PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3065, 28 April 1917, Page 8

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Fujithek- light is thrown to-day upon the great battle on the Arras sector of trie Western front, and it is clearer than ever that it is working out disastrously for the Germans. They have squandered tens of thousands of men in attempting to repair- a weakness in their front, and that object has not been attained. So far as gaining this object is concerned the Germans are whore they were when their counter-attacks began, but this does not mean that the battle has developed thus far on even terms. The enemy has not only failed to recover positions which ho manifestly considers vital as an aid to opposing the further development-of tho Allied offensive, but has suffered a material reduction of the margin "of strengthen which his continued resistance deReports arp unanimous in declaring that tho enemy's losses are both enormous and disproportionate. Tho Matin is quoted to-day as stating that tho British losses were relatively small, and British coitqspondents tell the same story. Tlfe reckless courage of the enemy's coun-ter-attacks, according to ono message, indicates that his affairs are approaching a supreme crisis. A* all events, a conclusivo answer seems already to be returned to a very, momentous question which, until lately, was open—whether tho Germans were in a position to at will break contact with the Allied armies and escape pressure by retreat. It is not to bo believed that if ho had the option of a safe retreat to a better and shorter line the enemy would continuo to squander lives, as he is doing on the Arras sector, with only a. defensive object in view.

The only addition at time of writing to yesterday's report of renewed activity on the Macedonian front is a German message alleging that the British attaek west of Lake Doiran was intended to lave far-reaching results,' and that the Bulgarians maintained all their positions, in-: flicting. heavy losses. . The report is untrue to the extent that the British gained ground on part of the front and whateyer losses, the- Bulgars inflicted' they must themselves. have_ suffered heavily in the four abortive ' attempts they made to recovor their lost positions: It is very possible also tbat. the Germans have magnified the importance of the British attack. When the Allies seriously open their offensive they will do so on a wider front than they attacked on Tuesday. .

Late messages yesterday indicated that both in Paris and in Rome expectations are entertained of an early move in the Balkans. A report from Paris spoke of an impending decision regarding Salonika and a possible reinforcement of the French seotion of the army of the v East, ,while from Rome it was reported that tho Entente Powers are in unanimous agreement regarding Greece, and that important, events are expected. Action calculated to eliminate all danger of a treacherous attempt by Constantine would, of course, bo a natural' preliminary to the opening of an Allied offensive. The nature of the problem which still confronts the Allies in Royalist Greece was indicated not long ago by a London Times correspondent at Syra. Remarking that at tho time when he.was writing (the middle the position in Greece was still disquieting, the correspondent explained that the main reason for this state of things was that an unknown.number 'of rifles remained in the hands of the Greek population. "At present," ho continued, "in roufld figures, 80,000 rifles have entered Poloponnese (the Horca). by .one. route or another under tho Allied officers' scrutiny. The rifles in Greece fall into three categories:—

"1. Those in use by the Army or in mobilisation stores.

"2. Those reserve rifles which, through the irregularities and subterfuges that are so common 'in Greece, have" passed into the population's hands, and "3. Those which have been imported or acquired in one way or another, and aro distributed throughout the country among individuals. "The 80,000. rifles which have already gone to the Pelbporinese may be said to represent the great hulk of the arms in the first category, those belonging to the troops who nave crossed into Poloponnese according to the Allies' demands. In its somewhat pallid prime the Greek Arinv may- have mustered some 130,000 to 140,000 rifles, hut of these a laTge number went to Germany -with Colonel Hadjopoulos (who surrendered to tho enemy at Kavalla), and many, of course, are in the hands of the troops of the Provisional Government in Salonika, Crete, Samos, Hytileno, Chios, Syra, and other (parts of redeemed "The sum of 80,000 then is,> I am informed, thought satisfactory enough. It is another story when one turns to-the rifles in the second category. None of these has been produced, but they must be produced. As is known, the Government, while maintaining that there are not any hidden, rifles, has issued a decree imposing .penalties on any who do not deliver up arms -which they hold without having bought them across the counter. This decree does not seem so far to have had any great effect, but it is. perhaps, fair to give it a short time lornrer to fructify. "On this question arises the cne great and overshadowing difficulty. No one can say for certain what quantity of rifles has to be uroduced. Estimates have been made by the various military attaches, but even they would probably be unwilling to pled?? themselves to unimpeachable accuracy." As information goes, tho _ position has not greatly changed sinco.February, and it is not at all unlikely that the Allies are about to take drastic measures to the end of gathering in as many as possible of the rifles not yet accounted for.

