Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-12-29

powers through Greece, brought up
again the supposed German dream OF
O Berlin to Bagdad route. This dream
was ~dissipated when it became evil
dent that Russia was forcing the
Turks out of Mesopotamia and effec-
lively cooperating with the allies at
Saloniki. The situation of Germany
had a serious look as autumn came on,
with Verdun untaken, the allies storm
ing a third line on the Somme and the
Russians displaying enough yigor in
their southwest to hold the Austrian
forces ct full strength In volhynia.
Bukowina and Greece. Then sudden
iy Roumania cast her lot with the al
lies and, as it was supposed. added
100000 men to the enemies of the
Teuton ON the Vienna to Constantine
pie line.
Won Hindenburg Scores Again.
How Won Hindenburg turned to grap-
| pie with this new foe is the most sur
prising chapter in the history of the
war, a new example of efficiency at
headquarters and in the fighting ranks.
nv NhCAh willy VI Al hdhO "ao ouA-
| fered after crossing two frontiers I'M
til converging armies met before DOOM
ed Bucharest. taken on Dec. 6.
Roumania seems to have repeated
the French blunder of August. 1914,
when, instead of going to the aid of
Belgium. Joffre sent a big army to re-
cover Alsace. Instead of stabbing Bull
arsn D4,,nna-sr xo4raIo1 .4p+h snRn
Hungary. a move which invited Ger
mans and Bulgars to strike at her vi
tails from the south. So, while Won
Mackensen marched and conquered in
the general direction of the Danube.
central Roumania and Bucharest. the
Roumanians. who had poured over her
northern border, were easily turned
back, their conquests wrested from
them and the entire venture of the
last of the Balkan states was turned
into a izzle, so far as support of the
allies was concerned. There remains
Greece-at least the rebellious part of
ito stimulate the hope that the Teu-
tonic powers may yet receive a vital
thrust in the back. The conquest of
Roumania required time. energy and
lives. Whether the compensation will
equal the investment time alone can
tell. The end of 1916 finds the German
powers resourceful in men and I'M
daunted in spirit. On the other hand.
the allies cabinets are ~reorganizing to
restore the flow of victories to the
channels of midsummer. Lloyd-George
became British premier Dec. Z.
Miscellaneous Events.
Minor events of the war were the
t~orpedoing of the British channel
steamer Sussex. the transfer of the
submarine war Zone across the Allan
tic In October and General Kitchener's
death at sea. Air craft battles have
been many. fierce and deadly; casual
ties of all kinds have been heavy.
Outside of var the old world has
been normal, with the exception of a
brief rebellion in Ireland, which had
been expected and was ruthlessly sup
pressed. Japan and Russia formed an
agreement, and Japan made new de-
mands upon China, whose ruler, Yuan
Shih Kai, died in June. Deaths abroad
during the year included Franz Joseph,
emperor and king; Carmen Sylvia, Rou-
manian queen dowager and a person
atty of note; DR.. Metchnikoff. the bac-
teriologist; Mounet-Sully, French &C
tor, and Sienkiewicz. Polish author.
Sir Roger Easement was executed for
treason as instigator Of the rebellion
in Ireland; also Pearse. the rebel
president" and Connolly. the military
chief.