NOTES ON THE WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17249, 17 August 1916, Page 6

NOTES ON THE WAR.

To New Zealanders the most interesting item of riu-rent news from the front is the announcement made by the Defence Minister that the Dominion is now maintaining a full division in France and that the troops, forming part of an Anzac Army Corps under General Godlcy, have been transferred from the “Nursery” to the Ypres salient, where, in June, the Canadians were distinguishing themselves. General Birdwood, so long associated with the Anzacs, has been transferred—or promoted rather—to another command, and in view of his distinguished services :n this Avar it is an easy assumption that he commands an army. The New Zealanders weve formerly on the sector south of Armcnticres, with the Australians, aparontly, on their left. Some of the Australians, of course, have been fighting at Pozieres, but presumably a division from the Commonwealth is under General Godley’s command. If General Birdwood has definitely severed his association Avith the Anzacs he will not he free from regrets, even though the move gives him a post of greater honour, for he lias repeatedly exoressed the wish that it might be his lot to be Avith the colonial troops on the dav of ultimate victory. Aud it can fairly be added that the colonials reciprocate the wish.

In due course the precise position of the New Zealanders will be -stated, but in the meantime it is to be observed that the salient is never a peaceful location. The last, big action was that early iu June, which is usually described as the Third Battle of Ypres. This struggle commenced on Juno 2, Avith a terrific German bombardment of the front from Hooge southward, where the Canadians were in the trenches. The subsequent infantry attack deprived the British of nearly tAvo miles of their first line of trenches. Later in the mouth the Canadians, by a brilliant counter, recovered most of the lost ground. Fighting seems to be always in progress on tho Hooge section, and of course the whole salient is under bombardment, though it has to be said that the enemy pays attention chiefly to Ypres itself and the converging roads along which British supplies must bo sent, the result boing that the trenches are probably tho safest part of the region. There have been occasional actions of late near St Eloi, to the south, and on the northern flank of the salient. If the Canadians have remained in their old positions the Nqav Zealanders will presumably be on their immediate left. . ,

The Austrian advance over the Jablonitsa pass, threatening tho extreme left flank of the southern Russian, army, does not appear to havo been made in any great strength, though at first the light screen of Russian troops operating in the Carpathians was driven in. As soon as tho menace commenced to develop Leshitsky took steps to meet it, and now it is reported that he. lias occupied tho town of Jablonitsa, north of tho pass, completely blocking the exit. It is possible, howeA’er, that- there Avere indications of a more considerable enemy movement, and that instead of merely watching tho pass the Russians will now have to occupy it and hold it in force. The Austrian communique admits the withdrawal from advanced positions north of the pass, but throws no further light on the position. The route is not a particularly easy one and if an attack were attempted by the enemy lie could advance only on a very narrow front, while the saddles oVer the ranges both east and west are impracticable for heavy wheeled traffic, so that the main advance could not be strongly supported. Still, the Austrians showed last year that they were capable of Avnaiug energetic warfare in the mountains, and one might confidently look for developments in that region if the enemy did not happen to have his hands very full elsewhere.

The presence of a Belgian armoured motor-car unit on the eastern front was reported some little time . ago. Russia has many of these special units from the west with her armies, aviators, motor sections, engineers, and so forth, but it is not often that their movements are reported. Some littlo time ago reference was made to the arrival of a British unit at Archangel, and the mail now brings an interesting story concerning it-. The force ,is a naval armoured car detachment, consisting of a largo number of powerful armoured cars and a complete equipment, Avith hundreds of officers and men. Tho unit left England in November last in a number of transports, which soon encountered ono of the heaviest gales experienced in the seas through Avhich they were voyaging. Eventually they reached tho neighbourhood of the YVhite Sea, but, the ice having formed, were unable to proceed to Archangel, and thereupon steamed to Alexnndrov.sk, which, being on tho fringe of the Gulf Stream, remains au open port all the year round. The unit itself was representative of the whole Empire. Many of its members had fought in Belgium, France, Gallipoli, and in German South-West Africa, and they represented South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, as well as the Mother Country. At Alexandrovsk the officers and- men landed and prepared to spend the Aviator in the Arctic. The winter months were very hard, with intense cold, the glass being nearly always below zero, and there was but a couple of hours light daily. The men, however, despite cases ot frostbite, were cheery and in good spirits. Seeing that they were delayed for many months, the unit sot to work to moke the best of things. The school buildings at Alexandrovsk were utilised as barracks, and hero day by day, from morning till night, the British Avere drilling and training in order to keep ihemsclvcs fit. for the work ahead of them. In addition to this some of the unit, did special work in connection with the Austrian and German prisoners employed on the neAv lino of railway in this region, and in travelling by reindeer Sled across the Ivola Peninsula.

Reuter’s Agency makes vague mention of important work carried out by the detachment during the winter, Aiork having a very material influeuco on the condition of the Russian army, from which it is to be inferred that even during the winter the men wore far from inactive. Indeed, the Czar conferred on some of the Officers and men the Order and Medal of St Anne in recognition of their services. The •unit re-embarked as soon as ■ the ice

melted and proceeded to Archangel. It reached Moscow early in June, and was made the centre of quite a remarkable demonstration, and when some of the officers attended a theatre they were recognised and the cheering lasted fully five minutes. Tho detachment left Moscow on June 9 for the headquarters in the field, and long before this it has probably been in action. Some of the Russian references to tho new arrivals have been reprinted by Loudon journals, the comments extending even to the quality of the clothes niid boots of tho Britishers and their method of saluting. Evidently they created a. great impression, for a. littie group of men journeying by tram under the guidance of a Russian student were surrounded by enthusiastic demonstrators as soon as they stepped off tho car. Tho counterpart of these demonstrations occurred in France, of course, when the Russian divisions arrived there. Russia is able to lend the western Allies tho services of many thousands of men, and France and Britain have responded with assistance smaller in quantity but probably as important in value, seeing that it consists entirely of highly skilled technical units.