Norwich bulletin., 1916-01-03

London, Jan. ?, 1G.es p. nl.-Russia's campaign in Bessarabia continues to be the most important visible war ac- tivity. From the Pripet to the Ru- manian frontier. oyer front of at least 300 miles, a huge Russian force with a great appearance of confidence is hurting sIedge hammer blows at the opposing force which, according to all accounts, totals at least a million ard a half men.
 Russian Successes.
 Petrograd still claims considerable successes in the early stages of the campaigr, and despatches emphasize munitions which Russia laid up for this purpose during period of con- parative passivity-
 some london observers, speculating on the meaning of the Bessarabia move, har it as one of the most ann bilious strategic plans since the be- ginning of hostilities and predict that it will prove a colossal attempt Co break the backbone Of the Germanic allies whole line across the Balkans. Thus one critic says:
 Allies to Meet in Balkans.
 s'The plan ia that Russia and the other allies. moving from different sides, shall meet in the Balkans and gain complete mastery of that benin : :
 
 subdsIed and tha vitals Of Austria Hungary menaced
 So long as Russsa keeps up her present activity just north of the Ru- manien border, the attitude of Ru- mania will continue to grow in iru- sertions in the ententsj capitals that Runlania was about to enter the war one the side of the allies, but nothing to support this has yet been heard from credible Rumanian sources. Teutonic Aeropianes Fly Over Greece.
 Meanwhile. in the south of the Bal kan peninsula the allies continue their expectant latitude toward a threatened attack, although Greece seems main ly occupied in making various diplo- matic protests, having followed up her polite protest to the central powers against their aeroplanes flying across Greek territory, in a raid which killed Greek shepherd and few sheep.
 Sinking of Steamship Persia.
 The sinking of the steamship Per- sia, with the death of an American consular officer, brings up in the Eu- ropean capitals the familiar query as to what the United States will do now. Despatches from English correspon- dents picture the sinking of the Per sia as particularly aggravated case, owing to the fact that the. ship was not only hit without warning or op- portunity for the passengers to es- cape. but was also hit in a most vital part, so that she sank almost imme- diately. the whole time from the launching of the tc-Fedo to the dis appearance of the liner being only five minutes.
 Submarine Activity in Mediterranean.
 Tn connection with the submarine activity in the Mediterranean it is in- teresting to note that an official re- port shows a total of only twenty British steamships sunk by the sub- marines during the month of Decem- her. with the loss of 67 lives, while eight more were sunk by mines with the loss of Ia lives.
 For the English cabinet Wednesday will be a red letter day, for on that day Premier Asquith will introduce cornpulsion The premier probably has never had a more difficult task than he will havegin engineering this meas ure and his speech, presenting it to the house, lis expected to be one of the finest efforts of his career.