PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3168, 20 August 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The war outlook is brightened today by good news from Russia and Rumania. The offensive campaign which the enemy was enabled to undertake in tho latter country as a result of the demoralisation and retreat of tho Russian armies further .north has of lato assumed a decidedly menacing aspect. In recont fighting tho Russian and Rumanian armies in Southern Moldavia .have been dislodged from a number of positions on the line from tho Carpathians to tho Danube which they took up in tho early part of this year, and doubts havo arisen as to their ability to bring the enemy to a halt. The- position is certainly critical, but according to a message from a London Times correspondent at Jassy, which appoars to-day, it is not by any means as bad as it has lately seemed ' to be-. Indeed, the correspondent declares that tho groat battlo which has been-under way in Moldavia during tho last two weeks has already proved that tho Rumanians are capable of resisting- tho enemy's most frantic efforts. This, with tho further statement that although MacKensen has been compelled to continually bring up reinforcements tho Rumanian situation is now reestablished, must bo taken meantime for what it is worth, but unless tho correspondent is seriously astray in his facts tho enemy is far from having as good prospects of completing his invasion of Rumania as he seemed to havo a few days ago. Rumania was betrayed last year by_ internal treason and by tho machinations of tho pro-German clique at Pctrograd. The general success with which Mackensen's recent formidable efforts to breach tho Moldavian front have been resisted proves that the Rumanian armies have now reached a state_ of efficiency and that their material equipment is incomparably better than it was last year. At the same time it suggests that tho Russian armies which arc assisting to defend tho remaining area of Rumania are 'immune, or largely bo, from tho disorders which cripplod tho armies in Galicia.

While prospects are .raised that events' may take a favourable turn in the theatre in which tho enemy in recent weeks has concentrated his principal aggressive- efforts, General Korniloff, in a statement to an interviewer, transmitted today, gives an encouraging account of the condition of tho Russian armies And of tho outlook generally in tho Eastern theatre. Energetic measures, according to the Russian Comraander-in-Chief, have already resulted in a considerable strengthening of tho moral and fighting capacity of the troops, and he hopes that additional measures ho is now submitting to the Government will result in tho complete moral regeneration of the armies under his command. Not the least interesting section of his statement is that in which General Korniloff predicts vast military operations on the Rumanian and other fronts, especially tho northern front, and declares that a winter campaign is inevitable. Evidently he thinks it possible that tho Germans may attempt to resume their drive on Petrograd, using both land and sea forces to that end, and in this connection it cannot be overlooked that tho extent to which revolutionary disorders have gained head in the Russian Baltic Fleet accentuates tho danger that tho enemy may be able to make effective use of naval force in tho Baltic. As a whole, however, General Kornilofe's statement indicates that tho situation in Russia has already improved materially, and is likely to improve further as time goes on Tho i extent to which they hayo been weakened by the collapso in Galicia and the partial demoralisation of the troops in other areas has undoubtedly laid the Russians in some degree open to attack, and in his prediction of vast military operations and a winter campaign General Kornit.off ; is no. doubt looking to tho likelihood of intensified enemy -attacks. Granted the progressive regeneration of the luis-si-ui armies, however, the enemy is iriuch more likely to suffer exhausting losses than to gain decisive .advantage in any enterprises he may attempt in tho Eastern theatre. It may be a long time beforo the Russi'ins recover the victorious ascendancy they enjoyed last yenr, but by a stubborn defensive such as the cooperating Russian and. Riirminian armies' »ro conducting in lui-

mania they may do a great deal to , second and give effect to the efforts of their Allies in other theatres. In'conjunction with the existing slate of affairs in llumanin, General Kokniloff's survey of the situation affords some ground for a belief that the enemy is less likely to gain advantages in the Eastern theatro than to incur losses which will materially hasten his ultimate defeat.

Tim only detail report dealing with the Rumanian frqnt which is in hand at time of writing mentions the failure of enemy attacks at several points, and is therefore consistent with the general indications of an improving outlook which have been touched upon. Apart from its general bearing on the main trend of the war, the rising efficiency of the Ilusso-llumanian armies which now seems to he in evidence will serve a highly important purpose, if it is continued, in tending to limit the possibility of aggressive action by tho enemy in minor theatres, notably Mesopotamia. Tho best insurance against an attempt by the enemy to recover lost ground in Mesopotamia or elsewhero in tho Turkish and Balkan theatres is afforded in tho terrible drain imposed upon his resources in Franco and Flanders, but tho maintenance of a firm defence by the llusso-Ruman-ians during the next few months would constitute a very useful contribution to tho same end. * ir tt £

A number of messages to-day deal interestingly with the Flanders offensive, but tho position shows no material change. Having gained the objectives they set out to win, tho. Allies aro holding them against the enemy's frenzied counter-attacks. Tho loading facts of tho offensive are clearly brought out in a Press Bureau communication, which supplies a detailed refutation of a German communique issued on Friday and published to-day. For the benefit of their homo population the Germans assert that tho second day of tho battle in Flanders was decided in their favour. They support the claim by alleging attacks on an cxtensivo front on which no attack was attempted—tho front of about eight miles from tho Ypres-Monin road to tho.Eivcr Lys—by misstating tho British objectives and l\v falsely asserting that they recaptured tho town of Langemarck. Ihe Press Bureau supplies tho facts. Ihc Allies struck a measured and entirely successful blow on about half tho front named by-the, Germans. The British captured and hold Langemarck, and made- no attempt to reach tho village of Poelcapelle,. nearly two miles further east, which the Germans declare to havo been tho object of their attack. Tho deception attempted by tho Germans on this occasion is so unconvincing that it will hardly serve its purpose even with their own population. For tho moment tho Allies aro making little attempt to advance, and loth in Flanders and in tho Lens area are chiefly engaged in repelling counterattacks, but tho intense aerial activity reported to-day suggests that it may not bo Jong before another forward strido is made in the offensive.