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Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15506, 17 November 1914, Page 6

The official war news is brief, but satisfactory. The enemy has been thrown back on the right bank of the Yser Canal, after bo had evacuated the remaining portion of the left bank, and another attack on Ypres has been repulsed. Germans themselves admit that they have made only " insignificant progress " in this theatre, and ascribe their failure to the weather. There is no startling news from the easli > arena.

After the reverses they have suffered on two frontiers the Austrians appear quite unequal to the task of invading Servia. By a lively campaign of aggression against her small antagonist, it was hinted a few days ago, Austria hoped to win back, soma of the laurels she had lost in the north. But the time is past, apparently, when she could win even such doubtful glories. It was reported yesterday that an Austrian army which crossed the Danube into Servia had been defeated with heavy loss. To-day we are told from Rome that it is officially admitted in Vienna that the Austrians are unable to overcome the fierce Servian resistance to their arms. According to another message, strong entrenchments are being formed round Vienna, but it is predicted that the Viennese will seek terms of peace as soon as their city is threatened by the Russian guns. Though first terms of peace might be hard for Austria, the terms would certainly be made far harder by the protraction of a hopeless war.

If Austria makes peace of her own accord, which she may well do before weeks are passed, the Russian amies 1 will have only one objective left. Not armies, but an avalanche, will be descending on Berlin. Germ any has done nothing to deserve that her ally should consider German interests before confessing herself beaten. Austria has been the most pathetic victim of (he War Lord's guileful schemos. Belgium was wantonly and cruelly outraged, but even in her desolation her honour lives, and the resistance she lias shown lo tyranny has won for her immortal glory. The Turks were tricked into war to serve a German plan, but the Turks are not distinguished for fine feelings. AustriaHungary, a great and refina:!, though a divided Empire, was forced into war with its best friends, by German misrepresentations that an attack on Servja would not cause complications with the other Powers. It was exposed to the greatest shocks of war at a time when it was in danger of breaking up from internal causes without the issisi ance of any outward ,shock. T) e war has brought Austria nothing but loss and humiliation, and fan only bring her more loss the longer she continues it.

Set a Boer to catcli a Boer is a good maxim. The agile General de Wet,'who proved himself a master of surprises in the South African war, has been himself surprised very promptly by his old commander, General Botha. A forced night march by the loyal Premier of South Africa caused him to appear unexpectedly before the rebel's laagers. Two of them, with 200 men, were captured, and the rout would have been complete and final if all of Botha's subordinates had moved as -quickly ns himself. De Wet's methods were novel to the British army, but ,no dpubt General Botha knew just bow his old comrade in arms would move and what would be his tactics. De. Wet's followers seem to be the only considerable body of rebels left in the field, and their number is not large. The amnesty given to the rebels, exclusive of their leaders, to enable them to surrender arms without incurring the worst punishment for treason will expire on the 21st, and it will not be surprising if a large proportion of ihe disaffected Boers take advantage of it. General Botha's patriotism has been put to a supreme and nainful test by this war _he has been forced to wage against his misguided former friends and colleagues, but he has not shrunk from the bitter cup.