PROGRESS OF THE WAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9115, 6 August 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The -wretched earplugs of the Harmsworth scribblers are being fully exposed by the tributes that are coming in from the statesmen of the Ally countries in celebration of the first anniversary of the declaration of war. In those carpings, nothing is so marked as the injustice to the British Navy by ostentatious ignoring of its priceless and magnificent services to the cause of the Entente. Against this, the tribute of M. Sazonoff, the Russian Minister, is very marked. His statement that the Russians have impressed by the tremendous power' of the British Navy, exemplified by the complete effacement of the enemy’s fleet, is a rebuke to that section of British public opinion whch cannot realise that the Navy has achieved a success which has no parallel in the naval annals of the world.

The same may be said of the tribute of France, paid by M. Pichon, who thanked the fleet for securing the freedom of the seas. He also paid a high tribute to the British Army, which, be declared, had added a million of men to the French. In this he corroborated the Russian tribute of admiration to the British Empire for the admirable manner in which it has answered the call of war. Further in this direction is the arrangement, maturing in Paris, as we learn to-day, for making a census of the FrancoBritish material and moral development which has marked the first year of the war. These are weighty *proofs of the satisfaction of the Allies with the magnificent part played by Britain, which is the subject of the ungenerous belittlement of the wretched Harmsworth press. « » « Leading foreign statesmen have also forwarded their anniversary tribute to the same effect to the London newspapers. The proof is complete that the strength of the Entente Alliance has been considerably increased by the twelve months of the war. There have been losses and disappointments, of coarse. The superior preparations of the German war machine have been made manifest, to the great cost of the Allies- But the great fact remains that the Allies have forced that machine to give them time to make good, and that they are using that time to the very best advantage. The end of the first year finds them better furnished for war, rapidly bettering their furnishmeut, and in complete accord in their determination to pursue the war to victorious conclusion. There has been enough to disrupt the Alliance, to the ruin of the cause. It is not the fault of the reptile section of the British press that these misfortunes have not done the work of disruption. But the good sense, patriotism, and knowledge of the facts which everywhere abound have preserved the alliance through the awful horrors of the year, and brought it to greater mutual confidence and firmer resolution than ever to pursue its duty manfully to the end, whatever may be before it.

Tlie grand series of meetings throughout the United Kingdom which wo record to-day tolls the story of tho British side of this splendid readiness to dare and endure. The newspapers will place the records of our meetings alongside the reports, and the enemy will hav© the spectacle of a united Empire standing firmly and confidently beside its Allies. The German spies will probably make the most of the shameful indiscretions of the reptile section of tho pi ess. But the greatness of the truth will prevail. Germany has been taught to believe that Britain is like a trench after a heavy bombardment. But it will understand that the defenders of the trench are like the soldiers in Flanders, ready to demolish all forces that follow bombardments in the hop© of finding an exhausted and spiritless defensive. Tho British Einpire and the Entente Alliance have every reason to bo satisfied with themselves at the end of the first year of tho war in which they have, as wo showed yesterday, practically defeated tho enemy.

Tho people of tho United States treat us very sympathetically. They speak with appreciative justice of the performances of the Allies, and they continue the help which the laws of nations permit them to extend. Whether they may be called on to enter the war arena it is impossible to say even yet. They have received provocation great enough not only to increase their indignation at the atrocities of the enemy, but to range them on our side. It is said that the enemy intends to offer them further provocation by an insolent refusal to discuss the Note of remonstrance in the matter of the Lusitania. In that we must await developments, with the knowledge that the President is committed by his magnificent Note to Berlin to strong measures as the only alternative to the enemy’s submission to the demand of justice and reason.

There is fear in some quarters that the naval policy of Britain may give umbrage across the Atlantic if not altered to suit a section of tho American people. The Government of Britain has resisted pressure to declare cotton contraband, though cotton, being the foundation of the enemy’s munitions, is just as much contraband as gunpowder. The opinion in America, which is not satisfied with that concession, expresses a hope that Britain will not pursue justifiable ends by illegal means. This is a protest against the right of search and the demand for verification of the alleged destiny of cargoes. Britain having established that policy on American precedents cannot give it up without frustrating the whole of her defensive policy of blockade. If the Americans can show any' better method than the one established, which certainly is not illegal, Britain, we feel sure, will instruct her naval officers accordingly. If not, the only course for Britain will be to continue to emphasise the instructions to her naval officers to proceed in all cases without undue harshness. This will surely content the American objectors, especially as Britain pays for _ any cargo not permitted after due adjudication to pass.

Tho new year begins with a rather hopeful statement from AthenSj reporting that the Greek newspapers are reminding their public that there is a treaty between their country and Servia wliich will be promptly observed if Bulgaria is ill-advised enough to attack Servia. The German game of course is, whenever possible, to attack the Servian army and pass over it to the help of the Turks. The object of the Turko-Bulgarian Entente is to bring a Bulgarian army on the rear of the intrepid Servians when their old enemy falls on their front. To this conclusion the help the German bankers are extending to the Bulgarian loan is a fair guide. Thus we see that the Greek attitude is a reply to the Turko-Bulgarian understanding. True, it is only a newspaper demonstration. But these newspapers are read by a people which has given an enormous majority to M. Vcnizelos. tho statesman who stands heart and soul for the Entente; and the King, restored now to health, has as wo read the Athens message on the subject, intimated to his friends that unless the Constitution can be twisted, he must call Venizelos to the Premiership. It is rather strange this reference to tho constitution, in a matter in which there can be no doubt about the constitutional principle. It is suggestive of German casuistry. But it seems to us that nothing can keep Venizelos from the Premiership except a conn d’etat from which the rcing must shrink as certain to endanger his throne.

