Arizona republican., 1917-01-28

have been correspondingly reinforced Notwithstanding what has been | achieved. however, there is sharp crit | icism of the army and it's administra- ton. The bitterest attacks are con stantly made on the minister for war and MaiOrGener3i N Boshooms po- sition would seem to be none too secure. Emphasis is particularly laid
 on the continued lack of artillery-in which the army was notoriously weak when war broke out-of anti-aircraft 1 guns, and aircraft.
 | So far as the political situation is concerned, the premier and his liberal, extra parliamentary cabinet still ap- | pear to he firmly seated in the saddle.
 although voices arc heard on the right
 in favor of coalition mnisterA The | general election is due next June, but negotiations are on foot to postpone
 the actual electorial struggle until l 1918, when there would in any case 1 have to he a fresh election if the re vised constitution finally passes, and
 that an election on the new propor- l tional reii eSentation system The l suggested idea is that the present party seats shall not be challenged
 in June next this meaning the prac- tical reelection of the present cham
 Der Incidently there is some discon- teEt with the prime ministers refusal | to propose a revision of the constitu-
 tion cancellng any potential claims of i foreign, ie., German, princes to the throne. It is said here that the Queen is opposed to such step. but it is also believed the Premier fears
 giving offerse to the foreign power
 most interested.
 As to the state of affairs in the country itself there is still consider ale ferment in the frontier regions Despite the continual seizures of goods and the frequent shooting fatalities, large bands of mon continue 10 engage in smuggling; even soldiers are caught at 1t from time to time. Another
 regular feature in the border lands is the considerable influx of escaped prisoners -of-War and dcserteTS, whose
 ranks have recently been reinforced by numbers of fleeing Belgian and
 Polish civilians.
 In the economic realm the food sup ply is the governments chief con
 cern. The outlook has just been painted :n somewhat gloomy colors by the minister of agriculture, in view or
 grain situation iE America and else where and tine shortage of cargo
 space. On the other hand the svs- tenn of distribution adopted is severely criticized. At present the aitizen )uys many foodstuffs at less than the actual market price, and will sooner or later have to pay the balance in
 taxes. The arrangement has been
 made for the sake of the poorer class
 es, but critics argue that the govern
 ment is out to achieve as great a
 dsorganization of economic life as
 they can at a maximum cost. l2repa
 rations are being made to introduce a rniVersal ead-card system with d
 view to economy The soldiers ra-
 tions have already been cut down. In order to save the stock of beef
 mutton is being issued to the army
 once a week. This is quite a revolu
 ton in Holland where mutton has
 hitherto been almost unknown as an
 article of popular diet, albeit the war and the articles comparative cheap
 ness is bringing it more into vogue.
 There has been no export of cattle for some time. The allies appear to he
 permitting a fresh import of grain,
 presumably in conseuuence of the ar
 rangement made for the export of
 large quantities of agricultural pro-
 duce to Britain.
 Despite the government requisi-
 tioning cf ships for the transport of
 grain and other products, and the in-
 roads of mines and torpedoes on the