PROGRESS OF THE WAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9695, 25 June 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Rotterdam reports that the evacuation of West Flanders still continues. There are details of 2000 of the coast population arriving at Tongrcs (north-cast of Liege, towards the Dutch border), on the opposite side of Belgium, also or Belgian civilians arriving in large numbers in the eastern provinces. The question arises, what does the ©vacua* tion mean? It cannot mean deportation, except in connection with, evacuation. which is a movement of troops. Tho meaning, apparently, then, of tho message from Amsterdam' is that tho Gernians are abandoning West Flanders, or a portion (the coast portion). Why these deportations? Tho only possible answer is that tho enemy wants the labour for his various purposes. Ho is only doing in West Flanders —if tho message is correct — what ho did in Artois. In his retreat from his linos there from tho Ancro he deported men of military age, and ho docs the same in West Flanders. There is no mention ot woman and children iu the message, whereas in his French retreat the enemy certainly took away women with him. If this message la tru&, the first fruit of the victory at MesBinea ia the enemy's abandonment ot West Flanders.

Tho port of Ostend, wo remember, was left by the German destroyers and other craft immediately after the big British seaplane which, knocked taint place and all within it about so terribly. We presume that Ales(dnes has compelled the evacuation of the coast beyond Ostend. Whether Zeebrugge will be abandoned, too, or whether the enemy is retreating on a line which starts from Zeebrugge vnd cuts diagonally across Flanders, remains to bo seen. At any rate the abandonment of tho coast country as far as Zeebrugge will be a tremendous advantage to. the British, 'The story from Amsterdam is quite probable, for the capture of tho Ypres salient gives the British General the command of the ridge running north-east acioss to Roulers, and once ho advances along that ridge the German hold of West Flanders becomes Jmpossible against forces equipped as the British are. It seems probable that the retreat may go further than Zeobmgge considerably, otherwise it is difficult to understand why the enemy sends bis deported prisoners right across to the eastern provinces. The Russian revival, about which good news comes to-day, tho best in the steadily improving series we have been noting front day to day recently, adds to the difficulty of holding tbo Western lines. • 1. • • The enemy certainly has brought strong forces to Belgium from the Russian fronts. Nevertheless he. was driven off the Alessines ridge with shattering effect. Now tho nows shows that he will require more strength oh the Russian front. This adds to the topographical disadvantage of the Alessines defeat,' tho difficulty of the man supply. If the enemy is retreating from west Flanders and even further, it certainly is not to be wondered at. As in Artois ho lias taken time by tho forelock, not waiting till the British General striking him forced him to get away ,in disorder,' but getting his masses and guns away at case, leaving strong rearguards to delay the pursuit. This game ho appears, if the Amsterdam story is true, to be playing in Flanders. On the Ancre he had a narrow escape at the outset. He had, it has been fairly well proved, not intended to retire beyond the Bapaume ridge. Bait in the midst of his retreat the British seized a height commanding the ridge, and the enemy made up his mind to go further, feeling that Bapaume had become suddenly a deathtrap. The result was even greater, for the abandonment of Bapaume made the big southern salient extremely dangerous, and the salient was forthwith abandoned.

If this is tho game being played now wo may expect the British General to divine the enemy’s intended new line, and strike a blow along the ridge to Roulers, forcing the abandonment of that intention. The enemy is reported to-day to be raiding Ut various points from the north of Ypres, as far as Lens. Sir Douglas Haig agrees with the enemy in this report and adds a “local operation” in the nenghbourhood of Warneton, with which he is completely satisfied. Now he is very careful of terms, and when ho speaks of a “local operation” he does not mean a raid. The move which forced the enemy to abandon the idea of standing on the Bapaume ridge was a “local operation”—which stormed tho commanding hill by a sudden attack. Sir Douglas was satisfied with that local operation, and we now know why. We shall presently know why he is satisfied with this local operation in the neighbourhood of Warneton. If he has made an advance locally which renders Warneton untenable, the enemy will have to move out, and then possibly the extent of his withdrawing operations will be revealed. What is evident, however, to-day, is that the armies are sparring for some important object. ‘ • • •

Between Bullecourt and St. Quentin the enemy has been raiding, with what object is not made clear, possibly reconnoitring to find out what the British General may be intending against him in that quarter. He evidently fears some great combined movement, for he has again been making a deenorate, assault on the French lines further south —on the Aisne plateau. This time with “special troops,” the French report says, sending them on in waves of 'attack, with great determination and contempt of death. The cnemv was again repulsed on his somewhat' narrow front of attack—more than two kilometres—and again when all was over ho remained in possession of a small salient. This fighting was prolonged into the Champagne sector, where the .enemy attacked again with

determination. But he got back, this time, nothing of his own. He is following up these checks with a heavy bombardment all along tbc line from tho Ailette to Moronvillcrs. The French tactics—enduring these various attacks without attempting an offensive, for which they have sufficient power—suggest that they are waiting for the outcome of the British attacks further north. For if the British swing forward into Belgium the whole of tho enemy’s line will lie obliged to move back. It is true that their line is now straight comparatively, and not liable to tbo damaging flank attacks winch threatened the groat salient which they abandoned in the beginning of the year. But if an important advance is made into their line in Flanders, the rest must, co-ordinate by withdrawal nr there "will bo a break, which not Hindenburg himself _ could prevent from growing quickly into a great disaster.

