PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3169, 21 August 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

A particularly interesting official message from Austria declares that the Italians have- resumed the offensive on the Isonzo front, and are attacking on many parts of a line of nearly 40 miles, extending north from the Adriatic. A peculiar feature of tho report is the remark that the territory which" tho Italians are attacking has been Austrian for centuries. This is perhaps a somewhat lame appeal to the sympathy of neutral nations, but tho Austrians have hitherto relied much more upon attempts to intensify antagonism between the Italians and tho Slavs than upon general appeals to neutral sympathies in connection with the struggle for tho possession of the.unredeemed Italian territories. At tho moment of writing the news of a renewed offensive on tho Isonzo front is unconfirmd from Italian sources, but it is quite possibly accurate. Tho Italians are now faced by a very largo proportion of tho total forces at Austria's command, but they achieved highly important results in their offensive of last May on tho Isonzo and Carso front, and no doubt will strike further effective blows before winter sets a period to active operations. In their last offonsiyo they captured formidable mountain positions on the eastern side of the Isonzo, north of Gorizia, and also mado some headway on the Carso Plateau further south. In the latter area, however, they were brought to a halt be'fore the Hcrmada Plateau, a powerfully fortified stronghold covering the coastal route to Discussing the outlook an English correspondent remarked recently: "In appearance the enemy defence of Hio Carso is as tenacious as ever; but, in fact, by tho Italian successes on i-he northern sector of tho front, it has been seriously weakened. To Bay nothing of the enemy losses in casualties and prisoners, a greater effort is needed to maintain it«s twice the effort at least as compared with that demanded before tho fall of Gorizia, when tho system was complete. On the other hand, tho Italian resources have como increasingly into play. How long the Austrians can keep the defenco up depends,, of course; upon tho men and material at their disposal. According to present jvobabilities, they will keep it up to the last, and the collapse will bo sudden. These Isonzo positions arc a by no means easy place to get out of. Prudence would suggest an attempt to get out while time allows, but the report that German advisers urged evacuation should be altogether discredited. The likelihood is a determination to sacrifice tho troops on this Isonzo front to the last man. Probably the possibilities of the situation would have been further tested before this time but for the turn of events in Russia. Prospects of an improvement in Russia increase the likelihood that the Italians may actively resume tho offensive while weather conditions still make that course possible.

The British have struck another effective- blow in Flanders, advancing to a depth of five hundred yards on a mile front east of Langemarck. The time for an extended advance in Flanders perhaps lies well ahead, but the continued reduction of his positions is giving the enemy definite grounds tor being nervous about the stability of bis general line. East of Langemarck tho British arc striking forward between tho extensive Forest of Houthulst and tho now very limited area, of high ground on which the Germans retain a, foothold east of Ypres. Though the area gained is small, the advance has importance as a step towards outflanking these positions on north and south. Apart from this successful-assault very li'ttlo infantry lighting is reported at tho moment of writing, but the communiques tell of splendid work by tho Allied airmen. Operating evidently in considerable numbers, they are effectively attacking enemy establishments in tho immediate vicinity of tho fighting front and railway junctions in rear. The extreme tension of the existing situation obviously suggests the likelihood of big developments in tho near future. * * * *

Some further evidence is afforded to-day that tho outlook is improving in the Eastern theatre. Tho general effect of tho news is to show that the enemy is at a standstill both on the main Russian front and in Rumania, where a few days ago ho seemed to be in a fair way to break through >r clrivo in tho KussoRurnanian front in Southern Moldavia. It is reported to-day that attacks at a number of points hi this region were repelled and the enemy has failed also in attacks on the northern sector of the main East front. A message from General KOKNILOFF to SIE DOUGLAS HMO also points to progressive improvement. The Russian Commander-in-Chief's statement that ho is convinced that on the re-establishment of strict discipline the Russian armies will devote all their powers at an early date to assist the efforts of the Allies is tho most optimistic that has issued from Russia with authority since tho disastrous collapse on the Galician front last month.