PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2444, 24 April 1915, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

No very development is reported to-day in cither of the main theatres of war, but the intensity of the struggle at essential points on the Western line seems to have in no way abated. In particular additional positions have been captured by the French in Northern Alsace, and more trenches have been carried in the all-important district south of Verdun and opposite Lorraine. An abscnce of iihportant news from the Eastern theatre indicates a situation broadly unchanged.

A little light is thrown to-day upon the operations at the Dardanelles, but the messages on the subject are possibly very belated, and one of them, being of German origin, must be accepted with reserve. The announcement that General _ Sir lan Hamilton ; has been appointed to the chief command at l;he Dardanelles- will be of particular interest to~!New Zealandcrs, in view of the visit he paid to this country last year to inspect its troops and report upon the Defence establishment. On that occasion, though his stay, was brief and . his passage through the country somtwhat hurried, he earned golden opinions on every hand, and ■ Now Zealanders will doubtless welcome his elevation to the command in a theatre where their own soldiers are understood- to be engaged. It will be remembered that when Sir lan Hamilton was hcrev he stated that he would like nothing better than to lead New Zealand troops in the field, and it would appear that his wish uas been realised.

From Athens comes the news that tho Allied Fleet is bombarding the Gallipoli Peninsula, v here the Turks are erecting fortifications. This may or may not mark the opening of tho final phase in the .contest' for the Dardanelles; "Weeks ago the Fleet was engaged in bombarding the Gallipoli Peninsula. The'forts along the Strait were battered at long range, and similar attentions were paid to the batteries thrown up by the Turks in anticipation of a land attack. The Athens message may bo either a progress report, indicating the continuation of the latter activity, or it may signify that troops are landing at the Isthmus of Bulair, under a covering fire by the ships. In this event the Allies will shortly be lay-ing-siege to the forts along the European shore of the Strait.

The German message would be highly interesting if it could, be accepted unreservedly. It states that twenty thousand English and French troops were landed at Enos, a Turkish port at the north-western extremity of the Gulf of Saros, close to the Bulgarian frontier. Such a force is hardly numerous enough to advance far ffom the coast, but it wonld create a valuable diversion.. Whether or not the Gii'man message is trustworthy, it i 3 quite plain that the Turks cannot afford to mass all their available forces in the immediate vicinity of the Dardanelles. Apart from the troops arrayed against the Russians in -Northern Asia Minor, south of the Caucasus, and those resisting the-Anglo-Indian advance- from the head of the Persian Gulf, they are believed to have about ft quarter of a million men available for the _ defence of Constantinople. A considerable proportion of this force must, however, ! !)n held in reserve against the contingency of the .Rues-inns landing a force on the Black Sea coast, 6nl,y ill-iput, alv+.y Miles fvom Ccmntanti,oople. This, la view ol the rc»ovt-

led state of the Turkish Navy, they could probably clo without serious opposition. A landing on the Aegean coast of Turkey would necessitate still another division of the Ottoman strength, and further limit the forces: available to meet tho main attack of the 'Allies at' the Dardanelles. It is therefore by no meant improbable that the landing reported by the Germans has actually been made. Present indications point in any case to a concentrated assault on the Gallipoli Peninsula as the essential factor in tho campaign against Turkey. Attacks at other points, in progress or in prospect, will servo their purpose meantime in creating diversions and' compelling a division of the Ottoman forces.

A correspondent states that the Island of Lemnos, spoken of in this column yesterday as belonging to Greece, is a Turkish island, and therefore legitimately open to occupation by Allied troops. Tho actual position is a little-, obscure. Lemnos was one of the Turkish islands 'occupied by Greek troops at the time of the second Balkan war, and apparently remained so occupied, pending a final settlement of Aegean claims, when tho present war broke out. However, an Athens message to-day reports "great activity by tho British forces at Lemnos," so that tho Allies apparently regard tho island as still coming within the definition of Turkish territory.

Doubts havo at times been expressed as to the progress of recruiting in Great Britain, and quite recently it has been asserted,.that"consoription alone would provide a sufficient tide of reinforcements. Such apprehensions seem to be definitely set aside •by the statement made in the. House of Commons by the Under-Secretary for War (Mr. Tennakt) on tho authority of Lord Kitchener. Tho statement is an unreserved assurance that tho progress of recruiting during tho past few months has been most satisfactory, but the added remark that Lord Kitchener is confident that when he appeals to tho nation for more men they will \ come with the samo readiness end promptitude points to the likelihood that an even greater volume of recruiting may be necessary before the war is over v This, however,' in no way detracts from the assurance that recruiting during recent months has been satisfactory, an assurance which amounts in fact to an authoritative justification and endorsement of the system of voluntary enlistment. Since voluntary' enlistment has answered so well under the grave handicap of the absence of the system of national military trainingj tirelessly advocated by the lato Lord Roberts and actually in vogue in New Zealand, and other Dominions, it must be supposed that it would meet all possiple requirements if national training were adopted by Great Britain as the .foundation of her military system.

