can only be understood by actual sight of what is being done. It includes the manhauling of guns across the Alpine heights, and the building of roads and blasting of positions among the mountains-Monte Pasubio, since the war, has been furnished with eight different roads, cut under the snows-and before the war there was scarcely a footpath to the summit of this height. The strengthening of this northern Italian front has involved work which, but for the fact of the war itself as a whole, would have won notice all over the world as most wonderful. Since it does not produce sensational results, it is relegated to a very minor place in journalism, but it is none the less as hard and dangerous as work in any theatre of the war. Italy, more than any other of the four great powers of the Entente, has to fight nature as well as the unholy alliance, and she is waging her two wars well, though inconspicuously. While, to one who follows

Definition of Victory.

closely, it is now apparent beyond arguing that Allied victory is certain, there are many who fail to define such a victory correctly. A very A very common statement in this connection is that you cannot destroy the will of a whole nation," and this is alternatively expressed as the enemy wants it expressed-" you must in the end treat with Germany, because the destruction of Germany is unthinkable." Now these phrases are contrary to historical fact; just as well might the South, in the American Civil War, have said, "You cannot destroy the Confederacy." Just as well, before Waterloo, might Napoleon have said, "You cannot destroy France." This analogy is contested on the ground that whole nations, rather than national armies, are engaged in this war, but the relative strengths have not changed. In either the Napoleonic or the American Civil War, the national armies set to impose their wills

on other national armies; in this present war certain whole nations have set out to impose their will on certain other nations. Victory is to be defined by the reduction of the German forces in the field, either by a continuance of the present siege war, or by the open actions which will almost inevitably follow the break-up of the siege lines, to a state at which they will no longer find it worth while to continue the struggle. In spite of the length of the opposed lines, and of the immensity of the struggle, such a result is not merely possible, but is the legitimate end to the war, failing political interference or disunity on the part of the Allies. And, further, such a definition of victory is the least that the Allies can accept, if they have regard to the future peace of the world and the future security of their own peoples. Every one of them has made immense sacrifices in this struggle, sacrifices which, at last, are bearing visible fruit in the enemy clamour for peace as an alternative to complete downfall. Whatever nonsense may be talked in Allied countries about the impossibility of breaking the will of a whole nation (the nation in question being Germany, and especially Prussia, which is the core of Germany and Germanism) the German leaders themselves recognise that, if they cannot conclude peace speedily, then the alternative is unconditional surrender and the complete downfall of Prussianism. The Allied commands, too, have recognised this, and it is the duty of the Allied people to recognise it as well. It is their duty to understand, and to foster recognition of the fact, that the utter submission of Germany is the only thinkable end to the war, and that to stop short of such an end would merely mean leaving to future generations a strained, intent watchfulness, and ultimately a renewal of the struggle against Prussianism with far smaller chances of success.

Nov. 24.-Dillingen blast furnaces bombed by

British aeroplanes.

Field-Marshal von Mackensen's army across Danube at Ilaz and Zimnitza and active all along river; retirement of Roumanian Craiova army across Alt river and yielding of Orsova rearguard allowing enemy to occupy Turnu Severin, ten miles inland. Nov. 25.-Rapid advance of Germans on wide

front in Roumania from Craiova to Gozia. War declared on Bulgaria and Germany by Government of M. Venizelos; ultimatum from Admiral du Fournet to Greek Government demanding war material by Dec. 1–15. Nov. 26.-Puisieux, north-east of BeaumontHamel, bombarded by British.

The Alt position turned by Field-Marshal

von Mackensen's army, which reached Alexandra and got into touch with General von Falkenhayn's army; Rynick captured by General von Falkenhayn.

Nov. 26-27.-Armed trawler Narval sunk by Germans off Lowestoft.

Nov. 27.-Retirement eastwards of whole Wal

lachian front and Alt positions occupied by enemy; Alexandra occupied by FieldMarshal von Mackensen's troops. Severe fighting reported north of Monastir on sixteen-mile front.

