PROGRESS OF THE WAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9044, 15 May 1915, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Between America and Germany things are coming to a head. The American Note, wo are informed this morning, is on the lines of the forecast yesterday—i.e., it demands a cessation of tho German methods of war. It is thought by the newspapers, from indications given by the German Embassy, that Germany' will refuse, saying that if American citizens want to travel safely they must travel in. neutral ships. The German reply will throw oil on tho American lire. The world is waiting for it with keen interest.

The situation in Italy ought not to be surprising to-day. Yesterday was the day' for surprise, because y'esterday we published the report that Signor Giolitti had informed the King that tho Austrian concessions were fair, and ought to be accepted. Now Signor Giolitti is the leader of the Opposition in Parliament. Under the British system such intervention by the leader of the Opposition is impossible, for the Sovereign receives no advice except from responsible advisers —the very position Opposition leaders do not occupy. To tho British mind, therefore, the action of Signor Giolitti ought to have suggested that there is a party of sufficient power to make it disregard constitutional etiquette. We make allowance for the fact that Parliament is not sitting iu Rome. Indeed, that fact seems to explain tho intervention as probably the result of an invitation from the Kill 8- . . .

To-day the result is -announced, in the resignation of the Cabinet, on. the ground that it does not possess the unanimous consent of the constitutional parties regarding tho international policy which tho gravity of tho situation demands. The probable course of events is—the Cabinet wanted to Leave Parliament to declare war; the King insisted there must bo a unanimous vote, found such vote to be out of the question; thereupon the Cabinet resigned. • • •

Italy is in a ferment. Everything was ready for war, troops mobilised, strangers expelled, fleet ready for action, when the German Kaiser and the Austrian Emperor agreed on a proposal for' further concessions to Italy, and dispatched a courier with it, as one of bur messages to-day reports. The receipt of this proposal" produced the disagreement of parties, and there is a deadlock, in the face of the possible enemy, who proclaims himself ready to attack in the event of refusal. It is a most strange position. The Dual Alliance has presented what is practically an ultimatum, presented it at the eleventh hour, and found a deadlock. ;An Austro-Gorman army is ready, or can bo ready for invasion at once, and there is no Government to direct the Italian army.in defence. For a smart move, the Dual Alliance has a fine opportunity.

No wonder there is ferment in Italy. The parties against war are said to be Clericals, > who have largely sympathised with Austria, the Conservatives, and the supporters of Signor Giolitti. The rest of the nation denounces the huckster spirit which is ready to accept the Austrian offer, insists that the only guarantee for the permanent possession of the territory offered is by helping the Entente to get it, and invokes the country to stand for beating down Prussian. militarism, and all that it means. Signor Giolitti is in peril of his life, but that does not mend the situation.

The want of strength in the Government and its party is the cause of the trouble. In the beginning of the war the Prime Minister Salandra spoke brave words which induced the belief that Italy would quickly find her way into the firing line. But nothing came of it except much talk with the Austrians. When the army was mobilised the day of action was postponed, delay succeeded delay, and last wo have this deadlock. The war party will have to . find a way out quickly, if it does not wish to, have an Austro-German army over the border before many days.

If left alone it is likely that the war party will prevail, for it is evidently the party of the masses of the Italian nation. But that is the very reason that is likely to bring the enemy down on them. The German staff is likely to see that war is inevitable if the Italian Parliament meets, and therefore likely to see that its best, perhaps only chance, is to strike at once, while Government .is paralysed' by the political deadlock. The military machine is strong enough, apparently, on the .Russian side to be able to divert a’ large army for a lightning stroke in Italy. It such an army is seen advancing on Alilan within a week no one need' be surprised.

Under the circumstances the position in Galicia becomes more acutely interesting. Berlin claims that the advance of the victorious armies continues, that they are on the San within 25 miles ot Przemysl, that their captures are 113,000 men, 69 guns and 250 machine guns, that already they have recovered one-half of Galicia. On the other hand the Russians claim that they have stopped the enemy on the line of the vnsloka, while on the east flank they are gaining ground on the Stryj, on the Dneister (both banks), and in Bukoivina, where they have reached within 20 miles of Czernowicz. As there is no report of any movement over the VVisloka, of any fighting that is to say, it will be right to regard, at all events for the present, the reports of the further Austro-German advance to the San as not correct, and the estimate of the German captures as exaggerated, especial as the enemy is silent about the Russian successes on the eastern flank of the position.

