Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15173, 11 January 1915, Page 6

Progress of the War.

To-day's messages indicate increased activity in both theatres, especially the western. Tho Allies, are exerting pressure at many points in the west, but the Germans, true to their policy of the offensive, go on making attacks, and it is clear from the French official messages that some of these are very formidable. There is some very interesting information to-day' about the line from Soissons to Souain, east of Rheims. The Germans are near enough to Soissons to bombard it. and the line runs north-east to a point south of Laon. and then to Craonne. and then almost duo south to Jonchery, which is some ten miles west by north of Rheims. An official message mentions a line from Jonchery to Islc-sur-Suippe and thence to Souain. Isle-_ur-Suippe lies over ten miles north-east of Rheims. and the advancing of the Allies' line till it touches that is no doubt the notable advance cast of Rheims which Lord Kitchener mentioned last week. Further particulars of the fighting round Rheims are needed to make the position clear, for it is only a few days sinco fi-hting was officially reported "north of Sillcry,'' which lies about five miles south-east, of Rheims. We would like to know how far south the lino between Islc-sur-Suippe and Souain is bent. In Southern Alsace the line is also very irregular. - From Thann it runs due east, and then almost due south to Aspach and Burnhaupt, tbe latter placo having fallen to tho Germans, and from there apparently south-east to Altkirch. The news from the eastern theatro chronicles fierce fighting on the left bank of the Vistula, but nothing between that and th© Bukovina, . the most eastern portion of Galicia. except that the Austrians admit retirement in the Carpathians. Big Russian operations are doubtless goin£ forward behind tho veil.

We have said that although President Wilson's policy in regard to Germany's violation of treaties and the usages of civilised warfare is weak, the feel inn* of educated Americans is with the Allies. This is borne out by an article written for "The Times" by Professor George Trumbull Ladd, of Yalo University. He states that 'American people arc coming to 6ee that it is a life-and-death grapple between two great and antagonistic political principles. On th© ono side are th© two nations who are the chief exponents of govein*ment in the form of a military Imperialism under the leadership of haughty Royal Houses claiming to rule their subjects by inherited divine right. On th© other side ar© th© nations which represent the cause of constitutional nationalism. Between these two theories of government Americans havo no difficulty in choosing.

Gradually also there ie stealing into tho minds of American peoplo th© conviction that although they may stand aside now with apparent impunity, yet a victory for Germany would involve a very serious danger, not only to the Monroe doctrine but possibly to the safety and integrity of the United States. Professor Ladd tells us that they are now seriously asking themselves what will ultimately happen in South America, Central America, and Mexico if Germany wins in, this war, and then takes another quarter of a century for recuperation without a change in its present policy of extending Germanic control and Germanic culture by superiority of numbers and modern "scientific" armament. There is no doubt that if America is wis© sho will lose no time in seeing to her national defences so that in future she may venture not only to speak her mind when international crimes are being committed, but secure herself to some extent against aggression.

We have seen fresh evidences lately of Germany's unscrupulous and persistent attemDts to create a prejudice against tho Allies in the minds of the American people. It is satisfactory to learn from Professor Ladd that there is no likelihood of theso attempts succeeding. Indeed, he says, these attempts are havine the very opposite effect to that intended. 'This is true," ho remarks, "not only of the more definite efforts of tho Government, but also ol the more personal and private assurances of a united and aggrieved Germany as represented by the pen. of her scholars and men of letters. Two months ago I felt myself sure that there was another and better Germany that could not possibly be afflicted with the ob-t-_>ion which had seized and conquered tbe Emperor and th© ( military clrusses. But when proi'es. ors of theology, ethics and philosophy, with whom w© have been on ierms of personal or tofossional respect, can justify Guch things' in tho name of morality and patriotism, we can only respond with a kind of ethical amazement."

The Russian fleet is displaying commendable activity in the Black Sea, aud its operations, which have been markedly successful, have a very important bearing on the military situation. This mornings news mentions the loss of two Turkish transports; on© struck a mine and sank at the entrance to the Bosphorus. and another was sunk by a Russian cruiser near Trebizond. The cruiser Medjidieh, which was escorting the transport, was fired at and damaged, but succeeded in making her escape. A later message states that the Russian warships bombarded Sinope, an important port which possesses the only good, natural harbour on the north const of Asia Minor. The Russians were justified in shelling Sinope. which is a fortified port possessing an arsenal and dockyard. Trebizond is about 250 miles eastward of Sinope, and is.the nearest port'to Erzerouni. which lies 110 miles inland to the south-east. The only, other port of any size on the coast is Unich. which lies about half-way between. . Sinope and Trebizond.

■Early in November the Russian fleet bombarded the port of ".anguldak, on the Asia Minor coast, about half-way between Constantinople and Sinope, H«-*.rh-rin-T, th*.. buildinfrs and ware-

houses, and sinking several steamers. At the same time a Turkish military transport full of soldiers was sunk while trying to escape. A little later the fleet encountered three transports loaded with ammunition, motor-cars, aeroplanes, and guns, aud these were all sunk. In addition to the troops, and warlike stoics, the transports were carrying uniforms for 60,1)00 men, and the whole of these supplies were lost. The Russians rescued £•"-■ officers, a colonel of the general staff, and several German officers. This loss, without doubt, seriously affected tho operations of the Turkish Army, which was so decisively defeated by the Russians a few days ago, as the cargoes of the transports were destined for troops operating in the Armenian thea-re.

The Russian fleet has evidently little to fear, and may be said to have almost complete command of the Black Sea. Until the new ships building at Nirolaieff are completed and commissioned, the Russian Black Sea Fleet cannot be counted as-very modern. It includes several pre-Dreadnought battleships, of good fighting value, but very slow, two large cruisers, a- Tair number of destroyers and gunboats, and a flotilla of submarines. It is far superior to the Turkish fleet, which now comprises only two small battleships twenty years old, the light * cruisers Breslau, Hamidieh, and Med.iidich. all modem ships, and a number of more or less effective gunboats and destroyers. .The battle-cruiser Goeben, which is undergoing very extensive repairs at Constantinople, is not likely to be in a position to trouble the Russians for •some months to come.

The Turks arc plainly at a tremendous disadvantage in their campaign against the Russians in the Caucasus. While the Russian fleet is ablo to hold the sea it is in a position to chock effectually all movements of Turkish troops and supplies from Constantinople to the eastern districts of Asia Minor. Owing to the absence of railways there, communication with Constantinople is almost exclusively by sea, inasmuch as the nearest railway station on the Bagdad and Anatolian lines is mor© than SwJ versts distant from Erzeroum. which is tho principal Turkish stronghold near the Russian frontier. Th© impossibility of securing adequate supplies and munitions of war overland through Asia Minor is, therefore, apparent. We were told last week that the Turkish armies routed at Sarykamysh were ill-clad, and tnerefore ill-prepared to face a winter campaign. It is probable that the Turks are drawing much of their war supplies from Germany and by raiding the ports of Asia Minor and intercepting and sinking the enemy's transports the Russian Black Sea fleet is materially assisting the Russan armies in th© field.