Nov. 27-28.-Zeppelin raid on north-east coast and North Midlands; 4 killed, 41 injured; two Zeppelins brought down in flames into the sea.

Nov. 28.-Bombs dropped on London at noon by enemy aeroplane; aeroplane afterwards brought down by French.

Brixham fishing fleet attacked by submarine ; three trawlers sunk by gun fire. Curtes de Arges in Northern Wallachia and Giurgevo on Danube occupied by enemy, the Roumanians retiring without fighting. Nov. 29. Sir David Beatty appointed Commander of Grand Fleet in succession to Sir John Jellicoe.

Further development of encircling movement in Roumania: Pitesti occupied and Danube crossed at Oltenitza.

Vigorous Russian attack on broad front from Kirlibaba southwards.

Nov. 30.-Roumanians defeated on extensive front 18 miles south-west of Bucharest and

Comana occupied by enemy. Roumanian
Government removed to Jassy.

Severe fighting on Serbian front north-east of
Monastir.

Refusal of Greece to grant Allies' demands for

war material and Athens Reserve Corps called to the colours.

Dec. 1.-Rapid advance of Germans on Bucharest; diversions attempted in the Dobrudja and on Moldavian border by RussoRoumanians.

Allied advance north-east of Monastir brought to a standstill.

Landed Allied forces sent to Athens, where they were attacked by Royalist troops and obliged to withdraw; armistice proposed after warships had opened fire and offer of six batteries instead of ten made.

Dec. 2.-Pressure towards Bucharest continued by Germans; enemy driven across River Arges in Pilesti region.

Dec. 3.-Great battles along valley of Arges before Bucharest, four enemy armies attacking from Danube to Carpathians; Roumanians defeated and driven beyond Titu, north-west of Bucharest, Tirgovista on the oil-fields and guns and stores and some 8,000 prisoners falling into enemy's hands. Resistance at Grunishta overcome by Serbians and some heights carried.

Greek shipping in Allied ports detained. Funchal, Madeira, shelled by U boat and several ships sunk.

Dec. 4.-Rearguard actions behind retiring
Roumanian armies; pressure of German
9th army towards Ploesti and Northern
Wallachian oil-fields, threatening retreat of
Roumanian army in Prahova Valley.
New battles on the Cerna enabling Serbians
to advance north-east of Monastir.
Armed and disguised German raider reported in
North Atlantic.

Dec. 5.-Attack by Germans south of Loos unsuccessful.

Retreat of Roumanians beyond Bucharest ; continued resistance of Orsova rearguard ; capture by Germans of grain bought by British Government.

French battleship Suffren not heard of since November 24, regarded as lost with all hands-about 850.

Dec. 6.-German activity near Verdun and footing gained on Hill 304.

Bucharest and Ploesti occupied by enemy under Field-Marshal von Mackensen: Campina and Sinaia also taken; capitulation of Roumanian Orsova rearguard which had been forced into action on Aluta River. Dispatch of Lieut.-Gen. Milne on Salonica operations. May 9-October 16, 1916, issued. Casualties among Canadian forces in Europe stated to be 65,660 (about 16,000 fatal).

Dec. 7.-Russian attacks continued in Car

pathians.

Roumanians holding Predeal Pass and Prahova Valley cut off by German advance, 10,000 being taken prisoners.

Blockade of Greece proclaimed by Allies. Dec. 8-Hill 304 regained by French.

Retreat of Roumanians east of Bucharest and of Russians on left flank continued; 70,000 prisoners, 184 cannon and 120 machine guns, besides other booty, claimed captured by enemy since December 1; destruction of oil wells, etc., before retirement reported by Roumanians.

Dec. 9.-Pursuit by enemy on Buzeu-Ploesti road reported checked by Roumanians; Danube crossed by Bulgarians at Tutrakai and Silistria, and Oltevitza occupied.

