PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2407, 12 March 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Increased activity is recorded on both the Eastern and Western fronts to-day. _ There', have been stirring happenings in France. In the Champagne district, that Is near the centre of the Allies' lines in France, the fighting between tho French and German troops developed into a desperate hand-to-haxid encounter, in which trenches were lost and won with the French in the end masters of the situation. A German account of the struggle states that six French army corps were engaged, and that they were defeated with tremendous loss ,by two weak divisions of German troops. The Germans admit heavy losses, but claim that the French lost tremendously, the number' estimated being 44,000. This is , the German story. The French official message ia very different, and much less one--sided. It shows that the Germans fought _ desperately, and that they were pitilessly sacrificed by their officers, their losses totalling 3000. The carnage was terrible, and the Germans eventually retired to their original position. Piecing the position together in the light of recent messages, it would seem that tho Germans were attempting to check the French advance in this region, which has been very marked, and after forcing the French to break ground were in turn_ compelled to retire to their original position. Further north, in the La Bassee district, the British force, assisted by French artillery, has also been distinguishing itself. An important success is recorded at Neuvo Cha-, pelle, in which the German losses were very heavy, including 1000 who were taken prisoners. There has beon a lot of heavy fighting in the La Bassee region, where the Germans are said to hold a very strong position. The successes now recorded 'may mean that the Allies have commenced the heavy offensive movement looked for in the Spring, and that they arc acting in concert with the Russian offensive in the Ea-st.

* * * » The anticipation of heavy fighting following on the massing of German troops near Chorzele, in Northern Poland, has been realised, and a great artillery, duel is now proceeding between Chorzele and Prasnysz. , Presumably the Germans, strengthened by the addition of fresh troops, are again seeking to advance on Prasnysz, from .which they were driven a few days ago. They are not likely to make much progress in this direction, for the Russians have had time to strengthen their lines. The fact that further south, in Central Poland, the. Tsar's troops are successfully continuing their advanco down the Pilica towards the Germans may be taken as an evidence that they regard tho position in the north as satisfactory. This advance in Central Poland is of great importance, and may foreshadow another, forward movement towards Silesia/—Germany's weak spot on its Eastern frontier. • In, Galicia, a notable success' has been . gained against the Austrians' along a big stretch' of country at the foot of the Carpathians—from Gorlica to the Uszok Pass. _ The Austrians here have been driven bacE along a front extending over about 90 miles, suffering heavy losses. The situation generally is very satisfactory.

A million casualties are admitted by the Germans in their ; official' lists. The figures in this colossal war soar almost beyond the .limits of the imagination. A million casualties! Practically equal to the whole population of New Zealand. And in addition to these are the enormous losses of the garian forces. Seven months of war and the enemy's tbtaTcasualties probably reach almost to the two million mark. And what has Germany gained to compensate her for those enormous losses 1 What have tho people of Germany to hope for but further hardship and suffering ? It seems incredible that warfare on such a scale can continue for any length of time, but there -are no signs of any slackening of effort. The Military Authorities in Britain hold out no hope of an early cessation of hostilities. They do not underrate the merit of the German soldier as a fighting machine, and they anticipate that even greater •efforts than have yet been made by the Allies will require to be exerted before Germany is beaten into submission. * * * * _ It is worthy of note that the invasion of England h not now treated as the impossible thing the flagwaving brand of patriot in the days of peace was wont to regard it. It 'may be—in fact it is—a very remote risk, so long as Britain's Navy holds command of the North Sea, but no chances are being taken by Lord Kitchener, and while he is preparing his new armies to fight with Britain's Allies in France and Belgium, the forces available for Home defences are also being strengthened, jutd preparations made to meet the possibility of a raiding force being landed on the shores of England. It might be a forlorn hope to send such a force, and in all probability it would never get away again, but unless promptly met and dealt with there would be days of horror for that portion of the Motherland at which it landed. So Kitchener takes no risks. * * * * While the diplomatic methods of Germany have been amazingly crude and clumsy, no opportunity is missed to embarrass the Allies. When beaten in one direction', German diplomats and .tho German Press try another. They are ever ready to proffer suggestions for the benefit of neutrals at the expense of the Allies,, hoping, of course, to promote discord and antagonise the nations friendly _ to the Entente. An instance of this is afforded this morning by the suggestion .of a Cologne newspaper to the effect that if the Turks are unable to retain Constantinople they should make it a free city, guaranteed by an alliance, of Bulgaria, Rumania, and Greece, under the protectorate of Italy. This, of course, is a transparent attempt to raise hopes in the minds of the nations mentioned, which the Germans know cannot be realised unless the countries named join with.the Allies to bring about the downfall of Turkey. Germany naturally does not want them to so join, and therefore suggests to them that they may gain this rich plum without sacrificing thoir neutrality. Something for nothing is always an attractive bait, hut unhappily for Gorman designs all tho natiofis before whom this bait is dangled have still bigger issues at stake, and they know quite well that the Allies have gone too far now with their enterprise to draw back. It is significant, however, that the hopelessness of Turkey's position now seems to be .generally conceded, and judging by

the Cologne newspaper's attitude, it would also appear that Germany is quite ready to see her ally sacrificed. This latter fact it is reasonable to assume will not be overlooked by those nations which the Kaiser has sought to enmesh as he did Turkey.

Two more have been added to the list of lost German submarines. It is natural to experience satisfaction at the destruction of these underwater pirates. One can regret the necessity of killing a bravo and honourable foe, but it is quite another matter with the submarine assassins who .sink unarmed merchant ships at sight, regardless of passengers and crew. The torpedo-boat destroyer Ariel has now accounted for another of these boats, and the captain of an American merchant steamer claims also to have sunk one. Let us hope that his story will be fully confirmed. Up to date, so far .as is known, Germany has lost about eight submarines, and most of these losses have been of recent, date. Probably the toll is still larger; but there are many more such craft in the German navy, and we must expect to hear of further losses o£ merchant vessels at their hands. They appear to be particularly active just now around the coasts of Britain, but their success has not come up to expectations.

In the Near East the Balkan States are eagerly watching developments in connection with the bombardment of the Dardanelles. The situation in Bulgaria, a message just to hand states, is critical, and it goes on to mention that interest is closely concentrated on the Dardanelles and Greece. The latter country, according to the new Ministry's manifesto, wants peace after its-re-cent wars. At any moment, however, there may be changes in this quarter, and much will depend on the success of the Allied Fleet against the -Turkish forts and mines. At time of writing there is little to record as to the progress made. Bad weather has interfered somewhat with operations, but the bombardment goes on.

Italy is calling up her reserves, and at last looks like abandoning her neutrality. It may be that she is only taking precautions, but it is noteworthy that France has granted permission to the Italian legion fighting on the side of the Allies in Southern Franco to proceed to Italy to Serve in their own country. One would imagine that the French Government would not act blindly in a matter of this kind. They should have a very good idea of how' matters are shaping in Italy.