, the miners, already more highly paid and working far shorter hours than any other class of workers in the country, this year demanded a further increase in the rates of pay. In a few mines they emphasised their demand by striking before, under pressure from, the Government, the mine owners met their representatives in conference. It was, moreover, under the threat of a fresh strike in the event of the demand beinorejected that the conference was opened. In the conference itself, apparently, the miners' representatives had no full authority to make an agreement with the mine owners. A tentativo agreement only was arrived at. This had to be submitted to the miners for their ratification. And the aitersusvb© jo tho

acceptance of the agreement by them was again a strike. The reliaucc which tho miners placed upon the strike weapon throughout the wholo proceedings is significant. It would be idle to deny that they were justified in the confidence with which they used and threatened tho use of this weapon. A flabby, timorous Government has . encouraged them in their violation of agreements and their floutings of tho law. They liavo been allowed to break tho law with impunity. Instead of enforcing the law, the Government practically coerced the mine owners into making fresh agreements in place of thoso which tho miners have torn up. The whole part played by tho Government in tho business is one which covers it with shame. It has seen the law contemptuously broken. It has not exerted itself to vindicate the law. It has consequently assisted to bring the law into contempt. It has been a party, moreover, to the deliberate violation of solemn agreements. It has not only winked at but has actually connived at lawlessness. The authority to which the community looks to administer the law without fear or favour has proved itself too weak-kneed and too fainthearted to discharge its trust. By its pulsillanimity it has given colour to the declaration of a conference of unionists at Wellington last week that the Arbitration Court is a complete failure. The Arbitration Court is the tangible expression of the belief of the public that industrial disputes should be adjudicated upon by State tribunals, of which the decisions should have the force of law. But if the Government is to be intimidated by " direct action " and by threats of " direct action "—as it has been in this case—it is clear that the hole arbitration system is gravely imperilled.