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Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16232, 30 March 1917, Page 6

Events on the western front are still developing; they have not culminated yet. British cavalry, have captured three more villager on the front east and north-east of Bapaume, but the actual advance here is very gradual; to make it safe, it cannot go forward faster than the big- guns. Below, the Oise our allies have captured sqme important points, but there is no late news referring to this crucial ? sector. The Germans have made big attacks in Champagne to prevent diversion of French troops from that front, but gained nothing, beyond a lodgment in some elements of the - first French line, at the cost of "sanguinary losses." 5 A description of the strength of the defensive works abandoned by the Germans in the west, which is given by an American correspondent, supports conviction that they were not abandoned except under the spur of very sham necessity."We have looked into the utter blackness of the German soul, * affirms this correspondent, referring to the havoc wrought by the} retreating Germans.

German attacks are reported from all the main Darts of" 'tha Russian front, from Riga to Roumania. The Germans' may be preparing for a great offensive in the east-ern theatre, and, wish to confuse their enemies as to the direetio> in which it will fall, or they may be feeling the Russian! lines to discover if they have been weakened anywhere as a result of the distractions of the Revolu J tion. The season is very ehrlv '■ vet for a great, offensive against' Russia, though, if the Germans have the men, operations on a large scale may he practicable on' the Roumanian front. "Affninst' attacks in the Riira district, where there has been the most talk of an offensive, the Russians have been aided by a thaw, but it is 4 satisfactory that, beyond a slight success achieved on the north' Roumanian front, all the assaults reported on the Russian lines have been repulsed.

The s*peed with which the riewl Russian GoTernment appear* to Be restoring local rule to Finland should be reassuring l evidence for the Poles that self-government will he given to them also "when, the war" is. over, and that it will be complete. !A member of the Russian Duma has been ap-* pointed as the new GovernorGeneral of Finland, which.is promised the fullest control of its own internal affairs. The history of the Grand Duchy since it came' finally under Russian rule by the Peace of, Fredrickskaven in 1809 has been a T>nthetic record of con-; stitutional promises and tions, accordingly as parties of freedom and reaction have triumphed at the Russian Court. When the country was firsj

taken, over rfrom Sweden, to winch, it liad been attached' during; five hundred years, the most explicit -assurances were given by Alexander I. that all the -rrivi-leo-es of its fundamental laws'and Constitution woiild be preserved.; They were only indifferently kept by him and by his successor, but Alexander 11. caused tlie local Diet to be convened again, after a lapse of many years, and to exercise its earlier powers. Reaction gained ground once mora in the last years of liis successor, and the policy of "Russianisation." begun by Alexander HI., was pushed to the furthest point under the Czar who has just abdicated. Finnish rights were reduced to the merest shadow, and, though, concessions alternated with oppression, the Finns had no caxise to be pleased with Russian rale.

It was claimed on their behalf that the policy of coercion was not needed in Russia's interests, because "the experience of a cen-. tnry has proved that the independence of the internal administration and of the legislation ofi the Grand Duchy is perfectly compatible with the supremacy of Russia in foreign affairs, and in,

the general direction.' of measuron of defence." Precisely for that reason, doubtless, it was not congenial to the pro-German advisers of the well-meaning biit weak Czar. The effect of JJ'innish grievances has been to keep alive feelings of suspicion and resentment on the part of Sweden against Russia, though it' does not seem that the Pinns themselves have made much active trouble since the war began. The new Government will do work of value if it can remove the Swedish feelings of suspicion, and make the Finns contented friends of Russia. 'A! race numbering three millions, who have the reputation of being the best educated and the most sober people in Europe, and who supply the best sailors to the Russian IsTavy, B'hould be .worth conciliating.