Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15536, 11 March 1916, Page 8

Progress of the War.

The news to-day is of more than ordinary interest. A Berlin message announces that Germany has declared war on Portugal, a step which is not surprising in view of tho seizure of all the German merchant ships lying in Lisbon and Portuguese oversea ports. From Mesopotamia there is news of an important British advance on the Tigris. Major-General Aylmcr, moving along tho right bank of tbo river on Monday, reached Es Sinn, a strong Turkish position seven miles cast 'of Kut-cl-Amara. Ho attacked tho position on Wednesday, but was unable to dislodge the enemy, whose losses arc 6aid to have, been severe. Since then the Turks have strengthened their position, which indicates a determination to strenuously oppose General Aylmer's attempts to reach Kut-eJ-Amara and effect a junction with Major-General Townshend. It is very likely that the next few days will bring news of a great battle at Es Sinn. The British forces, who, since their check in De-cember-January, have been heavily reinforced, will make every effort to secure a decision in the neighbourhood of Kut-el-Amara, in view of the victorious Russian advance in Armenia. In East Africa General Smuts has achieved success close to the frontier, where lie has secured an important river crossing. On the Eastern front the Russians repulsed German attacks in the vicinity of Illuxt, on the Dvinsk-Ponieviezh railway, and mado progress south of that line. Enemy attacks in north-eastern Galicia were also repulsed. Th c increasing activity on the main Russian front may be the prelude to important operations in view of the passing 0 f tho winter season. On tho Western front the strugglo for Verdun appears to be increasing in violence. Westward of the Mouse the Germans made repeated attempts on Wednesday, night to regain the ground taken by the French south of Forges, but/though their attacks were preceded by intense bombardments they were effectually checked by the French fire. The French communiques assert that furthe r progress lias been made by their counter-attacks in Crow's Wood. Eastward of thc Meuse the Germans made repeated attacks on Wednesday night and Thursday morning on the entrenched positions between Douaumont and Vaux, but wero completely repulsed. A German wireless message—not an official communique— claims the capture of th e village of Vaux and Fort Vaux. The latest French official report says that fruitless attacks, in which the enemy suffered, heavy losses, were repulsed at Vaux, and that violent massed attacks below the fort were cheeked, with enormous losses. It is clear that the enemy lias,

up to the present, no intention of giving up the struggle, despite his fearful sacrifices. In Upper Alsace the French announce the recapture of trenches lost by them nearly a month ago.

Although the declaration of war between Germany and Portugal came from Germany, Portugal, so far as the public's knowledge goes, took the aggres-

sive by seizing the German ships sheltering in her ports. Her attitude, we may assume, has been taken under the terms of tho Anglo-Portuguese Alliance. The. two nations aro engaged never to oppose each other: and in case of war each must assist the other when and as required. The Alliance was last formally renewed and confirmed in 1904. But. and this is a curious and interest, ing fact, Portugal is tho oldest of Britain's Allies, and was until 1905 the only Ally that Britain had. It is not for fun that she has come out against Germany.: evidently Britain lias found tho time opportune to invoke her active help. At the very beginning of the war she declared her sympathies promptly and with firmness, and this declaration has been repeated by each new Government in the series that has been produced by domestic dissensions. In a leading article on January Bth last, apropos of a particularly blunt declaration by the President that all parties should co-operate "so that the Allies might have the benefit of Portugal's servces," "The Times" recalled that in the early days of the war the Portuguese Government proposed to send an Expeditionary Force to Flanders—a proposal which, on examination, was found not to be practicable. Since then Portugal has had to bide her time, and her position has not been a very agreeable one. As a neutral she lias had to shelter German ships and to endure the presence and the intrigues of Dr. Rosen, tho German Minister, and at tho same time to bear in patience the German acts of hostility on the Angola frontier. "The ungrateful position which she thus assumed in the common interest," "The Times" observed, "must have imposed a severe strain upon a high-spirited nation with traditions no less famous than our own; but she has filled it with a loyalty and a patience that are beyond all praise."

Although there are no large and obvious advantages to the Allies in the addition of Portugal to their ranks, there are advantages nevertheless. The employment of the numerous German merchant ships which have been hiding in Portuguese ports will be a sensible relief of the shipping situation. It is something, too, that the Portuguese ports need no longer be watched by the Allies' warship.?, and that on the route from Britain to India round the Capo practically only the Canary Islands are in hands other than those of the Allies or Portugal. Portuguese East Africa is so situated, joining German East Africa, that the Portuguese Government can greatly assist the British operations against the enemy in that part of the world, and when the German flag is lowered there Germany will be without a square inch of territory outside Europe.