News from the East front to-day speaks of increasing activity on the part of the Russian artillery, and whilo this does nob necessarily portend an early resumption of tho offensive it is an indication that the state of tho llussian armies is not as bad as some recent reports have alleged... Tho extent to which the efficiency of the armies has been un-; dormincd by the pro-German machinations of the late Government and impaired by tho transient disorders of tho revolution remains a matter of conjecture, but it is not at all unlikely that the Russians may again bo giving a good account of themselves before tho summer is far advanced. There is certainly a great deal to set against the defects and weaknesses about which reports have had so much to say of late. For instance, there is no reason to suppose that the revolution has occasioned any serious interruption in the splendid work of, the Union of Zemstvos, and this work covers some of the most important departments of Russian military organisation. The. Zemstvos are county councils, and the Union, though it has been given little prominence in the cablegrams dealing with the revolution and subsequent events, is accounted

tho greatest democratic body, and the most, powerful social fore© that ever existed in Kussia. Phince Lvoef, tho head of the present Russian Government, is also President of the Union of Zemstvos.

When war broke out tho Union of Zemstvos expected to devote itself simply to the relief of tho sick and wounded brought from the fronts into tho interior of the country. But,- after organising hospitals, hospital trains, and food-providing units," it gradually extended its activities to the front as well. So successful did its first attempt prove that the High Command laid on tho Union the most varied tasks. New enterprises followed .one. after tho other; moro primitive ones wore extended, and new duties were added, until tho Union can bo said af the present time to'be in activo charge of all war operations short of the actual military conduct of tho war itself. Tho Union now has three functions to fulfil: To provide necessaries for the army, look after the workmen digging trenches at the front] to help civilians and refugees behind the lines. It has almost entirely supplanted tho Quartermaster's Corps. It provides the fighting units with all clothing as well ■ as food. In carrying out its operations it has taken over or erected its own- factories, workshops, and even tanneries. In this respect the initiative and efficiency of tho Union is simply astounding, according to tho'se who have followed its work. A report of the General Committee of the Union issued in January, 1916, stated that, .commencing- with a few lathes and other machinery, large engineeringshops were established. A new important business—tho collection of skins from horses and slaughtered cattle—was. begun, followed speedily by the establishment of factories for. producing tannin extract, for shoemaking,' "for making''harness _ and. other leather work.: The-refitting of motor : cars followednext, with movable garages and engineering shops'; a small fleG't of river barges on the Dnieper "and "its 'confluents for river transport was built up. -The latest kind of work which, was. entrusted by' the military to the Union was road and bridge work; and tho or-ganisation-of a group of workmen for digging trenches. From November, 1914, to January, . 1916, -theUnion turned out 35,714,099 pieces of clothing for the ' commissariat. • For its own organisation is provided 10,000,000 pieces. The turnover o£ the Union in connection with the buying and preparing, of hospital equipments and different kinds of clothing amounted to about 111,000,000 roubles (approximately £8,540,000). By January, 1916, the_ Union had also supplied the Commissariat with '724,137 fur coats,' 493,862 pairs of felt boots, 770,000 pairs of gloves, and 782,878 pairs of socks.- * « * *

Statements lately published in America, where much fuller _ news from Russia is available than in this part of the world, indicate that the Union of Zemstyos.was;.very largely responsible for the "revolution, arid it may be taken for granted that the powerful 'organisation of the Union is concentrated upon the task of raising the Russian armies to the highest possible state, of efficiency. Various questions are still open in regard to the supply of; munitions and other matters,; but nbw ; that the "dark forces" have been obliterated there is a distinctly good prospect that-Russia may soon reach a higher state of military efficiency than at any previous stago of the war. Tho danger which appeared in the early, days of tho revolution that Russia might be reduced to a state of political chaos is;receding, and this was probably a graver danger than any arising out of military disorganisation. So far: as detailed information is concerned, the question whether Russia -will be- able to take anything like a full part in the Allied offensive : this year is quite open, but General Alexieff's recent statement that the Russian Army will strike again soon warrants a hopeful estimate of possibilities.

