PROGRESS OF THE WAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9716, 19 July 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The Chancellor Michaolis has spoken. Ho lias declared that his mis-s-inn is to develop German unity inside and strength outside. The outside observer knows that Germany has been united from the first, when the Socialists declared themselves for the. war as Germans before everything, and that the German .strength in the field has grown weaker. He is aware that the crisis is still chaotic. He, therefore, is apt to conclude that Dr Michaolis is trying to stop the chaos with a platitude. What is certain is that under cover of the platitude ho is playing the game of the men who put him where he is. Moreover, it is plain that lie got his opening, because h).s predecessor venturing, after eight years of obedience implicit, on a lino of his own, found it conducted him to tho door and the key of the street. ■Hollwcg saw that Germany’s only chances of safety are constitutional reform and peace without annexation, insisted for the first time in his official life on his view, and, like all his predecessors, departed his official lilc. Michaolis naturally begins I>y r adopting the idea s of Ids master or masters.

The difficulty while tho crisis lasts seems to bo to know who is Ids master, or what combination of mastery ho has to servo. Tho Kaiser, the Crown Prince, von Hindenburg and von Ludendorffi. all thrust out Holiweg, and installed Michaelis. But who rules it is hard to say. An American correspondent, on tho authority of “semi-official documents,” declares that the star of Hohenzollern is leaving tho Kaiser to shine on his son. It is another way of saying that the military party'and the pan-Germans, finding the Kaiser a. broken rood, by reason of his mismanagement of his puppets of the Chancellery and the Foreign Office, are bringing out tbe Crown Prince, who has no past beyond what belongs to the generals who in In's name lost the Verdun campaign. If this be correct, then the Kaiser's days as Kaiser are numbered, and it he falls lie will fall, not by a popular revolution but by a palace intrigue. The new situation means that , Prussian militarism has made up its mind to rule with or without the Kaiser; intends, in fact, to follow the Kaiser's example of a quarter century, and be its own Chancellor. Pile only difference is that they want vhe lluhenzollern glamour, the hypnotic value ot which they very well understand. It is as strong in Germany as ever was the famous “tapu'' of the Maoris in New Zealand.

Against them those designing chiefs havo the Erzborger Party. That Party, suddenly forged in tho fire ot crisis, was the other day 253 strong, all told, apparently strong and determined, To-day we aro told by some authority, not defined (through Amsterdam) that this party is still determined. but no longer strong, inasmuch as its too numerous loaders have fallen away from the unity which the situation demands. This unity, we are given to understand, has fallen victim to the divergence of views of detail. Only a strong man could prevent such divergence, and there is no strong man. The strong men aro in the other side, speaking platitudes through the mouth of Michaolis, and trying to carry on as if there wore no Erzebergers in creation, peeking safety in numbers of divergence. Obviously a determined push of the policy, to whicli all of these are hostile. may unite them with a snap. Then, how long will the military dictatorship last? It dees not, accord' ing to ono of the stories we get today, look beyond a short phase of power; long enough for a last dcsnerate gambler’s throw in the field. If that succeeds, then will militarism, with the star of Hohenollern, be able to dream once more of a world Jimpire. If it fails—then let everything go to pieces. But the way is by no means clear, for tho advance of the soldiers behind the Michaelis platitude.. It is the Erzbergers’ move, and we have to see what they make of it; But for the present there will be no peace proposals from the German side. In fact, no one can say what there will be till the crisis ends, and ♦he crisis does not look like ending just yet.

The Russian offensive in Galicia has come to a stop. The fact stands out clear enough from the communiques of both sides. Yesterday the Russian wedge was at Kalush, ready to throw the Austrian loft into the Carpathians and their protecting stronghold ot Dolina had just fallen. To-day there Is no confirmation of the capture ot that place, and the wedge-head is no

more, the Russians haring abandoned Kalush, ami retreated over the mnunica, for, as they put it, a better crossing and strategic reasons generally. At the same time they nave maintained their hold of Koviea, further down t!ie Lomnica, nearer the Dniester, against strong attack. They lost the place for a moment, but they retook it, and held it. 'What has happened is plain enough. Mackcnscn lias brought up heavy forces, and stopped the Russian advance, driving back that part of it which was most dangerous,, the. part on the Carpathian side.

Korniloff, it is explained to-day in a Pctrograd communique, had planned to attack Lemberg from the side by Kalush and Stryj, having discovered that the enemy bad constructed very strong fortifications east and southeast of that place, behind the armies holding the lino through' Rrzezany. He succeeded in smashing the Austrian front and opening the unfortified road to Lemberg. A low more marches and that place would have been in grave danger. At the same time. Until Lemberg was in his hands, the eastern and south-eastern positions would remain intact, ready for the Brzczany army to fall back upon in case of enforced retreat. Everything depended for the enemy on stopping Korniloff from getting 'to Lemberg bv the unfortified southern roads. Realising the danger, Mackcnscn, with the Austrian Archduke, hurried to the spot, bringing fresh troops. They were favoured by the rains, and getting up in time they have stopped the opening made by the Russians and driven in the Russian Line just where it was threatening disaster to tho Austrian left.

