PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2555, 1 September 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

' —— ■ —' ... ( Comments by a German upon tho' Dardanelles campaign, quoted today by a' neutral correspondent, raise some interesting matters of detail in addition to the broader issues which are dealt with in another column. It is contended Ly the German in question, perhaps on insufficient grounds, that England has failed to realise th? importance Germany attaches to the continued security of tho Dardanelles and tho magnitude of the measures 'she has taken to that end. -This is a very sweeping generalisation, and a mere ■reference to tho statements by which it is accompanied will suggest that it is more or less unsound. • The Germans, wc arc told, surveyed the whole of tho peninsula nearly a year ago, and fortified it even before the "first foolish bombardment," and they contend that a million men would not roach Constantinople by the route intended. This last phrase, "tho routo intended," it may be noted, implies a limitation upon the activities of the Allies at: war with Tu-key which probably does not exist in actual fact, but'the reported expression of German confidence in the siiength of tho Dardanelles ra'ises other points by which its value may be better tested. It is a matter of common knowledge that tho Dardknelles fortifications havo been.improved by German engineers, but it ia more to be purpose that the "work was either left incomplete, owing to lack of time or material, or marred by grave oversights, of which the most important was,tho failure to adequately fortify the seaward coast of the Gallipoli Peninsula. * * * * Some questions .regarding the respective powers of warships and forts have still to be settled, but it is obvious that if the outer coast of the Gallipoli Peninsula had been fortified as strongly as the shores of tho Dardanelles tho conquest of the Strait would have been very much moro difficult than it is likely to prove even in existing circumstances. The Fleet would have had to rcduco the outer fortifications before anything in tho nature of land operations could have been attempted, and ths task would have been only less difficult than that of forcing -the Strait itself by naval power. If delusions ever existed as to the strength of the Dardanelles defences they have long since been dissipated by events, but theso same events have disposed also: of the idea that the Gallipoli Peninsula is a. stronghold' made by German military art. Admitting all that need be admitted about the failure of tho early naval operations and the slow development of the land campaign, it is none the less true that , very .real progress has been ma.de by the Allied land and naval forces towards ultimate victory. .* *> * . . It is probable that the /great battles lately . fought 'arp the opening events only of a_ new phase in the campaign in which:the' attack upon the Dardanelles will bo pressed in a fashion .whicii has not hitherto been" possible. # * * # It 'is not easier than it has been to estimate tho probable importance of the, threatened German offensivo designed to' penetrate the Balkans and so bring new factors to bear Upon the Dardanelles campaign, but it would be absurd .to look at the matter only, as. constituting a new danger to the Entente Powers in the war or to-assume that'they are not capable of setting great forces in mo-, tfion to defeat such a move if Germany attempts it. A considerable readjustment would certainly be involved, i but it does not follow that this -would work out to the advantage of tho Germanic Allies.' In the first place, unless the bulk of infor-mation-on the subject is hopelessly at fault, Germany and are now contending against _ a considerable numerical superiority, and would have to draw the forces detailed fot a Balkan offensive from the armies now fighting in, the' Eastern or Western theatres o'r against Italy, or from reserves likely soon to be required in one or other of these campaigns. The nature of the Eastern campaign," .with its long halts and costly successes, : and .the continued progress .of the Italian invasion of , Austria, do not support the'idea, that the. Central Empires are working with b'ig reserve forces' iii hand. The Western Allies, on the contrary, are. almost certain-' ly in this position. ; Looking at the matter from another point of view, the Germans are by "no means assured of an easy passage to Turkey even -assuming the acquiescence of Rumania and Bulgaria, .which certainly . cannot as yet be taken for granted. The facility with w'hich the Entente Powers could introduce troops into • the ' Balkans would be largely affected, and to an extent controlled, by the attitude of these countries and of Greece, but .at worst there are possibilities of reinforcing Servia by way of the Adriatic seaboard and of a Russian landing on the Black Sea coast of Turkey in Europe, quite apart from anything that might be accomplished at. the Dardanelles of by way of the Aegean coast of ■■Turkey.. Strong fcrces would have to bo employed inany. such counter-iiicve to a German offensive in the Balkans, but the very open" possibilities of the situation must be regarded from, the standpoint that in their joint interests the Entente Powers would use every possible exertion to defeat such, an enterprise. One