MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1917. PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Thames Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 10287, 8 January 1917, Page 4

MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1917. PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Though, climatic conditions are of such a character in. Europe- as to greatly hinder warlike operations,', there is stilt, a considerable amount pf activity, and .the casualty lists that continue to come ti> hand indicate that desperate work is being done on the . Western front. There is ■•• no doubt many a hard fought contest in various'parts of tih/is theatre of-war, of which 'little or notbiniGr is beard." ,But it appear =s to be certain that the nibbih'ri of process isi.'-heirusr* effectively maintained', and the Allied forces are ©lowly but .surely pushing! tile' enemy back. Tho extension of the British front, without any reported casualty, p , -w,.efrec*?d. almost w'.thini sight, and hearing- of the enemy. It was a great calculated to relieve the French of much of the. toil and stress they had endured for so long, and bring! into 'active employment in the iva'r zone the new British forces which are now on French iso-iil, ready .and soger for the fray. The indications are'that they will not 'have long to wait, Tor the extension of the front is regarded as presaging some big move For the discomfiture' of the enemy. Turning attention to the East we find what /the Ruaso~Roumania.n forces are. making' a determined effort, to stem the tide 'of German.invasion' in Rou mania. So far victory is with the Central Powers, but there appears to be a consensus of opinion amongst weperfes that :-t!he .'.tide will soon turn in favour of Roiumania. As"the Central; Bowers received a decisive check >n the Marne in their victorious march' towardV Par-is, so now again is history likely to repeat itself. Tlie Ruasio-Ro'umain'ani, forces have taken up a ; strong defensive position on the Sereth, and a decisive, battle is likely to Vbe fought there, .indeed ha,s already begun. Little news comes from Macedonia, and what General,Sarrail is doing tihere remains a mystery.' With Grecian troops in his rear he has need of caution. It is reported chat the Allied 1 cfomands that these troops should 'be removed' to Southern Greece are being complied' witih, under pressure of t/he blockade, but such conducting reports oO'me from Greece that it is difficult to know what to believe. Certain it is that no reliance can ibe placed upon King Gonstanti.ne'® promises, and the wonder \s that the Allied' powers have not long ago removed him. from a position in which, while professing neutrality, he has dione such positive harm to the Allied cause. There are wheels within wheels, and it is difficult at this distance from. the scene to thoroughly understand the workings of the complex political machine' which directs the Hellenic destinies. In East

lowing upon what was supposed' tS ba -fihal] victory for the Allies, there ■again been 'severe fighting," and' German forces 'have once more been defeated. The. war. on, sea ,seems •to •be confined t^ v German. subitnariTio attacks upon neutral' shipping* which has suffered heavily of late. Germany appears determined to antagonise every neutral' power, for the ships of no 'nation are safe from the ruthless •attacks of the piratical craft of Germany. That power is once more illustrating the truth of the adage: — "Those whom tho Gods wish to. destroy, they first, make mad.''