It is suggestive that the old sector, comprising Gavrelle, Alonchy and Bullocourt, is also very lively, according to to-day’s reports. Sir Douglas Haig says very little on’ this point. But Air Phillip Gibbs, who works from Headquartern with a* roving commission, supplies the report of these lively proceedings. And this correspondent is always quick at noting important happenings. There is a big pdan aloot, which will probably necessitate maintaining pressure on the enemy. If the two coming months of the summer arc as fruitful as the three that preceded them, wo shall see important happenings.

Tho Russian nows is. as wo have said, good. The anarchists, to begin with, seem to have taken to arms in despair of getting their way otherwise, and there does not sebm to be any difficulty in dealing with them summarily. Then Brusiiolt reports a marked improvement in the condition of tho armies under his supreme command. No more desertions, improved discipline, realisation of the duty of opposing a ruthless invader (and well they know his rutliicvsncss), and keenness to bo fighting. This frame of mind is increased by tho abandonment by the enemy of the recent fraternising policy, announced in messages from his flying men, threatening to shoot, and making sarcastic thanks for what they call, the truce, which enabled them to .send men to fight the British on tho West front. This is in a wav corroborated by the German press, which to-day is quoted as pointing out that the Hoffman fiasco has definitely ended the dream of a separate peace, and even as going so far (at lea.st one paper, tho “Lokal Xnzoiger,” recently reported to have been suppressed) as to complain that better agents were not selected. Tins being, of course, by order, it is probable that tho Kaiser is going to disi*racc sonic of tho pack of diplomatists and Ministers. At all events, tho enemy’s press confirms Brusiloff. .Moreover, Brusiloff’s report shows that the determination of the Russian Government not to seek peace till the enemv's tyranny and military strength are destroyed has the power of giving practical effect to its ideas. The determination was announced hr the Russian delegation at Washington.

Brusiloff is further confirmed by the report that fighting is now proceeding in the area between Tarnopol, Lemberg and the Dniester country names that appear in the news list reviving old memories of fighting and comnreliensive strategy. _ Lighting is also reported in Armenia, and at Sakkis in the Persian highlands, a short distance north of Klnimkm. The latter suggests the great Persian road Khanilrin, Kermanshah, Hamaclan — from Baghdad to the Persian frontier, through the only practicable mountain gate. It is the high road of all oho invasions of history. Assyrian, Persian! Greek, and Saracenic. It is the road on which the Russians cooperated with Townshend’s unsuccessful advance, and again with Maude’s victorious march up the Diala from captured Baghdad. It was then generally expected that the Russian and British forces would have crushed the retreating Turks between them. But for some reason unexplained tho Russian force made no further progress aiid Maude’s army is still faced by tho Turks in the foothills. The Russian paralysis no doubt accounts tor the milk in this coooanlit, and perhaps the appearance of Russian tioops fighting near Sakkis is olio ol tno signs of tiie Russian revival.

The Turks were, in some quarters, where the campaign is not regarded with too much favour, expected not long ago to be preparing a great attack on Maude’s army, to be delivered in, great strength as soon as the floods came down, imperilling his communications. Mav is the time of floods, and here we are at the end of June. But the expected move has not come. At all events the reports are silent concerning it. Either the Turkish armies are incompetent, being deserted by the bulk of the German officers recalled to drill the new levies at home, or the Turks are afraid of the temper of tiro Arab-speaking people of the Mesopotamian region, who have disliked them for three centuries, and were very much impressed by the brilliant victories of General Maude, which culminated in the capture .of the sacred city. Probably both causes have operated.

From Euesia- Mr O’Grady, the Labour M.P., has brought back from Petrograd a sensational item of news. It is that the Government have evi. dence that the ox-Czar and certain men of the old regime had negotiated tor a separate peace, and will bring them in consequence to public trial. He gives M. Kerensky as his informant. It is hot a rumour, and ther« will probably, be sensational developments, greatly strengthening the Russian revival. At any rate, the army has got into the fighting mood again; the army counts in Russia above everything mow; and this news will set the army in a flame.

The news from Greece continues to be very good and . very, illuminating. It shows the Venizelist cause getting into the ascendant irresistibly, and realises for us how great was the reign of terror which held down the Greek people. Vehizclos is content to let things develop in the light thrown by the very drastic measures of M. Jonnart.

M. Marconi has publicly stated his conviction (in New York) of the seriousness of the submarne menace. And Mr Prothero has balanced the statement by showing that the thorough agricultural policy adopted by the Government has practically made the starvation of Britain impossible. At the same time letters found on German prisoners bn the West front seem to show that hunger in Germany is having serious effects. Some riots reported to-day offer confirmation. And it is even said that there are widespread mutterings in Germany of a revolution after the war. o f which everybody is tired. Tb means, of course, that un-

til the Prussian military clement- and its forces arc beaten to the ground there will bo full internal peace in Germany. That consideration will have its effect on all the Allies, inclusive of reviving Russia. An encouragement is afforded bv the Austrian news, of the failure to form a Ministry, and of tbe revelation of the narrow escape of the bursting up of the Alliance between the two Central Powers through tlio intrigous of Count Tisza. The escape, however, leaves Austria in a helpless position. On the whole tho clouds seem to be gathering round tho star of Germany.

The Americans on thoir side keep tho ball of preparation rolling. Tho latest achievement is tho success of the Liberty Loan, with an offer of six hundred millions sterling by four million subscribers. It is tbo greatest financial event in history.