The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1915.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 51

The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1915.) THE WEEK.

“Nunquam. allud natura, allud saplentia dixit.* —Juvenal. . . . „ “Good nature and good sense must ever Join. —> Porau The sweetest and most inspiring words which have appeared in

Final and Complete Victory.

print for many a long weary month are those in which Sir John French replied to the congratulatory message

sent by the Iving on the results of the recent fighting on the Western front. “There is no sacrifice,” wrote the British Commander-in-Chief, “that the troops are not prepared to make in order to uphold the traditions of the army and secure final and complete victory.’’ With these words is dispersed that nightmare of a deadlock which ever haunts the minds and infests the imagination of those who closely follow the fortunes of the war. The fears which have been entertained that the Germans were sp strongly entrenched as to render well nigh hopeless all the efforts of the Allies to drive them back have received a rnde but welcome shock in the news of the offensive on the Western front. In this offensive the French armies have covered themselves with glory, and the British troops, in the words of Sir John French’s despatch, “displayed magnificent spirit, indomitable courage, and dogged tenacity.” The terrific nature of the bombardment which cleared the way for the bayonet charges is vividly pictured bv a British artillery officer, who declared that for every yard of trench four shells must have fallen within five minutes, each shell having a radius of destruction of 20 yards. Once the way was clear both British and French, in single-handed combats, proved themselves more than a match for the German soldiers. The gains have been considerable, both in prisoners and in guns, and this, together with the important positions captured and the virtual demolition of the first and second lines of the German defence, constitutes one of the most important victories of the war. Nor is this fresh offensive on the part of the Allies merely a flash in the pan, but, as the King in his message to Sir John

French happily puts it, '‘This streiUWUJi and determined fighting is but the prelude to greater deeds.” Given abundance oi munitions—and the present enterprise would scarcely have been entered upon without this assurance, —the fighting o| the past few days promises to prove the beginning of the rolling back of the Ger-I man lines, with the possibility of a force<j retreat starting the demoralisation, of the German war machine and the debacle of Prussian militarism. At the same time it is not_ well to be too sanguine; the Kaiser and his generals are busily rushing to the front all available reserves, and tire German host will not suffer defeat without a struggle. It is significant, however, that the tidings of the success of the Allies haa sent a thrill of joy through Belgium, whilst anxiety and consternation prevail in Berlin, It is safe to say that the prospects of the Allies’ arms are brighter to-day than at any time since the commencement of the war in August, 1914.

Once more Germany’s plan has failed, and

it is interesting to recall

The Failure of Germany’s Plan.

how failure Iras dogged the footsteps of the Kaiser and the German War Council in

©very important operation of the war. “Germany’s attitude in August, 1914,’’ writes one authority, “is often misunderstood. We talk of her madness in challenging the whole world,* but in her eyes there was no madness. For a generation she had given her best brains to the study of war, and prepared a machine without parallel in the history of the world. She believed that she was the one expert in a world of amateurs—that she had the perfect knowledge, the perfect weapons, and far greater numbers than any Power or combination of Powers could bring against her for many months. She had long foreseen the possibility of a war on two fronts against both France and Russia, and she had made lier plans accordingly. She hoped to repeat her exploit of 1870. Her aim was an immediate and crushing blow against France, a blow so terrific that, as in 1870, the French armies would be destroyed and the Frenchnation would be driven to clamour for peace. Then, while Franco lay prostrate and could be held by email forces, she would swing her great armies eastward and deal with Russia. She did not expect to conquer Russia, but hoped to deal with her so faithfully as to drive her out of the Alliance. Then, with Prance prostrata and Russia discouraged, she would have leisure to deal with her arch-enemy Britain.” Germany’s failure in the West, thanks to Belgian valour, British intervention, and Freich strategy, is now a matter of history; but at least the Kaiser has had a measure of success in the invasion by his armies of Russia. At the moment, however, when von Hindenburg and a large part of Germany’s forces are engaged in Russia and far away from their base, the Allies have launched an unexpected offensive on the Western front. Just as the Belgian and French fortresses succumbed speedily to the superior weight of the German artillery, so the carefullyconstructed German defensive works have crumbled away before the terrific fire of the Allied guns. At the' same time, it must be remembered that the pressure hitherto exerted bv Russia in the East has been removed, and is amt likely to be renewed for some time to come. The Times undoubtedly puts its finger on the weak soot when it says:—“lt has been shown that the Allies are now so well armed as to be able to wreck the strongest defences. The changed situation may vitally affect the whole course of the war. We must create fresh armies and prosecute the 1915 campaign to a successful issue in order to balance the disaster of the practical elimination of the Russian nation.”

