Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15489, 17 January 1916, Page 6

Progress of the War.

After the capture of Mount Lovchen tho fate of Cetinje was practically a foregone conclusion. Tho romoval of the capital to Podgoritza, which was announced early last week, was an indication that tho gallant Montenegrins entertained litle hope of holding Cetinje. Tho capture of Mount Lovchen was the real strategical defeat—the loss of Cetinje is unimportant, except perhaps from a sentimental point of view. There are reports that Austria is bringing pressuro to bear on tho Montenegrins with tho object of securing a separate peace, but unless the spirit of these gallant people has been seriously misjudged, they aro not likely to accept tho enemy's terms. Tho serious setback to the Montenegrins appears to havo deeply stirred Italy, and it is said that, King Emanuele has returned from the front with the object or conferring with Prince Danilo regarding the affording of assistance to the hard-pres3ed Montenegrins. The fact that Italy allowed Austria to obtain possession of Mount Lovchen, thus further safeguarding th naval base of Cattaro, has naturally caused much comment. It is impossible to believe that Italy will not make a determined effort to retrieve the position, since Cattaro is a veritable menace to Italian naval activity in, the Adriatic. The report that the enemy has commenced hostilities against the Allies in tho vicinity of the Greek frontier of Macedonia is not confirmed. One corespondent says the general belief is that an attack is not imminent. A French communique says that enemy aircraft dropped bombs on two positions near ; the frontier, north-west of Salonica, killing one Greek soldier and wounding several others. Prom the Western front there are reports of artillery activity, German positions being damaged at several points. A French submarine scored a distinct success in the Adriatic by sinking an Austrian " scout" cruiser near Cattaro. This was doubtless one of the fast ships concerned in the recent raids on the Montenegrin coast. An indication that the Russians havo not abandoned their offensive in Bukowina is afforded by an Austrian communique, which claims that five attempts to pierce their line near Toporoutz, on the Bessarabian frontier, were repulsed with heavy losses. Tho Russians have nothing to say regarding operations in this region. Their official reports merely mention an advance in Persia and a minor success in the Caucasus.