The Otago Witness (WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1916.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 43

The Otago Witness

(WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1916.) THE WEEK.

WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN HEROURX.

“Nunqnam allmi natura, allud sapientia dixit.” —Juvekai,. . >f “Good nature and good sense must ever join.’ Pore. “ In agreement with the Sovereigns of my allies, and with the con-

Peace Propaganda.

sciousness of victory, I have made an offer of peace to the enemy. Whether it

will be accepted is still uncertain. Until that moment arrives we will fight on." In these words the Kaiser has announced to Iti; people and his soldiers the significant fact that Germany is suing for peace. It is reported that the German people—-both combatants and non-com-batants —firmly believe that, the Kaiser’s offer brings peace within measurable distance, and the frenzied scenes of delight that the announcement in Berlin and among the soldiers at the front show how heavily the nightmare of war is weighing upon the German nation The Kaisers offer, however it be regarded, is one which calls for the exercise of the greatest foresight and the most careful statesmanship on the part of the Allies. The motives which have moved the Kaiser in making this offer may reasonably be surmised, for the words, “ cou-

sciousness of victory " may safely be substituted " certainty of fast approaching defeat" ; and for the rest, he obviously desires to throw the onus of continuing the conflict upon the Allies. Moreover, the Kaiser has carefully considered the psychological effect upon the people ot Germany and upon the neutral nations o< his offer. Germany is in a bad way, and no one knows this better than the Kaiser; the peace proposals may be regarded as feeler for terms and for gaining time in which to attempt to turn round. In discussing the spirit in which this peace proposal should bo met by the Allies, it has first to be borne in mind that neither belligerent at the present time is either victor or vanquished. Undoubtedly the Allies' star is in the ascendant, while Germany's prospects are daily becoming mors desperate; at the same time the balance of material victories remains largely with Germany, and so long Is the German people are content to submit and respond to military domination, as their mooc\ becomes more desperate, they are capablt. of prolonged resistance. If' there is an] • way of testing Germany's sincerity n asking for peace, by conference or other wise, such a procedure would be infinitely preferable to slamming the door right ii Germany's face, as, for instance, Mi Mascey, speaking vaingloriously and some what foolishly in London, would have tin Allies do. The appeal addressed to Mi Lloyd George by Mr W. J. Bryan is one which should not go altogether* unheeded. "Do not, I pray you," he writes, "by refusing an exchange, assume the responsibility for a continuation of the unspeakable conflict. Your decision may mean life or death to millions of people." Her« humanity speaks, and its voice may no< be entirely disregarded; but there are other considerations which have been well expressed by Mr Arthur Henderson, the Labour member in the" new War Council: " Any peace must be a just and permanent peace, with the supreme condition that it conserves the principle for the maintenance of which we entered the war. There must not only be reparation for the past and security for the future, but there must be guarantees for the duration of peace."

On the Western front our Allies the French have returned most

A Move Forward.

effective and ' welcome response to the German peace offers by a forward move,

, «/ resulting in the recapture of a number of important positions which were taken by the Germans in February last during the assault upon Verdun. The most notable feature of this forward move is the surrender of a large number of German prisoners—both officers and men—an evidence that the enemy is losing his stomach for the fight, and also that the French soldiers, under fresh leadership, are still capable of their old dash and elan. A better proof of the falsity of the Kaiser’s phrase, “the consciousness of victory,” could scarcely be educed. The winter weather now prevalent renders it unlikely that further forward movement will be practicable until the spring of 1817 it is therefore of happy augury that the 1916 campaign should have concluded with so striking an advantage gained by the Allies. It should also tend to strengthen the determination so many times reaffirmed by the Allied nations since the commencement of hostilities to stand or fall together. If the Kaiser had the hope, as has been averred in some quarters, that by issuing peace proposals he might detach one or more of the Allied nations from loyal allegiance to the whole, he is doomed to disappointment. On all hands may he heard a renewal of the chorus of determination to persevere to the end. From Petrograd comes news that “ Germany’s latest attempt to divide the Allies has fallen absolutely flat.” Japan again has declared that she “ will stand staunchly by her Allies until Prussian militarism is overthrown.” And even little Serbia has re-affirmed her intention of prosecuting the war until Serbia’s independence has been restored. France’s inflexibility in this respect is too well known to need stressing, whilst from all parts of the British Empire the same unanimous voice may be heard. The Antipeace resolution of the Russian Duma emphatically expresses the feeling of the Allied nations —viz., that a premature peace would not only be short-lived, but would raise the danger of a new and bloody war. “Real peace can be possible only after the enemy’s military power has been definitely broken, and after Germany definitely renounces the aspirations which rendered her blameable for the present struggle.”

The vital and urgent task which now confronts the Allies is the

The Balkans Tangle.

is straightening out of the Balkans tangle. The RussoRumanian armies are still

falling back before the enemy’s advance, and to the fall of Bucharest is now added the occupation of Buzen, which, besides placing in Germany’s possession great supplies of grain, also gives von Mackensen command of two railways of great strategical value. There is every prospect, unhappily, of Rumania being added to the list of the smaller nations who have paid the penalty of espousing the cause of the Allies and have passed into the possession of the enemy. Apparently, little help can be expected in this emergency from Russia, once again suffering from insufficiency of ammunition, and any advance of the Allies from Salonika is held up pending the settlement of affairs in Greece. Strong measures are pending to bring King Constantine to his senses, and the necessarv precautions must immediately be taken so to safeguard the Allies line of operations that progress may be re mined beyond Monastir. Evidently matters in Athens are nearing a crisis ; but the tears is quite contradictory. On the one band it is stated that the Allied Note to Greece demanded tire demobilisation of the Greek armv and the liberation of all Venizelists, and that this demand has been accepted. On the other hand,

it is reported that the Allies demanded the withdrawal of the troops and war material towards Peloponnesus in m hours and all movement northward stopped. Farther, that if King Constantine did not accede to these terms it ■would be construed as an act of hostility, and if a refusal were given the _ allied Ministers would leave Greece. Since A is now reported that the Allied Ministers have left Athens, news may be expected that the Allies have declared war upon Greece, and that King (Jonstantme will be compelled bv force of arms to do that which he refused to do peacefully. For as The Times points out, the Allied operations in Macedonia cannot be safeiy conducted until the Greek royalists are placed in an area where they will be unable to affect the military situation. The old nroverb declares that hope deferred makes the heart sick, and this has been onlv* too true of the Mesopotamian expedition. At length, however, comes a gleam of light, and with the recommencement of the Allied offensive there seems a prospect of the disastrous surrender at Kut-el-Amara being retrieved and the stain upon the British arms wiped out. It is fjuite good news to be told that since the attempt to relieve General Townshend railways have been built, the air service has been improved, and the medical and commissariat departments have been rendered efficient."