PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3095, 28 May 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Though reports from Russia arc again of somewhat uncertain tone, tho war news to-day is on the whole decidedly good. This applies with particular force to Mi!. Lr,oYD George's comments on tho submarine campaign. AVitb a much better knowlcdgo of the facts than is open to the general public, tho Imperial Prime- Minister is convinced that if everyone does his duty, in matters of industry, economy, and, so forth, Germany's hopes of a triumph in the war based on the work of the submarines will provo to bo tho greatest miscalculation of the whole series of miscalculations of that fated Empire. To grasp the full force of this statement, it is necessary to, remember that tho enemy peoples have boon repeatedly assured by their public men and newspapers that the submarines will bring England to _ defeat in "il comparatively limited period. Tho collapse of those hopes on the day of awaken ins is bound to tell disastrously on the enemy's general war effort. A striking detail indication of the trend of informed opinion on the subnwino question is given in the pronounced drop in the rate of marine insurances in tho Atlantic.

The Italians arc making, splendid headway in their offensive on the Carso plateau, and rapidly mastering the remaining obstacles to an advance on Trieste. So far as gain of ground is concerned,' the attacking troops at the southern end of the .plateau, near the Adriatic coast, are now directly in touch with Mount Hermada, an clement in the 'enemy's third line, as his

defences wero organised last year Mount Henna da. is just over ;

thousand feet high, and dominates Ihe surrounding country for miles. H is the most formidable obstacle opposing the progress of the Italians along the coast road to Trieste, from which city they are now separated by a distance of thirteen miles.

An impressive proof of the success of the offensive is supplied in the fact that from May 14 to May 25 the Italians took 22,419 prisoners. In twelve days they have taken moro than half as many prisoners as they took on the Julian front from August to December, 1916, and twenty-live per cent, of the number taken in the whole course of the war up to the end of last year. The immense haul of prisoners taken in recent days makes it easy to accept the statement that of the forces aggregating 100,000 men brought into action by the Austr.ians in Wednesday's battle one-third were annihilated. The heavy losses inflicted upon the enemy are the most promising feature of the offensive. Hitherto the Italian army has been restricted to attacking the enemy in positions so strong as almost to defy attack. It is now beginning to win elbow room, and is certainly making the most of its broadening opportunities. The Italians are beginning to reap the fruits of their sustained assault upon one _ of the strongest natural fortresses in the world, and considering how much they have accomplished at this early stage of tho present year's campaign, an advance on Trieste, or even on the moro distant objective of Laibach junction, should bo well within the bounds of possibility.

In a speech reported to-day, M. Kerenski, the Russian Minister of War, made a somewhat disturbing reference to the Armenian campaign. He said that the Russian retreat in Armenia created a danger not only of the loss of Armenia but possibly of a part of the Caucasus Government as well. This points to a much' more serious situation in Armenia than has been disclosed in detail reports. A Turkish advance north of Mush, if not effectively opposed, would vitally 'threaten tho Russian main communications, but the last news recoiled on the subject, apart from M. Kerenski's speech, was that tho Russians wero holding the enemy after a limited ictirement. Even stalemate in Armenia is, of course, likely to react unfavourably on tho British 'operations in Mesopotamia and in other Turkish theatres.

A H.4ID made by German aeroplanes on the southeastern part of England stands out as a. conspicuous example of the diversion 'of fighting forces from military operations to tho business of baby-killing. From the latter aspect the raid was a pronounced success, but if tho raiding squadron had a military objective it did not reach it. Three of the 16 enemy aeroplanes which took part in the raid were brought down, apparently by naval machines from the-Dunkirk base, which intercepted them as they were making for home. The Germans havo demonstrated; at a price, that they are capable of adding to their record of frightfulness in England, but whether they have profited in a military sense by their latest exploit is another question. The price is not measured by the immediate loss'sustained, for the 'Germans' aerial service- is heavily outmatched, on the West front, anil every diversion of strength, whatever the motive inspiring it may be, emphasises' an inferiority which places them at an increasing disadvantage in the decisive theatre of war. ■

The enemy raiding squadron was probably lucky to getaoff as lightly as it did on Friday, for tho British anti-Zeppelin organisation, which is to a large extent serviceable against aeroplanes, has by this time been developed on a. "formidable scale. Describing this, organisation recently a writer in the Scientific American remarked that there was good reason to believe that the British, in their latest aeroplanes, have found an effective answer to the Zeppelin. "When the first raids on London were made," ho added, "the British possessed neither_ tho guns nor the aircraft in sufficient numbers or quality to meet, destroy, or drive back the latest Zeppelins. • The anti-aircraft guns could not reach effectively tho great heights to which the Zeppelins could rise, nor could the aircraft rise in time to attack.. Since that time both, guns and aircraft have become thoroughly efficient for tho work. Just in what numbers and of what calibre are the anti-aircraft batteries - with which London is now so well defended is not known ; but, because of tho great value of high velocity and a straight trajectory for antiaircraft gunfire, it is a...pretty safe guess that there are many • batteries of guns larger than the 3-inch. The 50 ■calibre 4.7 and 6-ineb 1511ns. it fired at high angles of elevation, have a trajectory of slight curvature, and the time of flight is small, elements which simplify tho task . the gunner in finding and keeping on a moving target."

Regarding anLi-Zcpphn. acro"planes the same writer states that the problem has been to. build an aeroplane with climbing powers sufficient to enable it to reach Zeppelin altitudes in time to meet the raiders and bring them down. "The latest machines," he adds, "are of- comparatively small wing surface; and are driven by unusually powerful ongines, capable of making speeds of 120 to 140 miles per hour. The increase in climbing speed in the last few months has been truly astonishing, having progressed from an ascent of 10,000 feet in six minutes to 15,000 feet in seven and a half minutes. The scouting service, both on. the- North Sea and along the East Coast, is now so effective that London is warned of- the approach of the Zeppelins in time to permit the Zeppelin chasers to takd the air and be in position for an attack before the raiders reach their objective." No doubt the fiigb slate of efficiency to which tbo anti-Zeppelin organisation has been raised heavily influenced the Germans in employing aeroplanes, which they can so ill spare from the fighting front, in their latest raid. Fast climbing and Hying aeroplanes arc effective against other aeroplanes, however, as well as against Zeppelins, and the enemy will certainly not gain immunity by substituting the aeroplane for the Zeppelin as an instrument of frightfulness.

The address "Zeaclub" has been registered as a telegraphic code address for the New Zealand Soldiers'. Club, Huas2U Square, London, W.C,