THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3292, 18 April 1917, Page 50

THE WEEK.

As yau are doubtless all aware, those two words just above are supposed to head a column of chatty comment on any subject of topical interest that may arise week by week; but my difficulty nowadays is that there is only the one great topic of general interest, and though some particular phase of it will now and then give me a good opportunity to air my views on various matters, the whole war has been so widely discussed, canvassed, and thrashed out in the press and in the literature of the whole world that sometimes it seems as if there was nothing more left to say. That is how I began to feel, anyway, when running over in my mind a list of possible topics for discussion this week, until I cheered up with the thought that "in a multitude of counsellors there is wisdom"—don't forget, by the way, that that is a very useful proverb to hurl back at people who disagreeably tell you that "too many cooks spoil the broth" —and that in talking over even things that have been plentifully talked over already we may be able to shed some fresh fight on them, however small.

Let us consider, then, some of the topics of particular interest just now, in the order in which they came into my mind as I jotted them down. First, there is the coming-in of America, and her definite stand at last on the side of the Allies. Well, we discussed America a week or two ago, didn't we? and came to the conclusion that it was more for America's own sake than for ours that we should, like to see her come in; and that is the way I still feel about it. There are such possibilities in store for America that I should have been very sorry to see her standing aloof all the time in this great struggle of Right against Wrong; and I think she will be very glad afterwards that she did her part, though her assist-

ance may be more moral than material. It is quite impossible to tell at present how great her help will be, as Ave really don't know the state of feeling throughout her very mixed population. We don't know, either, how great her internal troubles will be, how large an army she will be able to raise, or how far she will want to go before she thinks it time to make peace. In fact, all one can say is that now that we are not dependent upon her for our munitions, her entry into the war on our side will probably do us more good than harm, which is a very cautious way of putting it; but really it is quite impossible to prophesy about it, and I for one am ' awaiting the outcome with considerable interest, but no very great exnectations.

The position is something the same with regard to Russia. We don't know in the least what is going to happen there. We hear discouraging telegrams one day and encouraging ones the next, and we out here have no means of judging which is the truer. The only thing that seems certain is that there is a degree of discord and disorganisation—whether that disorganisation is more or less unfortunate than the pro-German organisation that preceded it remains to be seen—and that the Russian army, except in 3\lesopotamia, is/ in the meantime doing nothing more than hold the line, if that much. And that's all that can be said for that side of . the business. Turning to the western front, things look a little more cheerful. We are at any rate getting on, little by little, beating them back and beating them back, though the fight* is a hard one, and the Rhine a long .way oft' yet. Cheerful, did I say? Yes, it is cheerful enough to read that we are "making progress," and to mark off that progress on tne map; but we do not feel 10 "cheerful" when we stop to think what lies behind that bald record of villages captured and positions taken —when we remember that these few sentences imply wounds and death for many, and sorrow of heart for their loved ones, and destruction and devastation, and horrors unspeakable such as we in our peaee here have no conception of. Yet these things must be for a time, and perhaps it is beginning to dawn upon our enemies that there are still thousands and hundreds of thousands who would rather suffer these things than submit to the unbearable tyranny of one nation. Certainly those in authority at Home have never spoken so confidently as they have been doing just lately; and it looks as if • they must know to what extent the enemy is weakening. If he is doing so, all the more reason for us to put in a final effort. And that brings me down to our own affairs, things like coal strikes and curtailing of trains. One is connected with the other, for it is partly owing to the shortage of coal,- as well as for the sake of freeing the men, that the train services are being cut down. It shows how little we have been affected by the war that, apart from the, sending away of our men, this should be the first drastic change, the first real blow at our personal convenience that we have felt since the war began; and yet people are objecting very strongly —some of them. The trouble is, of course, that people do not travel for pleasure only, but for business as well, and you can't interfere with the one without the other. If it Jiaa been a question of curtailing our pleasure only there would, I believe, have been hardly a remonstrance heard, but it does come very hardly on some people whose affairs depend upon and have been arranged in accordance with long-established train services. However, it can't be helped, apparently, and we have so often abused the Government'for not doing things that we can hardly blame them when they do set to work on something. As to the coal strike, one is treading on dangerous ground in dealing with Labour questions, but I will just say this much: That if it was for the sake of sending more men abroad or of helping to' win the war in any way, I would shiver all the winter through most cheerfully; but I object strongly to doing so because a certain minority, who have all of them as much voice in the country's affairs as anyone else, think they can upset legislation that is not to their taste by making things inconvenient for the rest of the community, and I expect something to be done about it. ELIZABETH.