The Russian accounts read as if there was hope of an early renewal of the effort which has failed to reach its chid’ objective, though it has made really great gains. Wo know that tho Russians lost heavily in their brilliant advance, and we know from the message of a correspondent that they have received reinforcements. These, however, wore evidently not strong enough to force the offensive on against the reinforcements and skilful dispositions of the enemy’s general, the best of all tho enemy has in the field. Tho clement of surprise is now exhausted, the. .Russian design is known, and we, may be sure that the enemy will, while resisting the attempt of the Russian general to force his way forward, construct as many strongholds ns ho can between him and Lemberg. Moreover, if Bolina, further south and west, •is still in -Austrian hands—as now seems likely—the repetition of the wedge attempt will be difficult. Bolina is the head stronghold of a formidable line, of works constructed under Mackenson’s supervision, when he was opposing the swoop of Brusiloff up warn a between Stanislau and Kolomea last autumn. While tho Russian was partially paralysed by tho treachery of O.ardom, Maekensen built a very powerful barrier This would have been turned by the capture of Bolina, and the advance from Kalush. But with Bolina in Austrian possession and the Kalush advance barred, the task of the Russian general is difficult.

Brusiloff. however, who commands all tlie Russian armies, is full of resource, and the leaders of the extreme party of'the Revolution have determined to concentrate all their efforts on keeping up tho offensive, sinking all differences till tho end of the war.

Naturally there is no news of fight, ing at Brzezany. With Korniloff cheeked, the communications of General Bothmer arc safe. As, moreover, lie has behind him tho. formidable lines which diverted Korniloff’s offensive to the south, his position at Brzezany is safe. Without the Korniloff continuation it would be useless to attack him. Before Bothmer is in grave danger at Brzezany, Kornilolf must break bis way towards Lemberg. It is, of course, possible that Brusiloff, who is directing the whole campaign, finding the stroke at Lemberg from the south frustrated, may move on tho north side; resuming the movement he made in that direction at the opening of tho offensive. Tire fejnt of yesterday may become the objective of to-morrow, so to, speak. The lighting on the northern line continues, and the "Russians report minor operations on the lower Danube.

The French on tho Champagne front continue to fight with great brilliancy and success. Wo have some details from At. Marcel Hutin of their magnificent victory on tho Mcronvillors massif. There has rarely been, according to this correspondent, such strength and determination in the German attacks. and tho repulse . was correspondingly thorough, especially the final massacre of tho German infantry wave that penetrated to the trenches. Today’s report is that the enemy tried his fortune there again and was again badly beaten. Further east, on tho w.st of the Aleuse, our Ally has not only recovered all his lost positions on tho Avocourt-304-Alort Homme section, but lias extended his ground by further captures.

On the British front. Sir Douglas Haig reports a slight advance at Monehy, south of the Scarpo, and gives praise to his airmen for the valuable assistance they have given to bis artillery all along the lines reported yesterday.. This would seem to indicate that the bombardment was of serious purpose. The German communique of to-day claims to have repulsed reconnaissances (his own word) at Alessines. Hulluch. Gavrelle, Bullecourt, between that place and St. Quentin. At any rate, ho establishes the fact that tho British are industrious at several points. All these are signs and portents of a great, storm.

We have particulars of the Jpng-talkcd-of reconstruction of tho British Cabinet. It is like a thunderclap to lesrn that Winston Churchill has been given the portfolio of Alunitions. The Empire will shudder that his capacity for blundering has been placed again in the Cabinet. It will find comfort in the recent statement of Air Lloyd George that the munition, supply now readv is practically sufficient to see the war through, and. it will realise that Mr Lloyd Georgs is much more able to keep his colleague in hand than Air Asquith proved. WKy Air Alontagu should succeed Air Chamberlain at the India Office, Air Lloyd George only knows, and he has sometimes good knowledge of men. Clearly, Sir Edwaid Carson was not the right man for tho Admiralty, and he has relieved Air Bonar Law at the War Office. The surprise of fhe packet is Air Eric Geddis, who becomes hirst Lord of the Admiralty.

Before the war Mr Geddis was , known to a few railwayman as a brilliant handler of railway . traffic. At the outset of the war he showed that talent to such advantage in organising tlio traffic of the 1/nited Kingdom that ho was asked to go to France, and there he organised the whole transport, getting order out of chaos, and establishing the system, on the

lines of which rho perfection is admired by the whole world. He served, of course, with the rank of general. H-o .striking was his success that ho was ordered to Lugland to , organise the whole shipping problem, being installed at the Admiralty with the rank of admiral, achieving the unique dis-tinction-of holding both general’s and admiral’s rank- And now he lias become First Lord of the Admiralty. Of course, he has long been recognised as ono of tlie brainiest and most resolute and clear-sighted men in Britain. He is perhaps the greatest of the many discoveries of the war. /

Tho last stroke of the Carson pen a.t tho Admiralty is seen in the manifesto signed by Sir F.. Carson and Admiral Jellieoe. to the iron and steel trades, appealing for their best .efforts to cope with the submarine menace. It is significant that this appeal declares that there are only two weapons for the purpose —building ships to hunt the pirate-, and building'traders to replace the lost, tonnage. There is an unmistakable note of urgency, which shows that tho position is still very serious. Moreover, the appeal seems to explain the recourse to the splendid organising abilities of the new First Lord. That he is not in Parliament is quite a part of -Mr Lloyd George's system of securing tho host talent.