PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3113, 18 June 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

A warning against undue optimism was issued'by tho French Minister of War (M. Painleve) in a speech in the Chamber of Deputies which is briefly reported to-day. In its inaugural declaration of policy tho Ministry in which-M. Painleve has a. place declared that it would "prefer criticism, even though unjust,, to tho flaccid optimism which can only enervate the energies of tho nation." Tho French War Minister lives up to this standard in the blunt statement that it is essential to remove delusions regarding tho offensive opened by tho French''Army on April 16, "which somo believed was going to be decisive." M. Painleve does not encourage this belief. Ho is confident, but he bases his confidence on tho ability of the French army to stand against tho increased masses which the present stalemate in Russia makes available to Germany until the arrival of American forces once more redresses tho balance. Ho adds a significant remark that tho leaders of the Allied armies aro careful of human lives. It would probably be quite wrong to interpret,the Minister's statement as an admission that as a result of events in Russia the Western Allies must pursue a defensive policy until they are heavily reinforced from America. Late events on tho British front carry a strong suggestion that the offensive will be developed well beyond its present point in the near future, and the Western Allies aro, of course, cpinmitted to a united policy. But M. Painleve's words obviously mean that tho Allies are not counting upon finally defeating Germany this year. In their methodically developing attacks in Southern E landers the British are straightening their line, and no doubt paving the way for more important operations. Sir Douglas Haig to-day reports _ the capture of further enemy positions, and it would appear that the British front now extends in an approximately straight line from Klein Ziliebjke, on the southern side and in tho forward area of what was tho Ypres salient, to a point somewhat west of Warnoton, on tho Franco-. Belgian border. The statement in an unofficial message that British troops have crossed tho Yprcs-Oom-ines Canal is somewhat misleading. This waterway strikes generally north-west from Comincs and passes immediately west of Ypres. It has therefore run through both tho German and British lines since the early days of tho war. The. passage of a short section of tho canal may have been forced in .tho latest stage of tho advance, but this seems unlikely. It will bo noticed that Sir Douglas Haig speaks of an advance "astndo the Ypres-Comines Canal.' lhe enemy still holds a trianglo of low ground between tho canal and' tho River Lys. River and canal meet at a point'about three miles east of the front which the British have now reached, and the canal is much more important as an obstacle to German transport at the present stag© and as a probable impediment to German retreat than as a barrier opposing the British advance.

The enemy's heavy but* unsuccessful counter-attacks on the new' British positions between tho YpresConrines Canal and tho Franco-Bel-gian border supply clear proof of the uneasiness with which ho regards the developing British advance The counter-attacks were made on positions situated in low ground well to tho eastward of tho Messines Ridge and dominated by it. Such positions are in themselves anything kit advantageous from the enemy's point of view, and are of value only beeauso their retention would enable him to delay a dangerous penetration of his line. His attempts to recover tho ground lost on Thursday must thus be regarded as inspired by a. dosiro to gain time. To suppose him intent upon the recovery of the Messines Ridge itself would be to magnify the importance of his latest defeat. But tho immediate and obvious explanation of his tactics is that be is incurring material sacrifices in efforts to delay tho development of an attack with which be finds himself unable, for tho time at least, to effectively cope.

Apart from the operations in Flanders, which seem to be leading up to another important attack or to an enforced German retreat, the British havo lately made limited but not unimportant headway in tho area east and south-east of Arras, where they gained last month an important foothold on the fortified Hindcnburg line. A report at the end of last week mentioned the capture of a position cast of Monchy-le-Preux, just north of tho ArrasCanibrai road, and to-day there is news of a gain of ground northwest of Bullecqurt, about four miles south of that highway. The position at and near Bullecourt is peculiar. Tho British hold the village and ground for about a mile to the northeast, but the enomy is defending a salient whieli extends, or did until recently, to a point duo west of Bullocourt. Tho attack now reported is tho Idlest of a, series which have been mado with i>ho object of crushing this salient. Tho Conimaiuliu'-iii-Ghief states that tho enemy suffered heavily in attempting to dofeat the British attack. The salient is a inero fragment of tho formidable defences in which the Germans hoped to withstand assault on the :\pproachos to Oambrai, but it is evi-

dentjy a fragment to which they attach extreme importance.

At timo of writing there- is no news of military events in Russia or in any theatre in which tho Russians aro engaged. Recent reports of activity on tho main East front appear at present to havo been delusive in so far as they hold out a promise of aggressive action by the Russian armies. An American message states that journalists returning from Petrograd, after ■ careful study of tho Russian situation, conclude that Russia is capable of "coming back" with tremendous blows that will surprise tho world. This must stand for what it is worth, and at best is somewhat indefinite. When tho tremendous blows are to fall is.left an open question, and no doubt advisedly. The confidence expressed in an ultimate Russian recovery is of interest, however, for it will obviously mean a great deal to the Allies if Russia continues to hold a portion of the enemy's forces in play even if she is unable for somo timo to come to organise and launch an offensive. It is one of tho bad features of tho Russian situation that isolated revolts against tho Provisional Government are breaking out here and there, some of them no doubt being due to tho activities of enemy agents. Ono suob outbreak reported to-day was dealt with, however, in a fashion which _ suggests greater strength and decision on the pact of the Provisional Government than it has lately seemed to possess. If all detail disorders in Russia were as promptly suppressed as those which broke out in. the town of Kusanoff appear to have been, the prospects of establishing general order would be decidedly improved.

The Allies are rapidly extending their military occupation of Greece and apparently without encountering opposition. Tho Kaibee and Pan-German newspapers aro exerting themselves to console CoxSTANTINE, but thero does not seem to be any doubt that the bulk of his people, even in the reduced area over which he latterly held sway, aro glad to bo rid oi him. M. RißOfis credited to-day with the important announcement that the succession of Alexander is subject to tho ratification of a Constituent Assembly. This stipulation should • convince tho Greek people that the Protecting Powers aro intent upon promoting the welfare of Greece, and tend to discourage any effort on Constantine's behalf. In the outcome Greece may take her stand as a united nation on the side of the Allies, butit is more important that the Allies are now reasonably assured of _ secure and much improved communications in their Balkan campaign.