The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-12-23

CONCER. 4lNG THE WAR.


ency, First belgium. devastated, outraged,
trodden under the iron heel of Germany. Po-
land overrun, the Russians driven back upon
their own soil, where they are now confronted
by their Austro- German pursuers. The Allies
held at bay with fearful losses at the Dardan-
Giles. Serbia conquered and the English and
French forces. who were too late to save the
Serbian army, forced to retreat by the victo-
rious Bulgarians and find refuge in Greece
Defeats of the British in Persia.
And now a threatened Turko-German at
tack on Egypt. railroad is in process of
construction from Damascus to the Egyptian
frontier. and it is expected to complete it b.
the first of February This railway, which
has double tracks, is considered by military
men to permit of concentration of half a
million men in one month, together with the
necessary supplies and ammunition, at the
Egyptian frontier. About 100000 Ottoman
troops. commanded and drilled by German Off
GERS. already have been concentrated between
Alexandria,, Aleppo and Rome, it is stated.
Army engine ers are laying miles of tubes for
carrying drinking water across the desert and
also are providing material for the construc-
ton of bridges with which to cross the Suez
canal. Turko- German emissaries are said to
be urging the Senousi to attack Egypt from
the west. while an attempt is also being made
to induce the Abyssinians to march into Sou
dan. German officers are reported to be act
ing as propagandists, organizers and military
instructors.
AS in the case of Serbia there is ample
warning of this new movement of the enemy,
and ii remains to be seen what the Allies can,
or will, do about it. 1t is said now that the
delay in sending aid to Serbia due to dis
sensions in the English and French govern
ments, certain element in each country OPP
posing such action; and in this and other d.
rections it is evident that there has not been
from the first the mutual understanding and
concert of action essential to ensure success
against formidable foe as Germany. AS
all know Germany had been preparing for
this war for many years. France was best
prepared to resist her, and the check the gal
liant Belgians gave the forces of the Kaiser in
their march on Paris enabled France to put a
well equipped army in the field, upon which
for many months devolved the brunt OF the
lighting. Russia after time got formidable
army ready for action-formida that is as
to numbers, but deficient in munitions, a
land, SO far as troops were concerned, was the
least prepared, but her navy was ready and
has had very important part in the war, of
which further mention will be made. Italy
has been of very little aid to the Allies, but
mas played lone hand against Austria. 1t
was expected she would send troops and ships
to the Dardanelles, which might have turned
the scale there, but she failed to do SO, or to
come to the aid of Serbia.
Germany has added to her fighting force
the armies of Bulgaria and Turkey, has had
the passive support of Greece; may yet, I'M
less the situation in The Balkans changes, have
Roumana on her side, and is now ensting the
semi -barbarians OF the East in her war against
christianity and civilization.
Now for the other side of the picture. Ger
many expected to march on Paris and then,
with France under her heel, to invade and
S0pJu&dte huSSld 1nen, WIN the french
coast base for operations, she proposed to
chastise England, upon whom all her hate is
concentrated and whose humiliation has been
her chief end and aim. None of these things
have been accomplished. Germany has over
powered and overrun Belgium. Poland and
Serbia, but has lost ALL or practically all, of
her outlying possessions. Her navy, superior
to our own in ships and armament, has been
bottled up by the British navy; her few cruisers
sent out to prey upon the commerce of the
Allies have been captured, destroyed or driven
from the seas. her merchant fleet put out of
business. ard her only naval activity has been
with the submarines, and they have apparent
ly been driven from British waters. where a
large number have been destroyed.
The British navy has not only driven the
German flag from the seas but has maintained
blockade that is making the food question an
increasingly serious one in Germany. The an
ticipated supplies of food from Poland and
Bulgaria do not appear to have materiaized,
and although Germany has possession of the
copper mines in Serbia that metal is evidently
still scarce article with the makers of NUM-
tons. The Kaiser has not yet made his
triumphal entry into Constantinople, and
present movements of the Allies may cause
materially change the situation in the Balkan !"