20 JANUARY 1912, Page 2

Such are some of the results of the German elections

expressed in statistics. They show that the Socialist& have made very large gains, chiefly from the other parties of the Left. Whether their gains will be proportionately great at the second ballots must depend upon the action of the National-Liberals and Radicals, and upon this point great uncertainty seems to prevail The Radical Press is almost unanimous in recommending the whole of the Left to rally to the support of the Socialists. Local pressure is, on the other band, being brought to bear upon the Liberals and Radicals by the Blue-Blacks, who threaten that if the non-Socialist opposition assists the Socialists in defeating Blue-Black candidates, the Blne-Blacks will in their turn make no effort to prevent the Socialists from defeating the Liberals and Radicals. According to a telegram in Thursday's Times the dates of the second ballots have in many cases been fixed in order that the Conservatives can see what support the Liberals will give them before showing what support they will give the Liberals. Thus, some of them will take place to-day, some on Monday, and the remainder next Thursday. The ultimate strength of the Socialists, depending as it does upon these complicated bargains between the other parties, is expected to lie anywhere between 90 and 120.