The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1916. THE WAR OUTLOOK.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1916. THE WAR OUTLOOK.

The commemoration of Anzac Day has emphasised in lio uncertain manner the unity of the British Empire, and it lias iftlso promoted a keener interest in the position of affairs at the various theatres of the war. In the West the Crown Prince has just made a desperate but futile attack on Dead Man's Hill (Mort Homme). The assault was of a specially dramatic character for it was given out that the Hill must be taken, no matter what the cost should be. Wave after wave of the enemy was decimated, and in tile end the 'hopes of the ill-fated commander-in-chief were again dashed to the ground, just as they wore at Verdun. The only conclusion to be drawn is that up to the present the German offensive in that region has been nothing but a colossal failure, coupled with a most extensive depletion of their forces, while they have gained no advantage of value. They have tried hard for two months to accomplish their object, but the French resistance has proved an impenetrable barrier to their fond hopes, and they are practically at a loss how to proceed, for which they have been husbanding their reserves and only bringing into the fighting line sufficient to stem the onrush of the enemy. The outlook for the Allies in the West is full of promise, even without taking into account the advent of the Russian troops which were recently landed at Marseilles. here are, indeed, good reasons for believing that the number of these Russians is very limited, the probability being that the three old Russian warships which have been purchased from Japan were sent to Marseilles from Vladivostock, and that they carried a small body of troops to that port. In view of « present shortage of ships and of the fact that a large fleet of transports ivould be required for the conveyance of any extensive army (even if Russia had the men to spare, which is not very likely) there appears to be no probability that any appreciable number of Russian troops are now in France. Russia can do better service with her men in Galicia and elsewhere. In the Balkans it i« evident large allied forces are accumulating in readiness for operations when the proper time arrives. Salonika has been made an impregnable base, and there can be no question that in this theatre there will take place some ol the most important phases of the war, one authority going so far as to say that the road to Rhine is by way of the Balkans, and it is by the Russians co-operating with a powerful offensive in Galicia that the Balkan problem may eventually be successfully solved, and the way to an advance on Germany be opened up. The tide of Russian sueceses flows steadily onwards. The capture of Trebizond will enable the Rus- | sian lines of advance to converge on Erzingan like two sides of a right angle and push back the Turks with one army while the other advances on Erzingan. In the Baltic provinces Russia is more than holding her own, and appears to be gathering strength for delivering a crushing blow on the enemy. Apparently Austria is aware of the menace that ,jiow looms large against her, while Hungary is showing that she no longer trusts Germany, and would fain arrange terms of peace. There is not much news from the Italian theatre of ■perations, but what there is induces a feeling of confidence in Italy's ability to effect her purpose. The German airraids over Britain are being dealt with by British aircraft and land guns in a more satisfactory manner, and it is only in Mesopotamia that the position of affairs is not so satisfactory as could be desired, but in all probability that is of a temporary character. The task of the Allies is still a most formidable one, but there are not wanting indications that it is within their power, by applying all their available resources, to achieve their purpose.