PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3088, 19 May 1917, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The unadorned statemont that the British havo completed the capturo of Bullecourfc records a feat of arms that will live in history. No more searching test of human courage "and endurance could he imagined than was applied on tho Bullecourt battlefield, described by Mr. Philip C4ißfiS to-day as a flaming hell of blood and shellnre, and tho outcome is that British soldiers havo triumphed, and their enemies have suffered crushing defeat. ' Tho battlo for Bullecourt has lasted not for days but for weeks. By Sunday last the greater part of .the ruined village was in British hands, but tho Germans coßtinued to struggle desperately to retain tho remaining fragments and to recover the area they had lost. The nature of the conflict is suggested, 'though its actual conditions can only bo dimly vizualised, in tho fact that since Sunday tho Australians alone, _ in their salient position jutting into tho Hindenburg line east of Bullecourt, have borne tho brunt of twelve Gorman counter-attacks. Tho advance at Bullecourt promises in more ways than one to produce results as far as possible from being measured by the gain of a few hundred square yards of devastated ground. One factor of which account must bo taken is that of moral effect. Tho course of the battle and its outcomo prove unmistakably that tho courage and enduranco of tho British troops were equal to every test. In regard to tho Germans not only is their de'fcat to bo considered,' but it is stated on tho evidence of prisoners that after the thirteenth failure to rotako Bullecourt a brigade of the Prusian Guards, the best troops in ,thc German army, refused to attack. This may or may not bo symptomatic of the general state of the enemy armies, but they will assuredly not be encouraged to meet the further demands of the war by the fate of tho divisions cast into tho jaws of destruction at Bullecourt.

Positive evidence as to tho .strategic importance of Bullccourfc is supplied in the supremo effort the enemy made to hold the- village, and his frantic efforts, after he had heen dislodged,- to win it hack again. The immediate effect is to .seriously weaken his hold upon the 'line to ivhicli he has heen clinging desperately for weeks and to increase tho likelihood of the retirement which is mentioned by Mr. Philip Gibbs as a possibility. Suck a. retirement as Mr. Gibbs considers would entail tho evacuation of positions to a point north of Lens, which stands 17 miles north of Bullecourt. The Montigny-Drocourfc Quoanfc line runs south throughtho liouai plain, passing seven or eight miles east of Arras and five or six miles west of Douai junction. Tho enemy is said to bo using forced labour'on this line, including that of British prisoners of war, an infamous procedure upon which it is to be hoped the Allies will find means of visiting an appropriate penalty.

That the enemy has no great confidence in the lino he is constructing on the Douai plain is to be inferred f i'om the nature of his efforts to maintain the lino which itow shows signs of collapsing. Apart from questions relating to the preparation of defences, tho occupation of the rear lino would lay him open to obvious dangers.. The margin by which ho holds Douai would ho perilously narrowed, and tho evacuation of L'ons and a retirement to tho vicinity of Montigny would expose the great La Bass,ee salient to attack in flank. On the south, also, the retirement would leave the enemy in tho position of holding a salient with its apex near the Ba-paume-Cambrai road, south of Quean t, and the reduction of this salient would mean a dangerously closo approach by th© British to Cambrai. . These are possible developments. Meantime t,hc enemy has suffered crushing defeat in one of the most desperately-contested battles of the war, and tho line on which ho stands is breached in a fashion very likely to prove fatal to its stability.

The French on their section of the front are heavily engaged, and are taking toll of tho enemy in his persistent counter-attacks. Before the battle of Arras opened various speculations were current as

to tho policy the. Germans would adopt, this year in tlio Western theatre. Some, authorities predicted (.h;if. tltcy would launch an early offensive; others that they would stand on tlio defensive, or gradually retire, hoping 1.0 retort, effectively on the Allied offensive when'it, had reached a. point, of exhaustion. No one seems to have foreseen the state, of affairs now existing, with the Allies manifestly masters of fcho situation and tho_ enemy pouring out his strength in efforts to stem or dislocate the Allied attacks. Tho apparent explanation is that it was hardly hoped that a situation so extremely unfavourable to the enemy would arise.

Sate in one particular, news of tho Italian offensive in hand at. time of writing goes little beyond confirmatory reports of tbo brilliant success achieved in its opening stages. It is stated that further important progress was made on the third day of the battle, and that many prisoners have been taken in addition to tho haul of over three thousand already recorded, but detailed reports of these later operations have yet to arrive. The exception noted above is the statement in a. message from Borne that many troops havo arrived from the Russian front. This would imply that the Austfians began withdrawing troops from the Russian front weeks ago in anticipation of the Italian offensive, but the report awaits confirmation.