Dec. 10.-Heavy reciprocal shelling on Ancre and in all parts of Ypres salient and about Loos.

Incessant fighting north of Monastir.
Claim of enemy to have won passage over

River Jalomitza, north-east of Bucharest ; heavy levies laid on Craiova and Bucharest. Dec. 11.-Trenches at Neuville raided by British; intense shelling on front from Ypres to north of Ancre. Zeebrugge bombarded by airmen. Enemy positions in Carpathians and on Moldavian frontier again assailed by Russians; pursuit of Roumanians renewed and Urziceni, twenty miles east of Ploesti, occupied by enemy; 10,000 prisoners in last 3 days claimed by enemy.

Dec. 12.-Direct overtures for peace made by Germany by Notes to the Allies sent through neutral Powers.

Bulgarians repulsed on Monastir front.

Enemy near Buzeu on a front 35 miles east of Bucharest.

Admiral du Fournet replaced by Vice-Admiral Gauchet.

Syra occupied by Venizelist troops.

Dec. 13.-General Nivelle appointed Commanderin-Chief of Armies on French front in succession to General Joffre.

Dec. 14.-Buzeu occupied by Field-Marshal von Mackensen's forces.

Retreat of Russians on Lower Jablomitza to conform with Roumanian front. Bulgarians again across Danube near Fitesi. Offensive in Mesopotamia resumed by British advance made towards Kut by the Shatt-elHai and Turkish positions carried. Ultimatum to Greece demanding withdrawa of entire Greek Army from Thessaly. Dec. 15.-Attack by French on 6-mile front north of Verdun; enemy positions to depth of two miles penetrated, and Vacherauville

and Louvemont villages and Hardaumont Work, etc., taken; also 11,500 prisoners, 115 guns, etc.

Allies' Note to Greece accepted.

Dec. 16.-Violent counter-attack north of Verdun repulsed by French.

Artillery actions on Somme and about Neuve Chapelle.

Roumanians retreating on Braila.

Dec. 17.-German counter-attack on French gains repulsed after brief success.

Russian retreat in the Dobrudja to conform with Roumanian front.

Dec. 18.-Advance of German 9th Army to-
wards Braila checked by Russians.
Captain de Beauchamp, French air hero of
Essen and Munich flights, killed in Verdun
region.

Dec. 19.-Hostile shelling on the Somme.
Artillery duels north-east of Verdun.
Activity on Russian front about Brody.

Two enemy columns moving on Braila from south and west.

Dec. 20.-Successful French raid on enemy trenches north of Arras. Artillery duels south of Brody.

Rearguard actions south and west of Braila ; Russo-Roumanian forces steadily retiring on both banks of the Danube.

Italian transport sunk in collision with French cruiser; 15 lives lost.

Peace Note of President Wilson to belligerents. Dec. 21.-Trench raids by both sides on British front in France.

Enemy guns active north-east of Verdun.
New Note from Allies to Greece.
British forces closing in on Kut.

El Arish, occupied by Turks for two years, recaptured by British.

Two British destroyers sunk in collision in North Sea; 55 lives lost.

Dec. 21 and 22.-Turks bombarded by British aeroplanes at Baghailah, near Kut.

Dec. 22. Successful British raid on enemy trenches south of Ypres.

Tulcea on the Danube below Braila captured by Germans.

British air raids on Maghdaba, Beersheba, etc. Swiss Peace Note to belligerents.

Dec. 23.-Enemy trenches in neighbourhood of Hebuterne and Ypres penetrated by British. Enemy position north-west of Seres (Struma front) raided by British.

Heights occupied by Germans north of River Uz (Carpathians) captured by Russians. Capture by British of enemy position at Maghdaba.

Dec. 24.-Three enemy machines brought down by French on Somme front.

Tulcea and Isaccea occupied by Germans.