Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15465, 18 December 1915, Page 10

Progress of the War.

Tho tone of the official news, of which thorn is not a. great deal, indicates a comparative hill in operations in .ill theatres of the war. The reports winch have 'been very persistent <>f late, regarding German preparations for another great offensive on tho Western front, are once more revived. A military writer in ;i leading French paper remarks that while they must lie accepted with reserve, the reports are not. improbable. There is a confident tone in his remark that the Allies are in ii position to inflict a "decisive <le- " feat'' if an attack is made. At the same time thorn are reports from Petrograd and Switzerland that the enemy is also making preparations for a groat offensive in the Dvinsk region, and for an effort on the Stryua, the latter being designed to force tho Russians out of Galieia. It mav well be that the enemy is concentrating for an attack on either the Western or the Eastern front, but it is scarcely credible, in view of the enormous strength of tho.Allies jn tho West and of tho growing strength of the Russian armies, that he will venture on simultaneous general attacks on both fronts, while continuing operations in tho Balkans. Tho official messages describe heavy artillery actions on tho Western front, particularly in the region of Soissons and on the heights of tho Mouse. A French communique makes tho very satisfactory statement that a feature of the operations is the way in which the French batteries are smothering the artilleryAre of the Germans. Only more and better guns than are possessed by the enemy, and an unlimited supply of ammunition, can give such an ascendancy. Xo fresh developments arc reported from the Balkans. The Austriaiis claim further successes in the southeast corner of Montenegro, and announce, tho capture of the heights of Pricpolie, in Northern Montenegro. The report from General Townshend indicates that the Turks made another unsuccessful attack on Kut-cl-Amara on Sunday night. According to the reports of the Arabs, which are usually very vague, tho enemy's losses were 2000 men. hut General Townshend estimates them at 1000. The Turks have not renewed their attacks since Suii.day, and every day will strengthen, the British position and give more iimo for tho bringing up of reinforcements. The long official fcilcnce regarding operations on the Italian and Russian fronts has been broken by the Austrians. They claim to have repulsed Russian attacks. This statement is very vague, and gives no idea of whero tho attacks were made. Regarding the Italian front, tho Austrians merely claim to have captured somo advanced positions on the Json?».