It is of course possible that the Germans may be enabled to draw reinforcements for other theatres from tho Russian front, and the possibility has a bearing on events in the Western theatre as well as on the Italian campaign. At present no very definite opinion can be formed as to how far the enemy may bo able to_ go in this policy. It may be pointed out, however, that the Russian front is already thinly held, and that Austria is worse off for reserves than Germany. Reports aver that the enemy has already transferred a considerable forco from Russia to the Western theatre, and to further strip tho East front would bo a rash and possibly fatal policy unless it can be taken as assured that there will bo no renewal of hostilities in that quarter. _ On available evidence, the assumption would bo unsafe. Before tho present situation arose in Russia, it was taken for granted, with evory show of reason, that tho oncray would not only be compelled to maintain his existing armies in that theatre, but would bo faced there, as elsewhere, by an imperative demand for reinforcements. The extent to which tho position has altered is at present uncertain, and may only be determined by events.

News from Russia to-day is upon whole inconclusive. Reports relating to the formation of the Coalition Government and its negotiations with tho Council of Workmen and Soldiers aro not without their hopeful aspects. On the other hand, correspondents at Petrograd give accounts of the internal condition of tho country and ,thc state of the army which seem almost to forbid tho hope of a satisfactory outcome from the present confusion and turmoil. It is a matter of awaiting, developments, the more so as the portentously significant military resignations recently announced aro meantime in suspense.

The statement of the member for Grimsby that' more enemy submarines wore destroyed in the past fortnight than in any previous fortnight is very possibly based on knowledge of the facts._ At all events a heavy destruction of subinarincs is,the most obvious explanation of the falling-off now in evidence in tho number ..of ships sunk by the raiders, and it is not improbably the true explanation.

A united deputation representing Otngo University' and Canterbury College will wait upon the Minister of Railways shortly in nn attempt to secure travelling concessions for students residing nutside the university districts, Auckland University College' has also been asked I/) appoint, a representative on tho deputation.

The following motion wis put. tn the congregations assembled in tho Salvation .Army halls in flt centres throughout the Dominion on Sunday last, and earned unanimously:—"Wo pray t.Uo governing authorities of New Zealand will immediately introduce legislation to stop the sale of'all alcoholic, !ir ( iior in publichouses, or hotels, after H p.m.,'and to bring in other forms of restriction that will lead to a decrease in its consumption. This appeal is made in tho interests of national strength; honour, and 6al'ety. At a. time when all nations are taking drastic measures to deal with the evil from a. standpoint of economy and efficiency to tho winning: of the war, we regret that our Dominion lags to the disappointment of the community as a whole."

A Conciliation Council sat yesterday morning, tho Commissioner (Mr. VF. H. Bagger) presiding, to consider an application by the employers Mil the baconcuring industry forta variation in the award to permit of the employment of women in the trade. Messrs. S. C. Baron and YV. Atkins were assessors for the employers, and Messrs. Johnson and Townhill for'tho union. Mr. W. A. W. Grenfell appeared as agent for the employers, and Mr. SI. J. Reardon as assessor for the union. The award at present provides foT the employment of females up to the ago of 20 years; these workers are paid at the same rate as youths doing similar work. The employers were recently prosecuted for a. breach of the award for employing' females in otheT work, and the present application was to permit of the general employment of women at rates suggested. The union assessors opposed the application, insisting that with tie exception of the female workers specially provided for in the award, a.ll females employed in the industry ought to bo paid at the rates already awarded. The parties failed to agree, and the application will go on to the Arbitration Court without a recommendation from the Conciliation Council.

Tho annual Teport -if the Greater "Wellington Municipal Association, to "be presented at the annual meeting on Monday evening, states that, during the Year the following subjects received consideration: The Town Planning Bill, milk supply, increases of rates and taxes, corporation employees' dwellings, Oriental Bay seawall and promenade (special report by Mr. Laing-Meason), tramway revenue, removal of the.destructor And the improvement of streets (Wakefield Street and .Tervois and Thorndon Quays particularly)., Tho association's candidates at the recent municipal elections were most successful in tho Council, -Harbour Board, and Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) beingreturned unopposed. The officers to be elected on Monday ore the president, vice-presidents, secretary and treasurer, and committee. The subjects to be discussed will be the milk supply, taking; over private streets, tho 40ft. frontage minimum, town-planning, and the expenditure of sums.over iiIOiOOO out of revenue. The meeting; is to be held' in No. 2 committee-room in the Town. Hall.

