BRITAIN AND THE WAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 28 October 1912, Page 5

BRITAIN AND THE WAR

POLICY OF MASTERLY INACTION Says the " Sydney Sun," discussing the war:—• °

Great Britain's action in tho present war has, so far as the eye can see, been a policy of masterly inaction. Like the rest of the vocalists in the European concert, her song, has, to continue, tho miwical analogy, been extremely piano .Russia's inaction .and Austria's" inaction are both fairly understandable Russia wants Constantinople and she w^s honing, it is to bo presumed, that with the battles done her ambition would bo realised. Stepping over the, dead bodies of the combatants she could have "ained her obiective without money and without price— comparatively sneaking. Austria needs Salonika as v port, and a trade route south from Vienna and Buda Pesth. Her thoughts were similar to Russia's. Germany sat tight for the simple reason that some day sho is certain that Austria will b« a narfc of the great German Empire and if Austria does all the dirty work first, there will bo no need for her to do it afterwards.

Italy was just finishing up another •ifctlo tussle, with the Turks,* and had very littlo money and a depleted 'army with which to stand up and ask for things or grab them. Franco is near and dear to England, and here lies tit* crux of the wholo matter. ft k only a, surmise-, but it may I.p near tho mark, that what Eneland'said in tho conclaves of tho Powers, Franco •agreed with, and backed up. England'-* t<e<i with Russia in tho Triple Entente aro not of tho strongest, and whatever British miblic oninion may havo been during tho last 30 or 40 years regarding tho Porto, thorn bos boon littlo doubt that, officially, Brita-'n has been on > si<io of Turkey moro than on tho side of r.nv other party to tho Balkan Rfumbble. As matters stand to-day tho British. Government was competed o como to a decision as between Britain's ?>av?l strength in tho North Sea ami m tho Mediterranean. Both aro strategic positions, and both cannot, in the opinion of tho highest exnert authority, bo commanded with absolute security. Five yearn ago Britain stood sentinel in both rocr-'onswith impre^nnblo fleets, but • • r « a(»rrr«s;v!' nolicv of Germany and A:istrh. ha.i changed this.

Tli3 rnenaco that would lie in Au.---tn:>>, possession of a norfc on the Mo>l-itrrran-r.an, or practically on tho Mediterranean, to *ay nothing of Rus-sia comin."; further south, may have once more indneed England to stand behind th^ Turk. There aro more ways than one of 'viiuc support to a. belligerent nation, and tho knowledge that England WLV, occupying the. dual position <-f watch.-dog and referee would mightil Kt.-x nL'llion the arms of the Sultan an-.l );(H>[> tho Turkish peoplo from the tenof 'vi.t'ldo interference.

l-'.ju/Innd has licr v-T r ch.ins in tho Tvle-1- i iton-anean—nioro than sho has had i there for many a day. Franco has been j onoontratine; noarly the. whole of her ■ flco<. on*t of G';i<'-.o[f nr . Tlnv?o 'acts ars .; TM'o f.t-.- substantial ones.

.*■<-. fnr n*. tho vnr hns fono Turkey ha= ; hod a little tho worst of it, but then ;!■<'■, ]mrl 11O f, fakon tho nq-CTP'i.civo, an-.I sho "■•)■;; In-iiton. in "rontofif deoroe. on fhn bnrcler fartho^b nwn.v from hor rnili- + :>.'-v "^nt'-es nnd fror>i h-or capital. The M-jvtowrr. hor.-W K: o n - all tho ! nimrtor TnrVovV, r^f«T,n^«, v , Ort> {

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