On account of Italy's prolonged hesitation, more importance than I would otherwise be conceded to them attaches to stories circulating in Rome to the effect that a l 'general, peace is in sight, and that it may solve Italy's international problems. It is suggested that the war mhy j shortly end, and that Italy may (jet what she wants, without fighting for it in the recasting of the map of Europe which must follow upon a cessation of hostilities. Anticipations of an early, conclusion to the war are almost certainly based on imagination, and the Rome reports should perhaps be set aside as belonging to tho cloud of speculation surrounding a tense situation, but it is just possible that the Italian Government has not entirely abandoned hope of satisfying its international ambitions by an easier method than war. If this is the state of affairs, Italian intervention may be delayed for' some time yet, but the final result is not likely to be altered. Powers are engaged in a war to the death < in which there is no room for cheap compromises. Italy is free to act as she may think fit, but it remains as true as ever that her choice really lies, between adopting a bold policy of enterprise and sinking into the background. The suggestion in the message we have mentioned is that Italy has not yet realised or accepted this issue, and that her doubts are intensified by a belief that the Entente Powers arc half-hearted in their prosecution of the war. Wher. she realises that they are' determined _to carry it to a definite conclusion there should be no doubt about her adopting the only course- that will gain ber place and standing in the counsels of the Entente. , ■ '* - * * * Another message • touching" on* Italy's position relates to fruitless and apparently quite hopeless, negotiations between the Italian Government and the German Ambassador. At the same tinw it shows the Italian Government still occupying an attitude as non-committal as th 6 famous "watchful waiting" policy of President AVoodrow "Wilson. On. the other hand, there is a suggestion of purposeful determination in the statement that Italy has suspended'the sailings of trans-Atlantic liners, requisitioned by the Admiralty as auxiliary cruisers and transports. „

Pkide and satisfaction will be awakened by General Godlcy's assurance to the Minister of Defence that strenuous training has. raised the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to such a pitch of efficiency that (in General Godley's robust phrase) only bullets can make it much better. Everything is summed up in the General's statement that he will be proud to take the field with the force as it stands. This may be taken to mean not only that the men are hard and physically fit and grounded in their military duties, but that training under service conditions has imparted tho spirit of discipline which is the soul of'efficiency in battle, and without whioh no force, however rich in native quality, can hope to hold its own and do its part in such a war as this. Independent testimony to the quality of the colonial troops is borne by the Cairo correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, who praises their-military efficiency, skill, and courage. v * *

# Not content with sinking ships in defiance of the laws of war, nncf very, often incidentally murdering their crows and passengers, the German submarines now evidently make it one of their prime objects to murder the crews of torpedoed ships. An addition to the list of crimes of this character is made to-day in the story of the destruction of the trawler Envoy in the North Sea. The crew of ! the trawler were sheiled by a German submarine after they had taken j to the boats. Happily the shells taissefl their mark. but. the erinis was cold-blooded umlev

of the very worst type. In making trawler crews the spccial victims of their criminal atrocities, the Germans are no doubt actuated by a

hope of paralysing the fishing industry, which plays a prominent part- in connection with the food supply of the United Kingdom, but the actual result will be to intensify tho fury of tho hunt which has already sent a number of the submarine raiders to a merited doom. In tho work of hunting tho submarines, trawlers are capable of playing a useful part, and the fact that they are made special objects of attack will increase their usefulness in this respect. If only a few' trawlers in each fleet carry guns (as no doubt they do by this time), submarines will not long continue their murderous attacks without paying tho penalty.

German Socialist organisations which are reported to be bestirring themselves in the interests of peace seem to have taken their cue direct from the Kaiser. They proposo peace without annexation of _ territory, except that Alsace-Lorraine should become an autonomous State. The Dardanelles, they apparently ' consider, should remain as at present in Turkish hands. Germany and Austria, it may be ventured, would not merely accept these conditions', but would junip at them, and on that account the international pea.co efforts contemplated by the German Socialists, though they may find some support in certain neutral countries, are likcli' to fall still-born.