Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15860, 27 March 1917, Page 6

Progress of the War.

Tho Headquarter s correspondent of the London "Times," this morning adds one more to the already numerous reasons which have boen given for the great German retreat. According to this writer, the German Army on tho Somme was so short of food that the soldiers were eating cat s and dogs. In addition, he declares that there was a shortage of medical and surgical requirements, so that many soldiers died from poisoned wounds. Thoso facts, tho "Times" correspondent remarks, demonstrate clearly that tho retreat was forced. This information i s vastly, comforting, but the question is how far it can bo believed. Almost every correspondent at the front has volunteered a different explanation of the phenomena during the past few days, and there is no more reason why this latest and most favourable conclusion should be correct than any of the others. It is strango that thus far Mr Philip Gibbs has remained comparatively 6ilent regarding the whole movement which he was tho first to predict. Hb has made no attempt to theorise as to the reasons leading up to the evacuation, although he probably knows a great deal more about it than most of those who have ventured their opinions. Ko doubt, in due course Mr Gibbs will express an opinion on. the matter, and when he does it will probably be the correct one. If it is true it is clear proof that tho much-vaunted German organisation has completely broken down. Tho official reports from tho British and French Headquarters today 6eem to show that the French forces are doing more fighting at the moment than those of Sir Douglas Haig. The French. havo very naturally become inflamed at the atrocities perpetrated by the Huns, and are attacking fiercely, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy, who has been driven back at various points.- The British, on the other hand, appear to be mainly occupying themselves with restoring communications behind the new lines, and in this they are showing tremendous activity. Thousands of men, we are told, are toiling day and night to effect this purpose. The French President, accompanied by various Ministers, has paid a visit to the devastated country, and, as a result, a protest is to be made to neutral countries regarding the latest exhibition of Hun barbarity. These protests to neutral countries havo so far been of little avail to stem tho tide of German ruthlessness, and very little is to be hoped from such a step at this late date. The story which Mr Edmund Candler \ tells of the crossing of the Diala river, which gave Bagdad to General Maude's forces, is one that cannot fa.il to send a thrill of pride through every Briton who reads it. There can be nothing much finer in the pages of British history. Tho situation in Russia continues disquieting, but tho announcement that a War Council has been formed, and that tho Army has taken the oath of loyalty to the new Government, encourages the hope that things will right themselves in time, in spite of the intrigues of German agents.