Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15452, 3 December 1915, Page 6

Progress of the War.

One of the most interesting messages in to-day's news is the French communique reporting intense artillery activity at various points. The British and French artillery east of Boesinghe inflicted important damage on tho enemy's defences, and made a brcaclx over thirty-two yards in length in a German redoubt. For some days there have been report's of increasing artillery activity on the Western front, and to-day's message strengthens a belief that the Allies are about to resume the offensive. Boesinghe is on the Yser Canal, a little over three miles north of Ypres. It may be that another great attack has been planned with tho object of distracting German atr tention from the Near Eastern theatre. There is no improvement in the Serbian position—rather the reverse. Tho Bu!gariaVis claim that at Prisren they took 17,0C0 prisoners, whom they describe as tho "remains of the Serbian "Army," and fifty field gun s and howitzers, and much material. This success they say will "probably end "their campaign against Serbia." This remains to bo seen. It may be pointed out that recent messages liavo indicated that tho main Serbian Army is not scattered, but is retiring in good order to tho Albanian and Montenegrin mountains. This lends interest to the Austrian communique announcing an .offensive in Northern Montenegro. The enemy say they are attacking the Gradina height, southcast of the Metalka ridgo. They also claim to have stormed tho edge of the plateau a few miles north of Plei-lie. Tho latter placo us in tho northern corner of Montenegro and tho Metalka ridge is close to the frontier of Bosnia. There is no news of the Allied forces hi Macedonia, but there aro many indications that tho Russian preparations for a Balkan campaign aro proceeding apace, and that a decision on tho pprt of Roumania cannot bo delayed much longer. Further messages from Paris express optimism regarding her attitude and tho belief .that she will intervene on the side of the Allies. There arc signs that tho Germans and Austrians are apprehensive of what Russia and Roumania may do, and it is said that they are concentrating largo forces at llustchuk oh the Da-

nube. On the authority of an Italian paper of good standing we aro told that tho Russians have invaded Bukowina and captured two towns close to tho Bessarabian and Roumanian frontiers. The same paper says that the Russian- concentration on tho Danube continues and that tho Roumanians are massing more troops on tho Austrian frontier. A French communique reports the "usual activities" at the Dardanelles on Saturday and Sunday, and from the rest of the message it may be takt-u that these consist of mining and sapping operations on both sides. Petrograd reports that after two days' fighting in tho region of Varkunis. south of Lake Van, the Turks have been driven out from two fortified positions and arc in full flight to the westward. There is a long stretch of difficult country between Lake Van and Bagdad, but it may bo that tho Russians ai'e about to push an offensive in that region with the object of assisting the British campaign in Mesopotamia.