Fergus County Democrat., 1915-12-30

LONDON, Dec. 29.-1O p. ND
Dispatches from both east and west
express the belief that the winter
weather is likely to prove the most
severe obstacle to war operations on
the principal fronts during the next
few weeks. The statement that the
most dreaded period of winter is from
the end of December to the end of
January was General Frenchs reply
q year ago to the demands for a great
offensive. The same remark would
probably apply equally this year.
Reuters correspondent at western
headquarters, after remarking that the
British staff is confident that the al.
lies are now SO strong in men and
munitions that they can break through
the German lines whenever the right
time comes, declares that the weather
is the chief reason for postponing the
big movement and adds, "such a move
ment requires careful planning and ex-
treme caution. Rolling up attacks al
ways involve the possibility of coun-
ter attacks, which may end in rolling
up. the aggressor. With the face of
the country in a porous and mushy
condition, it is impossible to effect the
essential quick movements of artillery
without which any big offensive is
foredoomed to fail
."The, allied troops would probably
have little trouble in occupying any
part Of the Germans front trenches
forthwith because the enemy holds
these lightly. But then with the
ranges registered to a nicely, such
step would be sheer suicide before
the time is ripe"
"A Russian correspondent writes:
"The most severe part of winter has
begun in the Russian theater. All the
reports agree that the weather this
year is mere severe than usual. 1t is
increasingly doubtful whether any Sc
rious events will occur until the end
OF January"
Despite the weather, the artillery
duel in the Vosges mountains, in the
western zone. continues, and may
eventually prove to be one of the big
operations of the war. The gains in
either direction thus far have been
small, but the French claim progress
in their effort to establish themselves
on the crest of the foothills, which
here dominate the plain.
. BY all accounts Saloniki is now
safe. Certainly the central powers
show no haste to attack the allies po-
sition. Seventy-five thousand Ser
bians have reorganized at Scutari and
Eloasan, in Albania, and the Monte
grin army, which heretofore has
been debarred geographically from
taking any large part in the war, is
now throwing itself energetically into
the contest against the Austrians
Reports that the Austrians are at
lacking Scutari are authoritatively de-
MED. According to the latest advices,
the Austrians were at Bjelopolje,
where they were recently repulsed by
the Montegrins and cannot reach Sou
tari without crossing the Albanian
Alps and the flooded River Drin.
No official announcement is yet
tion of the cabinet regarding compul-
sion, but the political atmosphere has
been considerably cleared up by the
admission that the principle of COM
pulsion is accepted by majority of
the members of the cabinet. Public
opinion has not yet crystallized, but
there Is widespread approval of Pre-
mier Asquith's general attitude and
there is a feeling that the public is
quite ready to be convinced.
The difficulties within the cabinet
may be expected to diminish as the
question shapes itself in practical
form.
A joint meeting of the representa-
tives Of the labor party and the Fed.
GRAFTON of Trade Unions has been
summoned for tomorrow and a de-
tailed statement of the labor attitude
is likely to follow.