As an illustration of the wonderful alertness and presence of mind of a thief, the following example is probably without parallel. Something over a year.ago, when Zeppelin Taids were carried out with more impunity than is possible today, Mr. George Gray, tho billiardist, was staying at a hotel near London. Ono night a Zeppelin dropped a, bomb some hundred or so yards away, and demolished the rear portion of a tavern. Naturally everyone in the building rushed out, and people from near-by, including Gray, hastened to the spot to render any assistance possible. At the most only a minute or two elapsed between the time the proprietor .and, assistants left the building to the time they returned, 1 and it was then found that some calm and collected individual risked the premises falling in on him -and • had coolly collected all the available cash iu the different tills.

Two band performances Till be given to-morrow afternoon. The N.Z. Natives' Association's band will play at Newtown Park, and tho "Waterside "Workers' Band will play at the Botanical Gardens. Both performances will, commence at three o'clock.

Sergeant A. J. Cosbrook, a son of Mr. G. Cosbrook, Fitzrov, was among the latest group of men wno wero presented by Sir Douglas Haig witli the French Croix-de-Guerre. This is not the first time that Sergeant Cosbrook, who left with fife artillery in the Main Body, and was in the Ctallipoli landing, has been honoured. "While on the Gallipoli.Peninsula, ho was mentioned in dispatches for gallant and distinguished service, and later was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.

A Christchurch telegraphist, now with the "Wireless Corps in Mesopotamia, pays tribute to the thieving propensities of the Arabs. He says: "Stealing rifles through a barb-wire enclosure from sleeping men's blankets was a common thing. "We always stick our rifles well into out blankets when asleep, and tho sentries' rifles are chained to them, so as to prevent tho Arabs snatching them away at night time."'

Tho wholo question of tho continuation of education beyond tho ordinary primary school age was brought beforo the Duncdjn Technical College managers on Wednesday, in a long letter .from the Minister of Education. The Minister submitted tcntativo draft regulations lor the extonsion of industrial education to pupils of 14 years of ago who had not passed tho Sixth Standard, who had not Left school for more than six months, and who were recommended oy an inspector. Such pupils,woro to bo granted free education for one year on certain specified conditions, and it they proved satisfactory this might bo extended to a second and even a third year. Mr. G. M. Thomson said he thought this was a part of a echonio that should bo made much wider. Compulsory education should be continued up to, say, 16 years. Tho timo was coming when the community would have to faco the wholo problem of continuation education. Ho suggested that; a small committee or the director could report. Dr. Colquhoun expressed tho opinion that'we were coming to continuation schools. This proposal was merely an instalment. Mr. Marshall (director of tho collego) stated that similar provision was already made, but it could only be brought into force by tho action of school committees. It was pointed out that no one school committee .would take advantage of this, and compel ex-pupils to continue their education, unless all the school committees agreed to do so. A committee consisting of the Director, the chairman (Mr. T. Scott), and Mr. G. M. Thomson was set up to bring up a report at next meeting.

In a letter to an Auckland merchant an Eastern flour broker who recently visited New-Zealand, says:-"! may live to see Manchuria,. North China, and Siberia furnish tho world's markets with 10,000,000 tons of . wheat yearly. : The grain, with proner-care, can be .brought up to the standard of Canadian.hard wheat. The land- is . there, on.lv no Chinese have the grit to go in and farm it on a large scale. In time wo may find the Japs, doing it. They have not the wheat land in Japan." '

A case of interest to architects has been decided at the Christchurch Supreme Court by Mr. Justice Denniston. Tho plaintiff was' Hush • Robert•■ Hamilton, and the defendant Wv A. .Gumming, onbehalf of tho New Zealand Institute of Architects. The Court was asked to decide whether or not the. Council of tho Institute of. Architects was entitled to decline to resistor Hamilton as a. mem tor of the institute on the ground that io declined to sign a statutory declaration imnosins certain conditions, and whether regulation No. 2S (d) of -the regulations- was valid. His Honour.answered both .questions in the negative.

