The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-22
TEUT0Nj AND ALLIES
STRENGTHENING Lines
Both sides Getting Benefit of Lull In
Fighting Caused BY Winter
Weather.

New York. Jan. 2l.-A year ago
| England was straining every resource
| in the East 10 avert the disaster on
the Tigris which began after the bat
/ tie at Ctcsiphon and eliminated in
! the surrender Of General Tnwnshead
I at kut- ElAmara. The number of
: troops who finally fell into the hands
/ of the Turks was well under ten
] thousand, so that the loss in person
mel was only small fraction of the
/ casualties incurred in such "A battle
/ as that on the Sommo or many an
! other Of the hlood-drenched fields in
/ Europe
/ The reverse was serious because 1t
/ taught the Hotammedans that British
! troops could be beaten--something
that had not been demonstrated in
that region before. Some observers
/ thought the result might be apparent
! in India soon after the news reached
! the millions who have remained cow
ed since the great mutiuy. but the
East moves slowly
The British administration has sup
T pressed most Of whatever news there
might have been of disorders in that
distant part Of the great empire. 1t
Is likely that some efforts toward in
surrection, required the prompt ami
efficient military measures which were
ago a dozen or more natives received
death sentences from a military court
which convicted them Of treason, but
IL is probably true that almost the
entire population has remained sur
prisingly loyal to England all through
the war German stories of uprisings
were undoubtedly based more upon
what had been hoped for than upon
what really occurred
Nevertheless, all England Is much
exercised over the Council of Empire
which is to meet In London next
month. or course, the Irish ques-
ton will be a serious one before such
a body, but the significant new fea-
ture of the council is the proha htlity
that India will be represented for the
first time at such a conference. The
native president OF the last Lucknow
session of the Indian National Con-
gress summarized Indian demands In
this fashion:
india must be governed from Del
b! and -Simla instead of from London
and must be recognized as an equal
partner in the empire, instead OF be-
ing a mere dependency.
Such demands were not uttered SO
clearly before the Eastern races had
been called upon to furnish Sikh and
Gourka regiments for service In the
European war. The courage 20 crys-
tallize national aspirations grew per-
ceptibly after the Tigris campaign. II
is quite possible that other lands than
Poland may regain some measure OF
freedom as one OF the political neecs-
stiles growing out Of the progress OF
the war.
II Is to be expected that British
finances Will find II necessary to call
upon all OF the colonies to enter Into
the closest kind of commercial agree
pent Not single pound of British
gold must be paid to any nom British
manufacturer for many year to
come. Doubtless, linked with these
proposals for commercial co-opera-
ton. there may be offered radical po-
liticai concessions.
Meanwhile both sides are getting
benefit of the lull in lighting for which
the winter weather is largely respon-
stfIe. BY the time active operations
are resumed, 1t will be found that
wherever line has been waging a
defensive battle the defenses will have
been improved
II Is not likely that the Germans on
the somme are wasting their cpportu
nifty 70 strengthen old and construct !
new lines OF intrenchments.
Explosions at munition factories
continue. One In the London suburb |
destroyed q large plant and mum erea
come hundreds Of victims Killed and /
wounded. The ministry OF munitions /
has appealed for eight thousand more
women workers in munition factories
and the call recites that THE output Of
munitions must not BIO delayed single |
day for lack OF labor"
In Macedonia, Russia and on the
Italian frontier there have been only
ekirmishes. In France the most siFni- |
fcant operation has beer the vigorous
reconnaissance of q number OF strong
German patrols which have been try
ing out the strength OF the French (
lines toward the Swiss frontier. These !
operations claim unusual attention be- /
cause of the recently ordered mob!liga- |
ton Of additional divisions IN swttzer-
land. The lines in Southern Alsace |
have remained practically unchanged /
for the past two years, Even the much !
fought over Hartmansweiler-K opf has I
kept out OF the news for q long time |
and the present German activity is I
manifesting itself between Altkirch and I
tho Swiss frontier