In an interesting note on the invasion of Palestine, the military contributor of the Manchester Guardian remarks . that at Raf a (now 16 miles or more behind the British lino), one of the Ptolemies, once won a great victory over_ a SEtEUCUS, and prolonged Egyptian rule over Palestine. "Gaza, 2a miles further north," :he'-continues, "was the great meeting-place of Assyrian and Egyptian wars.. Alexander besieged it on his- way to Egypt. North of Gaza begins the Philistine plain, a prolongation of the physi : cal features of Egypt into Syria. East of this plain are' the Lowlands of Shephelah, where the Biblical conflicts between the Israelites and the Philistines took place. These lowlands lead up" to the great plateau of Judea, which is pierted by a number of passes, each of them the scene of classic battles from the days of Samson to the campaign of Napoleon in Syria. Our Egyptian campaign "has not quite reached this classic ground, but it is approaching Gaza. Students of the military history of Palestine, and especially ■of the wars of the Maccabees, two of whom were military geniuses of tho first water, will realise how ticklish campaigning in this district

A Press Association cablegram from Sydney, received last evening, states that Arthur Price, formerly of Wellington, a returned soldier, was found dead in bed at the military camp. _ He had contracted malaria in New Guinea, and was taken ill over-night.

I _ Mr. Edward Newman, M.P., speaking at Rongotea, in referring to the excess war profits tax, said it bristled with injustice from beginning to end. When the measure was before the House it was so incomprehensible that in almost every clause discretionary power had to be vested in the Commissioner. Ho sincerely hoped the tux would disappear from the statutes in the near future, and be replaced by a more coniprehcnsiblo and cquitablo measure. If the money was required, ho would rather tho"' Government quadrupled the income'tax and doubled tho land tax half a dozen times over, if need bo. ' . In yesterday's issue it was stated that Mrs. Flora Macdonald had been elected a member of the Hospital Board. The name should have read Flora M'Lcan. A witness at the Masterton Magistrate's Court stated that it was, -a recognised practice among drover's not' to clear stock from the road for motorcars to pass unless the car-driver shows an inclination to steady up.' The drovers adopted this attitude owing te the number of. valuable dogs which had been killed by fast-travelling cars when in the act of clearing a tack. The demand upon tho Masterton Hospital has of late caused it to be overcrowded, and it is the opinion of Dr. Erengley that the Hospital Board should immediately take steps to pro-' vide additional accommodation. Inspec-tor-General Valintine attended yesterday's meeting of the board, and pointed out that increased accommodation was absolutely essential. He consider-ed-tho new building scheme would cost about £15,000. The board passed a resolution endorsing the recommenda-' tions in regard to the increased accommodation .proposed, and decided to call a special . meeting • to '' consider- the matter. ' '- .''.''■'

•The Wellington Branch of the Navy : League is.at present making a special . effort to interest the school children in the Navy and its glorious traditions.' On, Thursday a .visit was made to theWadestown School, by Mr.-R. W,-Shall-crass (secretary), and Mr. Robert. Lee - (late chairman of. the Wellington-.Edu-cation Board). -.The--latter.gentleman - delivered a patriotic . address, ..-after- : which the • children were asked" to become members of the Navy- League, which carries with it a badge and di-' ploma. The whole of tho.childrcn assented to the proposal, so that the Wadestown branch is likely to be-a strong one. The visitors were much struck with the singing of the scholars. At yesterday's session of the Court of Appeal, Mr. H. P. von.Haast, on behalf of the New Zealand Law Society, moved under the Law Practitioners' Act to have William -Tosswill (barrister and solicitor), and George Berry Ritchie (solicitor) struck off the rolls. Both of the subjects of this application had been convicted of theft. The Court made an order in accordance with the motion.

