Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15723, 17 October 1916, Page 6

Progress of the War.

Interest in the war news to-day is rather prospective than present. 'I hat i<; to say. there are no events of major importance recorded, but it is plainly 6tated that the vital interest of the conflict has now been transferred from tho Western to the Balkan area. The German thrust against Roumania will command attention till it is effectively countered. Messages from Bucharest announce that tho enemy's preesurq is still formidable and that the Allies must recognise this. Tho enemy's obvious aim is to capture Bucharest and over-Tun the whole of Roumania. Dr. E. J. Dillon, the well-known authority on the Near East, in a comprehensive review, states that the Allies are acting with precision and expedition i n their operations in tho Balkans, but he is far from expecting any speedy or sensational advance on their part. Ho gives General Sarrail full credit for being a competent and long-sighted commander, but predicts that it will bo long before he arrives beforo Nish, and ho expects even the fall of Monastir to be delayed. Tho Germans are fully alive to the menace to their interests throughout the East, and will exert every effort to save Monastir and avert so disastrous a blow to their prestige. On the military side matters arc still indefinite. It is pointed out that if the Roumanians can hold the crests of tho Carpathians the situation will not bo 6erious. That, of course, is a platitude. The question is, can they? Tho fighting so far recorded by the Roumanians has been satisfactory in that repulses of the enemy have been claimed in all attacks on the passes. The enemy's aim is reported to be to bottle up all the passes and then concentrate . against the Ojtuz pass and strike through it at tho railway junction of Focsani. On the Western front steady but minor gains are still being recorded- Near Gueudecourt the Allies have reached tho bottom of tho next rising piece of ground and for tho time being aro exposed to direct artillery fire from the enemy. At Ablaincourt the French secured over one thousand prisoners in their recent operations. The Russians record the capture of some trenches near Koryntica and the repulse of attacks in the Carpathians. Tho Italians have repulsed all attacks on their recent gains.