factor in favour of Germany' is. that her .armies would follow an unbroken land route, wliereas the Allies would be to some extent dependent upon sea transport, and might suffer from submarine attacks. But troops could be taken from the Western thcat.ro into Italy by land, and if a practicable road to Servia were opened from the Adriatic seaboard the submarino danger would be minimised. « * * ■ * At time of writing no definite devclopmenfc is reported in the Balkan situation,' but the pessimistic comments of!the Vossiclie Zcitmig upon Rumania's attitude furnish a hopeful indication for the future. According to the German newspaper,, the Rumanian sphinx is expected to show its cla,ws (to Germany) at. the beginning of September It. is impossible to know how much importance -to attach to an indication of this'kind, but as suggesting that .Rumania is at bottom definitely opposed to Germany, it is consistent with many reports reg;- rding tho embargo Rumania has imposed on tho passage of munitions to Turkey. £ It would be unfair perhaps to regard the arguments used by die Leo Ciuozza Money, in urging the adoption of national service, as a considered review of the war, • but they' will probably be read by many, people in that light, and possibly

convoy an erroneous impression' as to the standing of the Entente in the \var._ It is a common failing with British public liien to speak from an extreme position in advocating any particular object," and this ly is what Sir Leo Chiozza. Mosey has done. In the absenne of 6pccific information, it is impossible to very definitely challenge -his sweeping statements about the main and Italian campaigns, but several of the. niost important lack visible authority. It may or may not bo true that Russia: has lost a largo proportion of her army, and that her men have been captured by the hundred thousand, but if these arc facts they have not boon announced. Sir Leo Chiozza- Money is either-, speaking from information not accessible to the general public or talking at largo. Avaihblc information; regarding the Eastern campaign is-to the effect that the Germans aroipurclmsing their victories at heavy, possibly unprofitable, cost-,- and, on the other hand, that the Russians ■ ha-vo skilfully avoided overwhelming losses and are gradually surmounting tho difficulties due to inadequate munitions and equipment. » * . » t. Other statements rnado by Sir Leo Chiozza' Money are that the French, with all their gallantry, are unable to pierce tho German advanced frontier aiid that Austria; is holding Italy. In another plaoo ho says that tho Italians aro making slow progress. The first of these statements is strikingly inconsistent with tho announcement 'which has been made often, and with authority, that tho Western Allies are deliberately delaying their big offensive- because time is fighting on their side— becauSo their power is increasing while that of Germany is diminishing. As to-Italy, it is no fair presentation of the facts to say that -her armies are being held, and the "slow, progress" has covered the conquest of three thousand square miles.; pf. mainly mountainous country, on one of the ,strongest frontier-Klines in tho world, in threo months' campaigning. No doubt Sir Leo Chiozza Money spoko rather fiom a desire to rouse,his countrymen to renewed ex-' ertions than to dispassionately survey.the facts of the war, and it may be in some respects a defensible policy to set the lowest valuation upon what has been accomplished in the way of.preparation and achievement. At the same time it cannot be ignored that the impression likely to be created by,, a pessimistic surre£ by a man of standing of Entente prospects in the war is very much the impression that Germany* would like to see created. * * * * ■ ; No very striking event is reported at time of writing in either of the main theatres. _ The broad effect of reports regarding the Eastern campaign is that the Russian's are falling back rapidly in their retreat from Central and Southern Poland, and more slowly further north. Artillery fighting ■ and mining hold swa.y on tho Western front, and a report from Sir John French indicates that the British forces have not been heavily' engaged- for some time past. No mention is made ill the brief cable resume of the- Oom-mander-in:Ohief's report of the considerable _ extension of the British front, which was said lately to have been effected; The'ltalians appear to bo making rapid headway in their- advance upon tho eastern defences of Trent, and also on the northern section of the Isorizo front. Tarvis, ■where the enemy is said' to be precariously placed, .is a railway junction representing one 1 of the two main gateways through the main chain of the Alps on the,-southern Austrian frontier. ■ Hopeful accounts are given t'o ; day of- the coal strike in Wales. Thanks to Government mediation the basis of an agreement between the miners and their employers seems to have been, formulated, and the only outstanding .question is apparently ono .•between tho men and employers as a united interest and the Government'. From the details now furnished it would appear that tho, subject of, dispute with the miners was of trifling ' importance, but this, of course, makes it all the. less creditable that they should ha je been prepared to resort to a strike-in tima of war.