PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2309, 17 November 1914, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The latest hews regarding the .fighting in France and Belgium is brief, but satisfactory as far as it goes. ' The Allies continue to make progress. On Sunday the enemy was thrown back in the neighbourhood of the Yser Canal, and an attack on the Allies south of Ypres proved unsuccessful. According to Rotterdam newspapers many trainloads of wounded are being sent to Germany. Announcements of this : kind are becoming quite familiar. They gitfe some idea, of the tremendous price which the Germans are paying in order to maintain their hold on Belgium and Northern France. # * * * The failure of the German Armies to carry out the original plan of , Campaign in France and Belgium has Drought the Kaiser and his advisers face to face with an extremely grave situation. As the military correspondent of The Times puts it, they gambled for a great success in the West and lost. The heroic resistance of Belgium was not allowed for when the German time-table was drawn up, and the delay thus caused gave the Allies time to complete their preparations, but 'Belgium was eventually overrun, and then the Germans fought their way almost to the gates of Paris. Their losses were tremendous, for a great price had to be paid for every step forward. The Kaiser ordored his troops to take Paris or die; • but Paris was not taken. Tho Germans have been hurled back, and the Allies are daily gaining ground, slowly but surely. The plan of campaign has failed—that is quite clear, and yet tho Kaiser daro not go back, because by so doing he would lay bare "the bankruptcy' of Prussian strategy" to the whole world. The withdrawal of the German troops from ' Franco and Bolgium would bo a sevo.ro blow to the morale of tho army which has for years been taught to believe that it is invl«fiib!si B«* PdttMhing ffiuefc bo Sto&e. to pheoJS m p4y%ncs gf ttojj

Russians into German and Austrian territory. The plan of ' crushing France by a swift and overwhelming blow, and then turning on the Russians, has been completely upset by the Allies, and the valour and enduranco of British troops have played a conspicuous part in tho frustration of the Kaiser's designs. The military resources of Germany are ■ admittedly very great, but it will be a surprise to the world if they prove great enough to extricate her from the desperate situation in which she now finds herself. # * * * Germany is not getting tho help from her allies—Austria and Turkey—that ■she expected. The attempt of Austria to crush Servia has so far hopelessly failed. She has suffered more than ono defeat at the hands of the Servians, and she has received some staggering blows from the Russians. There does not seem to bo a ray of hope in the Austrian outlook, and it is doubtful whqfher the country can continue the struggle much longer. The latest news is to'the effect that the resistless onslaught of tho Tsae's troops forced the Austrian Government to make preparations for tho defence of Vienna. The city is filled with refugees, food is dear, and supplies aro running short There'is a growing feeling of bitterness against Germany, and there are persistent rumours that the Austrians will seek terms of peace on their own account as soon as the sound of the Russian guns is heard in the capital. Germany's other friend and ally is also proving a broken reed. Turkey was not prepared for. war,, and is sorely handicapped by internal discord. The attempt to induce the Moslem world to engage in a Holy War in order to save the Germans from disaster has been an utter failure. "The Moslems of Egypt and India have nothing to thank Germany for, and they have determined to give their support to ' Britain. The action of the Turkish Government has alienated the sympathies of the Mohammedans in other . . countries, and has created serious disaffection within the Ottoman Empire. Up to the present Turkey has iad much the worst of the actual fighting, and German hopes of assistance in' this,quarter are apparently doomed to disappointment. The Russians are-still advancing in Turkey in Asia, and a British-In-dian force, which, landed near Cape Bab-el-Mandeb, at the entrance to the Red Sea, dismantled a Turkish fort, captured some guns, and inflicted severe loss on the enemy. ■ - » * # # In the course of an interview for the Echo de Paris shortly before his death, Earl Roberts remarked that he intended to speak' to General Frenoh regarding the unnecessary secrecy observed regarding the brave deeds of British soldiers: This matter has been the subject of a good deal of discussion lately, and it has been contended with much force that the appeals for more men would be far more successful if the restrictions on the publication of news from the front were less severe. It was recently shown by means of a chart prepared at Whitehall that the call to arms met with the best response in times of disaster, the hignest- point being reached in the first week in September when the Allies were retreating and the Germans were almost -,within reach of Paris. The greater tho" need the greater was the response, and this is a sign of vigorous national life. The lack of life and colour in the official news cannot inspire the people and fails to rouse the fighting spirit of the nation, the result being that recruiting tends to languish. Military movements must, of course, be kept absolutely secret, but Lord Roberts has reason on his side when he states that tho war correspondents should have fuller liberty in describing the gallant deeds of our troops. With conscription the.authorities could afford to be silent, but when the country wants more men it is necessary to "waken in the Bouls of the young men a high sentiment of emulation which would lead them to the'recruiting offices." Some change, of policy in this matter seems to be necessary, and tho views of ;Loed Roberts .may. induce ttfe authorities to give the matter further consideration.

The latest official report of the Russian operations in the Eastern theatre of the war show that the Muscovite Armies are steadily developing their advance into German territory. The Russian Right Wing, operating in the North, is successfully fighting a German offensive movement along their front; furr ther west, in the burg district, the advance is being pushed forward in the face of stubbom resistance; further south along the frontier, along tho> Plock-Warta frontj fighting is developing; the Germans are retreating westward in the Kalisz-Wielun district; a German offensive movement southward of Czestochawa has been attempted —unsuccessfully. Lastly, and most important in* its moral effect upon Silesia and Austria, the Russian advance upon Cracow continues. On the whole the Russians appear to bo more than holding their own, but the Germans are putting up a stubborn fight. They boast that they are able to' put six million fresh troops into tno field, but it is almost certain that nearly every man of military age is'already at the front, and the only way of strengthening the forces now in the field is to arm the old men and the young boys. As a matter of fact, it is stated, that whole companies of infantry now operating against the Russians are composed of boys not over sixteen years of age who are being cut down, like grain by the Russian machine-guns. If this report is true it shows that Germany is finding it very hard to make good the enormous losses she has , suffered. The pressure of the fresh troops which Britain is constantly sending to the front must tell' with ever increasing force as the struggle proceeds.