Progress of the War

Press, Volume L, Issue 15121, 10 November 1914, Page 6

Progress of the War

"Hard pounding, gentlemen!

" must sfoo "who can pound tho longest." This saying of the l>nko of Wellington must, frequently havo been callotl to mind during the titanic struggle that is going on between tho opposing armies in Franco and Belgium. l There arc

now not wanting .signs that the superior power ci endurance is with tho Allies. The weakening of the enemy's offensive, tho increasing readiness of tho Ger-

mans f> surrender, tell their own talo independent ot' tho actual progress which tho Allies are' making, notably north of Messinos, around fc'oiasons, and in tho neighbourhood of Saint Mihiel. The sacrifice of life, particularly on tho German side, continues to bo appalling. It is stated that during tho past fortnight 20,000 Germans have been buried within six miles of Ghent. Mr Hilaire Belloc computes the German losses to date, including missing and sick, at ono and three-quarter' millions. This must ho large!}*- guess-work, but tho most conservative estimate would show tho German losses on a scalo unexampled in modem history, and these, if continued, rauet very speedily exhaust Germany's power of resistance

Tho reported naval engagement off the Chilian coast is still enveloped in some mystery, in the absence of full details from the Admiralty. Piecing together the very imperfect data to hand, it looks as if the BritiSn. squadron got to know of tho presence of tho enemy ships, and took steps to intercept thorn and bring them to battle. The Good Hope, Monmouth and Glasgow out-steamed tho Canopus and Otranto, and,'undaunted by the fact that the enemy ships outnumbered them by five to throe —six to three if it is true that the Bremen was present—successfully brought them to action. As for the losses on the British side, we have at present only German accounts, and we are 'tolcT nothing of any casualties on tho enemy's side. It is exceedingly unlikely that their ships 'have *escaped scot-free. We shall not be surprised, especially in view, of a telegram from Tokio, if what has taken place is orily tho first act of the drama, and that tho second will be supplied by a further engagement in which, tho German squadron will be brought to account by British and Japanese ships.