Italy, the newly-joined member of the Entente, opens the new year of war with the probability of a strong co-operation, naval and military, in the Dardanelles. This is a sign that the campaign on the Austrian borders has proved that the Italians can easily hold their frontiers if they find it difficult to advance beyond them. The position is difficult for Italy, because the advance of the Italian armies into Istria against Trieste is liable to flank attack through the passes of the Trentino, well served by the Austrian railway system, though not so well as the Italian armies are served by the Italian linesThe Italians have not reached Trent, but they have secured some of the important railway junctions, and are fairly safe from attack to the flank of their advance into Istria. On the Istrian frontier they have almost succeeded in cutting the most western railway of the three that serve the Austrians, and they will probably complete that operation presently. Hence the persistence of their attacks on Gorizia and the gradual advance at that point.

On the whole,, then, it is quite probable that Italy can afford to send a fleet and army to co-operate in the Dardanelles campaign. Politically, of course, the reasons for that course are overwhelming- Moreover, its effect would be to hasten the Greek intervention much, more than even the march of a Bulgarian army against Servia. The interests of Italy and Greece in the Aegean and in Asia Minor are too much mixed up together to permit Greece to lag behind when an Italian expedition sails for the Dardanelles. This double action, moreover, would keep Bulgaria from moving a man against the Servians. It might even bring a Bulgarian army into the field against the Turk, for reasons which the national aspirations or the Bulgarians make very obvious. • • • From the Dardanelles we have today a very interesting report from Mr Ashmead Bartlett of the position of the Australasian army. It warms the heart to read his description of the stronghold constructed in the teeth of the attacks of an enterprising enemy out of a position which they gained by holding on by their

eyelids. Not only have they done this, but they have by their valour sickened the enemy of attacking them and established considerable mastery over him. The situation, however, in presence of the greatly superior Turkish numbers is a stalemate. Our men chafe at not being able to advance, to bring their best point into play, which is the dash and swing of impetuous charges. But the time will come, when the Italian co-operation arrives, with a few more reinforcements from the Kitchener armies, and then we shall see our men at their best. The stalemate will then give place to the conquest of the Gallipoli Peninsula and the fall of Constantinople. It is a fate the Turk is already beginning to fear, if we may trust the story of Knvor Bey’s banquet, to which the Germans were not invited, at which th.e Minister who has always been against the war was a much honoured guest- • • •

The Turk has reason, because the submarines of Germany have not stopped the operations of the Allied fleet, and the submarines of Britain aro barring the Sea of Marmora against the Turkish transports, while the Russian ships dominate the Blayk Sea, destroying the Turkish colliers, and the works in the Turkish coal harbours.

From the east point the best news is that of the strong Russian efforts to push forward the initiatiivo so badly wanted. The statement made, by the “Times” correspondent that the supply is rapidly rising is based on the speeches made m tire Huma. The authority, wo must confess, is not the uest always, but it is the only one wo have at present. The speeches are probably based on reports and returns laid on the table on requisition as in other Legislatures. From the talk of the desire to prosecute ail and sundry, including tne ex-W'ar Minister, responsible for the disastrous shortage, it is evident that the leeway the new organisation has to make up is considerable and we are not likely to see in the Huma reports any reference to present shortcomings. Still it is well to read that great expectations are held, and that Russians are beginning to talk of the time when adequate supplies will enable them to do something spectacular with the invaders of their territory. This, we note, is the first definite news that has reached us of the results of the Russian wrestle with their munitions problem- It is better to have received it when the Russians aro *still at Warsaw, than to have waited for it till their retreat had got to Smolensk.

The fighting to-day, according to all the. reports, German, Austrian, and Russian, is going m favour of the enemy once more. On the 'Narew front Petrograd reports very heavy fighting, and admits having lost important positions; goes further, in fact, in tho details than the Berlin account, which confines itself more to generalities. Tho Russian report is of great attacks on various points, of the success of some, and of tho repulse and changed direction of others. It is evident that the line is feeling the weight of the Germans badly. South of Warsaw, Berlin claims to have not only succeeded in turning the Russians out of Blonie, but in forcing them back appreciably nearer to Warsaw. Further up the river Vistula, Woyrsch does not appear to have advanced, and the enemy is in possession still further up stream of that part of Ivaugorod which is on the west bank. From the neighbourhood of the Eastern portion of that position over to tho Bug, the Russians have retreated slowly, fighting rearguard actions, or, as the reports put it, making counter-attacks, in some cases violent.

The upshot seems to be that the Russians are just holding the enemy between the Vistula and the Bug, while their line withdraws to the Vistula and over, at the same time evacuating Warsaw, while holding back the enemy on the Narew front as long as possible. The improvements reported yesterday have not been maintained, and we fear the crucial moment is approaching for the abandonment of Warsaw. But the fight is not for Warsaw; it is for the safety of the Russian line. The extrication of the line from the circular position under pressure to the straighter line of the diameter of the circle is the problem the Russians are fighting desperately hard to solve. They themselves declare tbev fear they must evacuate Warsaw. Cut the question is, will they draw off their line unbroken?