PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3135, 13 July 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The progress of the Russians in Galieia is more than meeting expectations. To-day's news is that they have captured Halicz, and are advancing westward beyond that place on the south bank of the Dniester. At the same lime they have driven in the enemy defences on a front of about ten miles further south, approximately mid-way between tho Dniester and the Carpathians. The capture of Halicz is a most important step in the operations against Lcinborg. The town stands on the south bank of the Dniester, and as information stands the Russians have not yet mastered the crossing. But now that they arepushing the enemy westward boyond Halicz along the south bank of the Dniester it will probably not be long before they extend their hold on the northern bank. On this bank, a few miles east of Haliez, the enemy has been established since last year ou a range of heights along the 'Naraiovka and the Guila Lipa, These defences are now outflanked and exposed to enfilading fire, and the Russian advance south of the Dniester promises to develop into an extended, turning movement. It is very possible that the enemy may find it necessary to execute a prompt retreat on a long front north and south of the Dniester. At all events, the Russians have good prospects of speedily mastering the crossing of the Dniester at Halicz. Tho bridge which spans the river at this point is a link in one of the few trunk highways in Galieia, a road which runs south-east from Lembcrg, by way of Halicz, into the south-eastern confines of the Austrian province. * * # #

An official message just received states that the Russians crossed to the north bank of the Dniester when they occupied Halicz on Tuesday last. This must bo taken to mean that the enemy is already retreating on his front extending to the north. The strength of his line north of the Dniester to 817.e7.any and beyond that place lias been demonstrated in past and recent fighting, but with the Russians in position north of the Dniester and on a good road running north-west to Lcmborg, this line as a whole is almost certainly made untenable. Apart from their immensely important success in gaining the north hank of the Dniester at Halicz, the Russians are making rapid headway south of the river, and on this sector alone have captured ten thousand prisoners. Lenibertc itself is now definitely threatened.

The sweeping success of the Russians is tho more notable in view of persistent reports that Germany is rushing reinforcements into Galieia. The present turn of events is a striking commentary on a confident and somewhat bombastic statement made by Von Hindknbubo in April last. "Our Eastern front," ho declared, "has been so consolidated and is now garrisoned by such amass of men that Geßehal Beu.siloff, even with tho ruthless sacrifice of men, can achieve no success. Even the crassest optimist in the linleutc camp cannot to--d'ay deny that the recent events in Russia will' promote our plans." The enemy Generalissimo drew a contrast also between the conditions existing when he spoke and thoseof last year, when Germany was compelled to use her strategical army reserve in stemming General Bbusiloff's onslaught, and so was materially weakened on the Western front.

*/ * * * It is now very clear that Hindenburg deceived himself in believing that these conditions would not be repeated this year. There is every prospect that they will be repeated in an intensified form since, in addition to tho Brilliantly successful Russian offensive on the southern front, a rising stir of activity is reported along the Dwina (in the Baltic Provinces) and in other northern areas. It is hardly necessary to point out that, apart from its immediate aspects, the Russian. offensive greatly improves the general outlook. The Allies to-day are developing their concerted offensive on a, very much more formidable scale than was possible last year, and according to available information the enemy's strategic reserve fs much smaller than it was last year. He has certainly sacrificed an enormous number of men during the last month or two in his unavailing counter-attacks on the Western front. The following remarks made by a Times correspondent with the French armies, in May last, are interesting and to the point at the present juncture: "According to tho best information, the total number of German divisions in existence at tho beginning of April was 219, of which 143 were on the West front and 76 on the Russian, Macedonian, Rumanian, and other fronts. Of the Western divisions 44, or about half a iV.llion pen, were in reserve, and of these 33 have since been used at the front. If, as I believe, these figures are so nearly accurate that no one, except possibly the Germans themselves, could alter them, and then not to any considerable extent, the position soams to me to be full of hope for the future."

Tub German report which claims that 1350 prisoners were captured in the recent attack on the Nieuport front (the coast sector of the Allied lino in Flanders, now held by Bri-. tish troops) is very possibly exaggerated, but there 'is no doubt that the enemy gained a .definite, though limited, success in this quarter. The fact is admitted in a dispatch from Sir Douglas Haig. The small area he has gained is not likely to be of much use to the enemy, even if he retains it for a timo. The latest official report dealing with this part of the front states that the enemy bombardment has diminished, while the 'British guns arc still active.

A cablegram rcjic.ivcd some weeks ago mentioned a statement by Mil. Bon.U! Law that British losses in tlie Arras- "Battle were from r>o to 75 per cent, less than on the Somnw., In this condensed form the comparison was not particularly illuminating, but as it is fully reported in recent English files it is very interesting. Mn. TtoNAJi Law compared the first twenty-four days of this

year's offensive (from April 0) with the corresponding period at the beginning of the Battle <jf the Somnie. The comparison can lie put in the following way:—

1. On the Somme we advanced 31 miles on a six-mile front. Here wo have advanced from two to five miles on a 20mile front. We have taken, in fact, four times the amount of territory which was taken on tho Sonnne.

2. There wore double the number of German divisions opposed to us at Arras that there wore on the Sonnne. Of theso exactly half have had to be withdrawn from the tiring-line and sent lo reserve.

3. Our casualties have of necessity been heavy, but they are from 50 to 75 per cent, less than the casualties on the Somme.

The feature which commands attention is that in the first twenty-four days of this year's offensive the British armies fought twice as many German divisions as in the same period on the Sommc and put half of these divisions out of action, while themselves suffering casualties from SO to 75 per cent, lighter than they had suffered in au equal period and against enemy forces half as numerous on the Somme. Tlwse- are facts which bca;r unmistakable witness to a tremendous increase in effective fighting power on the part of the British, and a corresponding decline in the fighting power of the enemy.