In a case brought in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, with respect to depositing fish offal on the foreshore at Island Bay, Mr. J. J. M'Grath, who appeared for the defendant in the case, said that such breaches of the by-laws would occur until the City Council niade:and enforced another by-law insisting upon all fish of a certain 'size being decapitated and.gutt.ed before' being brought ashore. At the Supreme Court, at 'Auckland, William Johnston, aged 65 year's, for indecent assault on a boy on-a steamer between Thames and Auckland, was "sentenced to three years'.imprisonment. —rPress ;Assn. :'. . .',' '....'.'.''. ■;.•'' The restrictions imposed iii connec-,. tion with electrio lighting in Welling-', ton owing to the coal .strike will bo' removed on Monday next. As tho tramway .power-house, is not so well stocked with coal as the lighting power-, house, the normal time-table will not be resumed for a. few days. Directly the coal situation becomes satisfactory the usual'service will be. resumed. - The New Zealand Natives' Association's Band will play a selection of music at tbe Botanical Gardens onSunday afternoon. ■ ■ -.\ ' ' The reduotion in tho train service usually maintained on the suburbanlines on Saturday will take effect from to-day. A time-table of extra trains to be run on Saturdays'is advertised in this issue. The last train leaving Wellington for stations on the Manawatu hne"is the 11.25 p.m., and on the Wairarapa line is tho 11.30 p.m. The cancellation of Sunday trains will cause a new time-table to be brought into service by thetramcars on, ttat morning. The new service, which commences to-morrow, is advertised in this issue. The.afternoon service will be the same as on previous Sundays. ' '; '

All the elements of a tragic accident were present in a "runaway" which occurred in the Clyde-Cromwell gorge recently. Five little,girls were being given a ride home towards Cromwell in a two-horse empty wagon. The wagon had gone but a 1 little distance when one. of the traces came loose,_ and t tho driver, with the reins in' his hand ( got down from his seat, and foolishly stretched himself along one of- the swingle-trees to reach the pole, with his legs resting horizontally on an outside trace. In a- moment the horses bolted, and the driver was carried 6ome # 30 or 40 yards before he was finally ejeoted, unhurt, on to the roadway from the peculiar position in which he had placed ■ himself. The horses galloped on, .while the five little girls, paralysed with fear, clung to each other in a pitiful manner and screamed in terror. Thehorseß had just reached the top of an incline, and were gathering greater _ speed, when a man ploughing on the river side of,the road, heard the screams, grasped the position •in a flash, scrambled through a close barbed wire fence, and pluckily "stopped the startled animals. Mr. D. M'Farlane, writing from Wa-. nganui, takes strong exception to our criticism of the _r;erformance of the "Watch Your Step" Revue Company. "The Revue Company," he states, "is composed of young people from well•kuown Auckland families, who are giving their time and talents without remuneration for laudable patriotic purposes. The majority of the male performers aro returned invalided soldiers. That they are putting on a performance which merits tho highest praiso is amply testified to by the thousands of patrons who havo witnessed it in tho several towns in which they have appeared. Apparently your reporter, although the criticism is headed 'A Revuo by Amateurs,' has forgotten they aro amateurs. Had they, been a' company of professionals who were out to make money for themselves or thoir employers your remarks would even, then hardly lmvo been justified.. Being a band of talented amateurs deserved a more generous treatment at your hands. I have not tho slightest hesitation in saying .that the 'Watch Your Step' Company gives ono of the best performances which liavo catered for public patronage in the Dominion.' Mr. M'Farlane expresses tho hope that the public will attend tho performance and judge for themselves, promising them a splendid evening's amusement. Wo quite agree with our correspondent as to tho credit that is duo to the performers for the laudable object they have in view, and also as to the company providing a pleasant evening's entertainment. On tho occasion to which our criticism referred, however, the company was not seen at its best owing to the unavoidable absence of one of the principals, a fact which was mentioned in our review of the performance.