PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3158, 9 August 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

President Wilson's embargo on America's exports to neutral countries has touched the Germans in a very vulnerable place-. It is not surprising, therefore, to hear that the German Press is indulging in a characteristic campaign of vituperation against him for his action. The German traffic, with neutral countries has long been a difficult matter for the British Minister of Blockades to handle. Not so much was this tho case with. America be-, fore her entry into the war—for hero the Navy could, and successfully did, intervene—as with tho neutral countries adjacent to tho German land frontier. In tho case of these- countries —Holland, Switzerland, and Scandinavia—the Allies had perforce to rely to a very largo extent on the good faith of their Governments. As is well known, tho imports of theso countries, especially from America, increased to such an extent that suspicion very reasonably attached itself to the ultimate destination of tho supplies. There is not the slightest doubt that Germany, with her usual duplicity, was being well supplied from America via the neutral countries of Europo, and it was in this particular connection that the British Naval authorities experienced their greatest difficulty. In a question of ultimate destination it is a. very hard matter to prove the allegation that certain goods have ueen imported for tho enemy's use.

The irony of tho American embargo on exports to, neutrals is thus revealed. In view of her past experience as a supplier of neutrals in war-time of goods which ultimately reached Germany America should be, and undoubtedly is, excellently posted on tho German system of trading with tho European neutrals. She should be in a position to know, from inside information obtained from people in thu United States who have had actual experience of tho traffic, what Germany most urgently needs. With tho embargo now in operation, and tho Allies requiring all their own supplies for homo consumption, tho European neutrals will have much to do to keep themselves, let aloneGermany. Hence the outburst of vilification in tho German Press. The American embargo is one of tho effective, "punches" of tho^war. The state of chaos into which things had been allowed to drift on the. Russian front is described in some detail by a British correspondent who apparently has been in close touch with General Korniloff. The story told is much on the_ lines of previous narratives descriptive of the circumstances leading up to tho demoralisation and rout of the Russian forces in Ga-licia, and is only useful in throwing light on tho

possibilities of the German moves in this quarter. Tho threat at Southern .Russia, where there aro large supplies of foodstuffs, the correspondent in question treats as a serious clanger and one which lias developed to an extent that makes a counter-movo for tho timo being at least impossible. This rather pessimistic survey of tho situation is, however, relieved somewhat by an interview with General Kohniloi'F. Tho successor to General Brusiloff, though he holds out no special hope of any marked change in the outlook for tho immediate future, leaves no room for doubt aa to his opinion of the ultimate issue. Russia, ho said, was full of men, splendid fighting material, ton millions of whom had already been onrolled. They, however, had scarcely been trained, for they had been too busy attending meetings. "It was a bitter disappointment," he added, and this is his most significant remark, "to have to carry on the war for another year." If this means anything at all it means that in spite of tho terrible demoralisation of tho Russian forces following on tho Revolution , in spite of the German successes which resulted therefrom and which are now threatening Southern Russia, the Russian Command-in-Chicf has no thought of his country relinquishing the struggle. The enemy, in spite of his presont successes in tho East, is, in the opinion of General Korniloff, in worse case than Russia. This is encouraging so far- as it goes, but it is plain that there is no immediate prospect of Russia reaching a position which will enable hor to do more than to slow down tho enemy's triumphant advance.

Germany, by an arrangement with Spain, has agreed to give safe conduct to the Allies' hospital ships, stipulating that Spanish officers;, detailed for tho purpose, will attend at tho ports of embarkation for the purpose of certifying to the fact that only sick and wounded are being carried. This is an obvious bluff, for tho Gorman Government knows perfectly well—none better— that the Allied Governments have strictly adhered to the rules of war in this and other respects. Its action is palpably for homo and neutral consumption, an interesting and characteristic gallery parade of an outraged belligerent compelled to invoke the assistance of a neutral Power to enforce observance of fair play at sea. Both Britain and France, in their perfectly natural anxiety to. secure immunity for their sick and wounded, have chosen to ignore tho implied insult, and accepted of tho arrangement. To arguo over a German quibble when human lives are at stake is not tho custom of the Allied Governments.

The lull on tho British front in tho West continues. Sir Douglas Haig's dispatches to-day aro almost comically laconic. Tho French are more active, especially on the Verdun front, where an attack by the Germans on tho French line at Caiiriercs Wood was launched with sufficient impetus to gain for the enemy a temporary footing, from which he was immediately ejected. Meanwhilo the artillery duel continues. A Gorman attack between Avocourt Wood and Hill 304 perished in tho attempt under a violent and well-directed fire from the French batteries.