The Russians express considerable confidence despite the heavy blow they have admittedly sustained in Western Galicia. They express at the same time tlie greatest confidence in Britain and Prance. But they admit they are rather keenly expecting a big advance on the western front. Careful are thev to add that they are quite satisfied to wait. It may be that they feel it necessary to encourage the Allies with a version of “are we downhearted?” But under the circumstances it is not possible to avoid suspecting & reminder to the Allies that the spring is well advanced.

A disquieting report in that connection comes to-day from a Dunkirk cor-.

respondent, who declares that tho British failure to get through in front of Festubert, as reported yesterday, was due to lack of the necessary superabundance of ammunition. His story is that the infantry charge on the enemy’s position discovered that the artillery bombardment had failed to do the work expeeteu—tor lack of the ammunition which ought to have been in unlimited supply—and that the General, seeing that the losses by persistence in. the attack would bo too heavy, did not bring up his reserves,and withdrew the attack. In the face of recent assurances that the work is going forward very briskly at the munition factories this is disquieting. The statement of Lord Haldane that something may bo done by way of compulsory service, coming together with this report, implies that the Government are making more strenuous efforts to assure the acceleration of all preparations for tho speedier prosecution of the campaign.

Tho best news from the west front, in fact the best news of the day, is the German official admission, regarding Oarency and Aiblam, of tho German loss of the positions, with many bravo men. It is the most unqualified admission ot serious defeat tho Germans have yet made; the only one, in fact, that lias come from their side sinco the battles of tho Marne and Nancy. That the defeat hampers their plans considerably goes without saying.

Tho Dardanelles movement shows — through unofficial channels —considerable progress. These report steady success of the fighting—the report on which they maintain—in the upper part of tho peninsula, between Maidos and Gallipoli, which however they represent as less rapid owing to the arrival of Turkish reinforcements. The same authority reports that in the lower pari of the peninsula, half-way between the Narrows and Cape Hellos, itno extreme south-west end of tho land, the Turkish array is surrounded entirely by tho Allied troops. It is holding the hill of Achi Baba in the above-described locality, and the Allied troops are closing up on their positions. At tho same time troops are being landed of all descriptions—British, Australasians, French; Indians and Algerians—and thrown into the fight.

In the bombardment we have not fared so well, for one of our battleships, the Goliath, has been sunk by a torpedo fired from a Turkish destroyer, with tho loss of 500 lives. As a set-off one of our submarines has sunk two destroyers and a- large transport.

The Turks, under German incite-, ment, of course, are playing a stroke of savagery. Undcr the false pretence that our airmen are killing non-com-batants of deliberate purpose, they are placing some prisoners—civilians interned in Constantinople—in the peninsula, exposing them to fire. Sir Edward Grey has promptly told them that he would hold the Minister for War, and all the commanders, personally responsible. It is possible that this will stop the savagery. What would the Germans say if the British were to intern all German prisoners on the coast lines and inland to tracts exposed to the baby-killers of their fleet, and the inroads of their Zeppelins ? What could they say? Except that they do not expect" the British to descend to the savage German level?

The appearance of German submarines in the Mediterranean is reported. To test the value of the report the Allies are offering rewards for definite proof. Here is material for conjecture. Is this part of the plan of dealing with Italy to which we have alluded above, or is it a sign that the Austrian fleet is to be sent out for an expedition, perhaps to the Dardanelles?

Genera! Botha reports that he has captured the West African German capital, and finally defeated the Germans in that quarter, after his brilliant campaign. The episode is a finis reply, to. the German intrigue in South Africa. It is emphasised by the demonstrations in Capetown and Johannesburg of horror for the murderous Lusitania outrage, .