PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 36, 6 November 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

A semi-official message from Borliu gives the remarkable explanation of the retirement from the Chemin-des-Dames (heights _ of the Aisne) that it was made "in order to prevent unnecessary bloodshed." This is a not© that has been sounded more than once by the exponents of blood and iron since the tide of war began to run decidedly against them, but it is still impossible to regard otherwise than with astonishment the colossal fatuity which makes such talk from such a source possible. The actual significance of the retreat is fairly indicated in a French semi-official statement At some points on the Aisne heights, where the summit is wide, the enemy held high ground from which he overlooked the French back lines. These heights, together with the ground he held on the descending northern slopes of the ridge, the enemy has evacuated becaiiso _ the success of the French on either flank—in the vicinity of Craonne and north of Malmaison—makes it impossible- for him to contemplate a further offensivo on the Aisno front. The benefits of the change of course rest with the French. The enemy has retired into dominated positions, leaving the French holding good lines, with their communications' in rear securely screened against direct observation. It :s, however, above all as an indication of the enemy's weakening powers and as a confession on his part of defeat that the retirement holds attention.

The state of affairs reached on the Aisne- front gives added interest to statements regarding tho effective strength of the French armies made by M. Akdkb Tardieu, French High Commissioner to the United States, in a letter addressed to the American Secretary for War at the end of July. "The strength in men now present in the zone of the armies alone," says the letter, "shows the maximum figure reached during the war. This figure, which amounts to a little less than three millions of men, exceeds by over a million the number of men actually in the said zone at the beginning, and one must add to that figure the men in tho zone of the interior and in the colonies. We are certain, with the resources of our metropohtain and colonial depots, to be able to maintain that number up to its present level for a long time to come. Our strength of men, by reason of a better command and of better methods of instruction,' has shown since, the beginning of_ tho war constantly decreasing definitive casualties . (killed, missing, and those taken prisoner), lhe following figures substantiate this:— B 5 ' Casualties

jicr cent. Battles of Charleroi &of the Marne 5.41 First six months of 1915 2.1)9 Second six months of 1915 1-G8 First six months of 191G l.ii Second six mouths of 1918 1.23."

These figures are in proportion to tho total mobilised strength. Tho letter also quotes figures showing tho great increase in France's output of guns and munitions during the war.

* * * * i iWhen General Allenby was transferred from tho command of an army in the Western theatre to the chief command in Egypt, it was assumed that an active offensive campaign in Palestine was in prospect. Ample proof is now afforded that the assumption was not illfounded. The very full reports given to-day of recent operations in Palestine call for little romark,_ but they deal with important achievements. It is shown that the British troops are in position on the coast due west of Gaza, besides having closed in on the defences of that place at other points. In the country to tho east they have not only mastered tho powerful defences of Beersheba, but havo made considerable headway to the north, along the railway on which it stands. Successful aggrcssivo action against the Turks is reported also in Mesopotamia. In that theatro the Brit-, ish have- ousted tho Turks from a range- of positions on the west bank of the Tigris north of Samarra. the northern terminus of the completed railway section north of Bagdad.

A story told by survivors from the German auxiliary cruiser Mario that sho was sunk by "a solitary British submarine" which accounted also for ten enemy trawlers docs not put a better aspect on the affair from the enemy's point of, view. The Marie was a ship of 3000 tons, armed with six-inch guns, and such a craft should havo been able- to deal with any submarine, particularly a submarine running on the surface and relying on gunfire, as the destroyer of tne Mario is said to have done. It is likely enough that a British submarine participated in the engagement, and posiiblv it took the lion's share, but the fact that 04 enemy prisoners

were rescued makes it clear that other British ships were in the near vicinity. Even at snper-submarino could hardly have taken as many prisoners on board. Apart from its immediate interest the engagement affords evidence of the fact that British patrols arc not only ranging freely in the Skagcr ilak and Kattegat, but are keeping close watch upon the narrow passages into fcho Baltic between tho Danish mainland and islands and the Swedish mainland.