The Otaeo Education Board had before it on "Wednesday n report from the Education Department somewhat severely criticising the standard of proficiency in blackboard drawing attained _by teachers in recent examinations. The Department's conclusion was that whilo a small but Gradually increasing proportion of candidates were able to produce work varying from excellent, to fair, the bulk of the work could be characterised as distinctly weak. ft was impossible to avoid the conclusion not only that a. large proportion of the candidates had little or no conception of what blackboard drawing should be, but also that very many of them were wanting iu ordinary skill in free drawing, each as might reasonably lie expected .of average pupils of secondary or oven 'primary schools. With a view to assisting prospective candidates to earn some idea of what blackboard drawing should be, the Department proposed to forward for exhibition at convenient centres a selection of some of the.best work done at the last teachers' examination.

The Mayor of Christchurch (says the "Sun") has received a telegram from Mr. H. Lightband,-' of South ■' Canterbury, stating that Mr.-Edgar Jones has given .6200, unconditionally, to the fund for the first Canterbury gift aeroplane, and is prepared to assist substantfally for a second, if the project is proceeded with. "It would be a good thing," remarked. Mr. T. Harlo Giles (Commissioner) at a sitting of the Conciliation Council at Auckland recently, "if' every employer in an industry were, ipso. facto, compelled to be members of. their federation,' as every employee is forced to become a member of the union in his particular trade." This remark was the. result of the statement that 75 master -plumbers were nor members of the federation of employers in that industry.

Some weeks ago Mr. R. W. Dalton (H.-M. Trade Commissioner in N.ew Zealand) received a cablegram to the effect that the exportation of boots and shoes from the United Kingdom had been prohibited. He has now received a further cablegram stating that licenses to export boots and shoes from the United Kingdom to the British dominions will be granted. . ...

Iho Audit Department, surcharged the Westport Harbour Board .£4OO, the amount of retiring allowance granted to ex-Harbourmaster Furneaux. It is understood (says ■' the "News") that the Department also questioned the legality of the-payments to old servants of the board whoso services were dispensed with, the total sum involved being something like .£I3OO, but that it was not intended to press for more than the .£4OO. Al: tlio last, meeting of the retiring board Mr. D. J. Williams, the then chairman, handed in his personal chenue for .£2OO, half the amount surcharged by the Department, leaving .£2OO still to be naid by May 10. Tt is intended to seek Parliamentary authority for the refund of the surelinrgp.

A fashionably-dressed Native woman was charged at the Gisborne Court with lorging her husband's name to orders on local tradespeople. In applying for a remand, a detective state'd that a considerable sum of money was involved, and accused had admitted having forged cheques up to a total of .£2OOO. Accused was remanded.

We are asked by Mr. Wilfred Jolin Hicks, farmer, of Waverley, whose name appeared amongst those who were drawn in Me Seventh Ballot, to state that he enlisted two years ago, and that his name sTiould have beeii 6tarred. Following upon a promise given publicly to the citizens of Wellington, Councillor John Castle has given notice to move at the next meeting of the City Council:—"That it be a suggestion from this council that any committee dealing with tho question of an adequate siiipply of fish for the needs of the people should consider the practicability of providing movable markets, or markets on wheels. These, if not taking fish to each house,.to stand at the corners of specified streets, at stated times of certain days in each week, on the principle that it was more convenient for Mahomet to go to the mountain, than for the' mountain to visit Mahomet."

A meeting was held last night at the Commercial Travellers' Club for the pur- 1 poso of forming a musical society. The chairman (Mr. G'arr), in his opening remarks, explained that such an institution within tho club placed in the hands, of the General Committee a useful arid convenient arrangement whereby a musical programme could be readily and quickly provided for any of the various functions so frequently held nnder the auspices of the club. About fifty attended, most of whom became members of the society. An executive was'formed oonsis'ting of P. W. Manton, Esq., hou. president; Mr. A. Carr, Esq., chairman; S. H. Horner, Esq., vice-chairman; Mr. J. C. Greer, secretary and treasurer; Mr. W. H. long, librarian; Mr. It. Peek, musical director; Mr. P. Blick, accompanist; and* Messrs. Brewer, Exley, S. Jacobs, Thomson, Wilson, and Wright on the committee. After a short rehearsal of a few part songs, musical iteme were given by Messrs. Thomson, Scott, Peek, Wright, Eeid, Stevens, and Greer. Tho evening concluded with light refreshments. Next week work will start iu. earliest.

On May 25 and 26, £25 will he given iway in sums of ss. or 10s. to those who on request can produce a Crippled Soldiers' Hostel Art. Union vcket stamped "Suratura D." 1