NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE military situation continues to be without precedent. War conditions are existing throughout a vast theatre, and at any moment may come the news of some great military event like the fall of Janina. Yet, but for this know- ledge in the background, one might almost imagine that Europe was at peace. The one bright spot in the situation is that, in spite of a good deal of press wrangling, Austria- Hungary and Russia have not only agreed to demobilize, but have actually begun the process. That is the best possible proof that could be adduced that the two Powers not only do not want to fight, which has been true all along, but that they no longer believe that they will be compelled, as they would say, "by the force of circumstances" to fight. The ambassadorial conferences proceed as before, but it must be " jumpy " work to negotiate about frontier lines when at any moment such an event as the fall of Scutari or some military development at Gallipoli or on the Sea of Marmora may radically alter the premises upon which the diplomatic syllogists are at work.