With the Allies pushing a fresh offensive

on the West, with Russia

Bulgaria and ihe Allies.

waging an uphill battle and Italy making little visible progress, and with matters

at the Dardanelles at a standstill, the atti-' tudo of Bulgaria in mobilising her army* possesses considerable interest. Bulgaria—• or, rather, King Ferdinand—protests that she has by her mobilisation threatened nobody, and that she is still hoping for a pacific settlement which will take her interests into account. We can well believe that, with Bulgaria as with other of the Balkan States, selfish considerations are paramount; hut it may bo questioned whether the interests of King Ferdinand* with his' Austro-Hungarian heredity and his strong pro-German sympathies, are in harmony with Bulgaria’s ancient and traditional friendship with Russia. It is probably true, as suggested by Sir Edward Grey, that Germany is seeking to use Bulgaria as already she has used Turkey, as an instrument and weapon for the furtherance of her own ends. Russia, with the approval of Great Britain and France, has taken up an attitude which will force Bulgaria to declare herself on the one side or the other. The Czar’s ultimatum sets forth that, unless Bulgaria openly breaks with the enemies of Slavdom and dismisses the officers belonging to Austria and Germany who have been placed in positions of high command in her army, the Russian Minister will leave Sofia. The time fixed for compliance with this ultimatum has well nigh expired, so that within the next few hours Bulgaria will have made her choice. If, as is generally anticipated, King Ferdinand commits Bulgaria to an Austro-German alliance, _ it will probably have an important bearing upon operations in the Dardanelles. Thb correspondent of the Paris at Athens states that Greece will certainly take the side of the Allies so soon as ultra ria declares herself, and that henceforth the road to Constantinople will be no longer through the Dardanelles or Gallipoli, but along the ' Salonika-Dedeagatch railwav. It is nearly three months since the Witness hinted at the possibility of this self-same thing, and it will bo interesting to see whether the prophecy be realised. At least, it will tend to relieve the apprehension which is generally felt concerning the ultimate issue of the Gallipoli campaign.

Whatever difference of opinion may exist

in other matters in connecThe N* 2 cl for tion with the "’ar, there are Recruiting. two important points upon which all must be agreed — viz., the need for more men, and the maintenance of an abundant supply of munitions ns the conditions of final and complete victory. New Zealand is not in a position to do much in the direction of munitions further than contributing her quota to the food supplies of the Empire; but in the matter of men she must do'all in her power. It is evident that, if, as Mr Allen believes, the war may last for another year, the drain upon the young manhood of New Zealand will become a serious thing. This constitutes the necessity for a fresh recruiting campaign, the appeal being acldressed primarily to all eligible unmarried men between the ages of 20 and 40. The Maoris on their part have evinced a most loyal spirit in this matter, and there is reason in the plea just put forward, that in the interests of the perpetuation of the Maori race, some restraint be put upon their willingness to volunteer. Persuasion rather than restraint, however, is needed with the white men in order that each reinforcement shall have its full quota, as the time for going into training draws near. In a very short time this Dominion will have sent 30,000 men to the front, and is prepared to increase that number to 50,000, or even more if required. It is a- noble achievement for a land with so limited a population, and it will go down to posterity as one of the greatest illustrations in history of British loyalty and Imperial unity.