PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2428, 6 April 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

An official explanation of the invasion of Servian territory by a band of Bulgarian irregulars has not yet been furnished, hut the tension of the awkward situation created is to some extent relieved, meantime, by statements which ' havo been made by diplomatic representatives'at Home of the two countries immediately concerned. A member of the Bulgarian Legation is credit ed with a declaration that the invasion incident is devoid of importance, and that the relations between the two Governments are excellent. The Servian Minister at Rome, in a more reserved statement, has expressed the opinion that the Bulgarian band made its incursion at German instigation. Tho way is thus more or less open for Bulgaria to tender a satisfactory explanation of the incident, accompanicd by a promise of the fullest possible reparation, but any attempt to resort to the shuffling policy adopted By Turkey in a similar predicament would, of course, make war- between Servia and Bulgaria inevitable.

It is just possible that the German plotters in this instance may be hoist with their own petard, and find themselves faced by an additional enemy where they had hoped to gain an ally. Accepting tho Austro-German invitation, Bulgaria would doubtless look to seizing tho Turkish province of Adrianople, which she fought for and gained in the Balkan War, only to lose it in tho settlement which followed. It need not be doubted that Germany and Austria would cheerfully sacrifice one ally in order to gain another, and any protest made- by Turkey would receive scant consideration. Bulgaria, however, need not take the risk of going to war with the Entente in order to ocoupy Adrianople. On the contrary, declaring war on Turkey, and moving her troops into that province, she would furnish the best possible proof that she entertained friendly sentiments towardsthe'A'nienie, and now that her position is more or less compromised by the action of the irregulars who invaded Servia, she may conceivably elect to clear herself in this way.

A late message threatens further complications in the Balkans, for' it states that Bulgarian irregulars have been repulsed with heavy loss in an attempt to cross the Greek frontier. _ the locality of this engagement is not given, but it added that other bands are _ threatening Doiran, a Greek town situated close to the point at which the fr6ntiers of Bulgaria, Greece,'! and Servia meet, and .therefore within a few miles of the spot at whioh the Buigars made their late incursion into Servian - ' territory.

The entry of Greece as a, combatant would to a great extent nullify the gain to Germany and Austria if Bulgaria took the field as their ally. The nominal war strength of the Greek Army is 110,000 men, but she has a population almost as numerous as that of Bulgaria, which has a nominal war strength of 340,000 men, and could probably put nearly _as many men in the field. In addition Greece has an effective navy, which' includes a few modern armoured and protected oruisers, as well as. older ships, and small but efficient destroyer, torpedo boat, and submarine flotillas. .

Another French success is reported in tho Woevre district, where fighting is in progress almost within gunshot of Metz, one of the greatest of tho strong barrier fortresses which guard the German • western frontier.. The position in this region is somewhat peculiar. All through the winter, the opposing forces have been engaged on a line extending from St. Mihiel, on the Meuse, to the border of Lorraine, twenty-five miles eastward of that town. Originally the Germans were disposed across the Woevre district In a. wedge-shaped position, the point of the wedge being- at St. Mihiel, which they still hold, and its base towards Lorraine. French attacks have been mainly directed against the southern side of the wedge,' which has been forced back over a distance of several miles. The capture of the village of llcguicville, reported to-day, is another step in this direction, and if tho Frenoh continue on their present line of advance the German force which still remains extended to the Meuse at St. Mihiel will have to choose between retreating or being. cut off from its base at Metz. 'In a word, the French are steadily cutting across the base of a narrow wedge advanced from the main German line.

* * * # The fact that the Germans are apparently unable to check the steady advance by which the French are in a fair way _to establish themselves within striking distance of Metz is a strong confirmation of the view that they are already feeling acutely the persistent -pressure of the Allies along the Western front. Whatever point 'may eventually be selected by the Allies as the immediate objective of an offensive stroke, an essential preliminary will be the investment or reduction of Metz, and it may be taken for granted that the Germans have'made every effort consistent with the means at their command to stem the French advance towards the fortress.

Detailed accounts of the fall of Przemysl, which are given to-day, throw a lurid light upon the blundering incompetence with which the Austrians are conducting the war. Previous reports left the strength of the garrison, at the time of the surrender, in doubt, but it now transpires that instead of being a heroic remnant of 26,000 men,- it consisted of no fewer than 131,000 men and 4000 officers. Allowing for losses in battle an'd_ by the, ravages of disease, tho original garrison must have consisted of something like 150,000 men—this in a fortress which, according to military experts, could have been held against all attacks by a garrison of 50,000 men. Przemysl was subdued, not by the Russians but by hunger, and since it contrived to hold out for nearly six months, in any case it could doubtless have been maintained for at least t\Vicc a*' long if the garrison had been- reduccd to reasonable dimensions.

Making cffcctive. use of the forces and means at their command the Austrians might not only have" indefinitely retained possession of tha ici'ti'ws fosx have tota Mr*ax

but in addition have changed the whole face of the campaign in Galicia and the Carpathians. That thenperformance fell so far short of possibilities must be set down to the fact that the Austrian army at Przcmysl was burdened with a host of self-indulgent and incompetent officers—men surely of a very different stamp to those leading the forces which are offering a- stout and determined resistance to the Russians in the Carpathians.