Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16213, 16 May 1918, Page 6

Progress of the War.

Local fightiiig, of no special importance or significance, is reported to-day from the West front, where minor German attacks failed to effect any change :n the situation. At one point, in the neighbourhood of Morlancourt, the Germans succeeded in entering the defenders' lines, but were promptly ejected by a counter-attack by the Australians. Apart from these local activities and hostile bombardments on various sectors the lull in the grout offensive continues, though according to 'Colonel Repington the next and most critical stago of the German attack may be expected this or x.ext week. Various opinions are forthcoming regarding the delay in the resumption of the offensive. According to the "Tsew York Times" Paris correspondent experts believe that the Germans are considering whether to bring half a million men from the Russian front, or Austrians from the Italian front. It is stated that the Kaiser asked the Empeisr v Karl to bring half a million men from the Tyrol, but Austria is afraid to deplete the Italian front. It is more likely, however, that the delay is due not so much to the enemy's need for men as the inclement weather, which one message states is impeding the German plans and preparations, and the havoc wrought on the German communications by the frequent attacks of Allied airmen during the past few weeks. The news from the other theatres of the war to-day is meagre, and records no dedevopments likely to bring about any change in the general situation. In the Italian theatre attempted attacks on the recently-gained Italian positions were dispersed, and the airmen of our ally carried out a successful raid on the Austrian TJ-boat base at Cattaro. The Admiralty's version of the recent

Daval raid on Ostend bears out the impressions created by the earlier reports that it was an exploit worthy to rank with the best deeds of tlieTsavy. and that it should materially curb the nefarious activities of the U-boats using Ostend as a base. .

What must be regarded as, in many respects, the most notablo book of the year, as it is certainly the most unique, was issued at Home towards the end of March. Its tit!*—"The War Cabinet —Report for tho l"ear 1917" —is most unimpressive, but nevertheless its 250 pages must be of deep interest to every intelligent person, for they contain "an attempt to survey the Governmental history of the year 1917 as a whole." "Governmental" is a term which in such a year covers an enormous field. This chronicle gives a detailed record of the many activities at Home and abroad, of- the Imperial Government, and of the naval, military, and civil services which it controls. The book touches not only every feature of the war so far as Britain is concerned, but also the effects of the war on tho social fabric and organisation.

As is explained in tho preface, the book docs not supersede the annual reports of the various departments of Government work. It gives, as it were, a bird's oye view of them all. "There are times," it is pointed out, "in tho history of every nation when events shape themselves so quickly and with such significance that a trustworthy contemporary record is of special interest, not merely to posterity, but even to those living at the period itself. Such a time was the year 19171" Tho War .Cabinet therefore decided that 'an official account of these developments might .be useful to Parliament and tho nation, and gave instructions that a general report on the year 1917 should bo prepared." The Cabinet's enterprise should be abundantly rewarded in the univorsal welcomo given to the book.

Tho proceedings of the British Cabinet are, as a rule, closoly guarded. There is no great revelation of them in this chronicle of tho year, but tho veil is lifted sufficiently to givo ono an idea of how the War Cabinet works: — At each meeting the Cabinet begins by hearing reports as to tho progress of tho war sinco the preceding day. Unless it wishes to confino its deliberations to general questions of policy, it then proceeds to deal with questions awaiting its decision. As these questions in the vast majority of cases affect one or moro of tho administrative departments, almost all its meetings are attended by the Ministers and their chiof departmental officials concerned. Tho majority of the sessions of the War Cabinet consist, therefore, of a series of meetings between members of tho "War Cabinet and those responsible for executivo action at which questions of policy concerning those departments are discussed and settled. Questions of overlapping or conflict between ddpartments aro determined and the general lines of policy throughout every branch of the administration coordinated so as to form part of a con-, sistent war plan.

Ministers make freo use of their right to bring with them to Cabinet meetings experts from their own departments or from outside. Besides the members of the War Cabinet themselves,, consisting of tho Prime Minister and six colleagues, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, and tho Chief of the Imperial General Staff attend at every mooting to givo tho latest intelligence in regard to the war and to consult with the War Cabinet oil questions that arise from day to day. Under this system tho War Cabinet held more than 300 meetings -in the year, a fact which, in itself, it is claimed, "indicates tho great change which has taken place in tho work of the Cabinet." It would be impossible in tho space that wo can give to the subject to deal adequately, with tho almost inconceivable variety of matters dealt with in tho book. They rango from tho collnpse of Russia to tho size of the British potato crop, from the circumstances which led to tho formation of the Supremo War Council of tlio Allies, to tho output of munitions, and they include tho air services, the U-boat campaign, and its cognate subject, shipbuilding, man-power, food rationing, the response of tho Empire to the call to arms, British imports, and reconstruction aftor the war besides many others. Tho stylo on tho wholes is dispassionate, almost officially cold. There is just ,a touch here and there of colour, as when the writer says that "from being a combination of peaceful communities tho Empire stands forth as the most powerful of. all tho commonwealths which aro withstanding Prussian aggression." Tho splendid, services of the niine-sweepors and tho patrol service also move him to some warmth, as well they might. But generally the writer is content with a calm presentation of the facts and achievements which rather enhances than detracts from this record of a great year, the greatest, so far, in tho history of the world.