The National Ministry

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15537, 13 March 1916, Page 6

The National Ministry

Wo are suro we are voicing the opinion of an overwhelming majority of tho public when wo heartily endorse Sir Joseph Ward's references, in his Invercargill speech, to the difficulties of the National Government and to tho necessity foi' abstaining from mere party criticism. On one point, perhaps, some reservation is necessary. ,: Let the political war dogs," Sir Joseph said, "be let loose after tho "war," not while the war is on. The idea of a political truce, based upon tho repression of feelings which are to bo unloosed after peace has come, is not a very attractive one. Peaco can be better celebrated than by a resumption of so much of the old ante-bellum quarrelling as is possible, as Sir Joseph himself no doubt realises. What is required is something more than the bottling-up of boiling passions, something like the acquisition of the Mibit of getting rid of all such passions. -'This can be done without the sacrifice of anything worth preserving, and without tho sacrifico even of tho pleasure and excitement of sharp controversy. Everyone may keep and advocatc his ideas upon current questions of importance without thinking of party advantage. There is, unfortunately, only too much occasion for Sir Joseph Ward's rebuke to the partisans who arc stealthily or openly campaigning against tho Government or particular Ministers. A few people, unable to givo up their eld animosities, and wrathful at the amicable co-operation of Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, are doing their best to keep ill-feeling alive. We aro glad to think that some of their recent outbursts show that they aro finding the job a difficult one. If they are wise, they will lay their leader's admirable rebuke to heart and follow his example of disinterested patriotism. On the moro general question, Sir Joseph Ward was equally right. The Government have mado mistakes, and they cannot cxpect to be left uncriticised. Some of their sins, especially tho sins of omission— and tho chief of theso is their omission to adopt a good taxation scheme—arc more than small, but on a general judgment the Government must be held to have done really admirable work. Few people can be in a position to know how numerous and how heavy are the responsibilities of Ministers, or how many and awkward are the difficulties to be overcome day by day. No really serious mistake has been made in the great work of steering the country through these arduous and critical days, and it is proper that the public should occasionally pause long enough to reflect upon the industry and devotion of the Ministry and especially of those Ministers upon whom lie the heaviest burdens of work and responsibility.

Progress of the War. The German offensive on the Verdun front, which has been pursued with tremendous energy and violence for three weeks, shows no signs of slackening. On the contrary, the enemy appears to be pressing his attacks on certain sectors of the line with greater vigour than ever. A German communique says that the Frcnch were entirely driven out- of the Corbeaux and Cumieres Woods, on the west bauk of the Meuse. A German wireless message makes comprehensive claims regarding the fighting cast of the Mouse, but it should be borne in mind that these messages arc not official, though they are intended for acceptance as such. On Saturday a wireless message claimed the capture of the village of Vaux and Fort de Vaux. To-day it is stated | that the French have "succeeded in ob- " taining a foothold in the armoured " fort itself." but a Frcnch semi-official statement repudiates .all tho German claims regarding the fort. The uerman official claim regarding tho recapturo of tho woods west of the Meuso is partly admitted by the Frcnch communiques, which assert that great ravages were caused in the ranks of the enemy, who succeeded in reoccupying that part of the wood taken by tho French last Wednesday. The German losses are described as being "utterly disproportion- " ate to the value of their objective." The enemy's wireless message claims the capture of a wood and a ridge between Douaumont and the Mouse, but the French official report says tho Germans were twico repulsed with very heavy losses in this sector. On Friday night tho enemy redoubled his efforts between the village of Vaux and Fort do Vaux, maintaining a terrific bombardment, which wrecked the village. After "multi- " plied" infantry assaults, the Germans succeeded in taking the eastern part of the village, but the French held the remainder against all the enemy's efforts.'From the latest French communique it appears that the Germans have not succeeded in taking Fort do Vaux. Though they have progressed up the slope, their efforts to reach tlie wire entanglements along the front of the fort wero broken by the French fire. There was a comparative lull on Saturday. No infantry attacks were attempted, but the bombardment east of the Mouse maintained its intensity. The German effort in the vicinity of Bethincourt on Friday, night nearly cost the Frcnch the loss of that salient, but an important communication trench was retaken by a countcr-attack': From all reports, it is clear that the Germans are continuing to batter hard against the Douaumont-Vaux sector of the Verdun front, and at the same time pressing hard on both wings. It remains to bo seen how.much longer they aro prepared to malco their appalling sacrifices in men and munitions, as tho price of slow gains of hardly-contested ground. An important action is reported north of the Aisne, between Bcrry-au-Bac and Troyon, where the ■Germans claim to have ,stormed the French positions along a front of ?.400 yards to a depth of five furlongs. The French communique asserts that the enemy was thrown back from portion of tho wood, which he had occupied. There is considerable artillery activity on the British front in Belgium, and southward of La Bassee. The French report a successful bombardment on the lorraine front and in Alsace. It may be that tho Allies aVe about to open a counter-offensive against the enemy. In Eastern Galicia tho Russians claim to havo repulsed an enemy attack in force on the Upper Strypa. The position at E& Sinn, in Mesopotamia, is somewhat obscure, but the Turks appear to have inflicted a chcck on General Aylmer in that region.