The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1918. A COLOSSAL STRUGGLE.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 February 1918, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1918. A COLOSSAL STRUGGLE.

With which is incorporated The Tai hape Post and Wairr.arino News).

The prying, eyes of the Allied army n France are constanly peering into

-..ennan operations at tne rear oi tneir .m'es, anu uiey see those gatherings of guns, tanks, gas; those concentra.loiis of huge forces, and. they even .vatch the manoeuvres, of the German

piqited troops as they rehearse the onslaught that is now about due. Our ilying men tell us from what they se# that the most colossal battle of all time is on the tapis. All this'information and the reasoned indications thereon are, of course. qu,ite credible, and in the utmost probability anticipations will be fully realised News from the Russian front is quite of a different character; cables from Russia are all cut except those which centre in Berlin. Therefore all information from Russia has to be Germanised before it is pased on to its destination with an added or altered mis'sion given it in Berlin. Germany has made another quite unnecessary claim to do as she likes, but since war was declared she has all along ignored everything humane and civilised, and did as she liked, or rather what she could. She does her lying on such a colossal plane, however, that it is obviously lying, and little or nothing else. Russian cables, Berlin censored, invite the world to believe that an offensive has commenced against Russia from Lutsk to Riga, rapid advance being made all along the line. In addition to this the Baltic provinces are being assailed, Reval is to be occupied, and to crown the lie, a great German army has been landed in Finland to drive out the Russians. In addition to these great movements of forces, assistance is being sent to aid the Ukranians against the Bolsheviks. Taking Germany's own estimate of her numbers, it should be apparent to the race of super-men that the world is disgusted with their impossible stories. What Germany is doing in Russia does not at present concern the Allies, and if the war aims of President Wilson and Mr. Lloyd

George mean anything the Russian front is not being seriously taken into account. If Germany interferes in the Ukraine, Russia has been twice seriously warned of what will happen. Japan has plainly told Russia that nothing will be permitted that is likely to carry the war into the Far East. Germany has noted these two warnings and her war lords will hesitate before doing as they Avould like to do in the Ukraine. Surprising news comes from 'Austria, not necessarily censored in Berlin, the most important feature of which is that between Count Czernin, the Austrian Premier, friend of the Emperor, and President Wilson negotiations for an Austrian separate peace are. proceeding; that a reply from Czernin is 'rrbout due that is to be /couched in the friendliest terms. On reading this speculation becomes «fe as to what Austria's terms are. First of all we may be assured that the Austrian Government will want no change in th'eif govern-

ing systems, no interference in the constitution and composition of the Austrian Empire; the prestige of the Government must not be weakened, and, therefore, any territory required for readjusting the Italian frontiers , must be fully compensated for in other directions. In addition to this some guarantee may be required that Germany will not be allowed to retain an after-war status that would enable her to make spiteful reprisals. Austrian newspapers are anxious for peace arrangements to mature, but Czernin has proved himself a doubledealer in many other respects, and it seems that he is so conducting negotiations with America that he may see which way the promised colossal West front affair goes before finally agreeing about the separate peace he /is seeking. Czernin is between Germany and revolution of the Austrian people and army; if be was sure of ! German success On the West front peace negotiations would be delayed, but he knows that with the first news l of German failure neither the Austrian Emperor or his Government will Ibe safe. His position is a difficult one, for, as it becomes obvious tlurr the peace with Ukraine is not going ' to bring the food expected, revolt will again become the great danger. If lie could only divine what is going to happen in France and the Ukraine his work would be easy. He is halting between revolution and peace from fear of Germany. We pointed out a few days ago that if Germany got a bloodless victory in Russia which laid the resources of that unhappy country somewhat at her disposal, time would favour Germany, and 'the Allies would have to attack on the West, but if t Germany was opposed with force in Russia time would favour the Allies and Germany would have to take the offensive on the West at the earliest possible moment. Russia is opposing the Germans, and our airmen now see strong evidences of an immediate offensive. Czernin may not have long to perch on the rail of indecision. Howbeit, he is faced with a temper in Austria that seems past being trifled with, and he may only be waiting for an opportune moment to secure better terms with America. Germany cannot wait, delay means defeat. An Austrian withdrawal would free all the 'Allies on the Italian front, and they with their guns would stream 'over the Italian-French frontier on to the Western battlefield again. Mr. Phillip Gibbs is Britain's most reliable correspondent, and he reports that the Germans are now ready to strike. Detailed information from prisoners leave no doubt about that. There' is terrific industry and nervous tension behind the German lines The men ( are drugged under the spell of a frightful secret hope. Germany, today, is a nation with bloodshot eyes, in a high temperature of fever, buoyed up to a last resistance despite fear eating into their hearts, but, adds Mr. Gibbs, "our men will not fail whatever comes." At any moment we may see the beginning of the enemy's last desperate effort to end the war by a decisive victory. Victory or defeat, the slaughter on both sides will appall the peoples of the world for all time.