PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14237, 19 March 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

An official message from Paris states that violent lighting has taken place at: Cernay, near Albert. The Allies continue to make progress in the woods between Perthes and Souain. The Germans have for sonic time been counterattacking and endeavouring, without success, to recover the ground lost all along this front. The position won north of Mesnil gives the Allies possession of a military crest to the. west of Ridge 19(5, for a length of 800 metres. The advance secures ground overlooking the northern side of the great ridge extending from Perthes to Maisons. While the communiques have giv-

en special attention to the struggle in the open fields and in the small woods near Perthes and Mesnil, very little has been said of the equally persistent fighting that has gone on along the St. Menchould road and in the valley of the Tourbe. Hero the artillery long had matters to itself, but as the trenches were pushed steadily forward some hot hand-to-hand combats took place, especially towards the Aisne Valley, which divides Champagne from the Argonnc. There is a railway line running north from St. Menchould, which crosses the bend of the Aisne no fewer than four times before it reaches Vieune-la-Villo, which we were toldaday or two ago a fierce struggle was taking place. From Viennc-la-Ville a road runs across the forest of Argonne to Varonnes. This is intersected at Four de Paris by an old Roman road, which runs north and south along the ridge, aud that is why some of the fiercest fighting in the Argonne has raged about Four de Paris. According to the latest news we have received, tho French appear to.hold the cross road, aud virtually all the struggle of the last three or four months has been due to the German effort to capture this very useful line of communication The London "Truth" expresses the opinion that Sir John French intends fighting his way to Lille. -General Pultency's army corps at L'Epinette is within six miles of the centre of Lille. If the movement continues, we may expect a series of pitched- battles, in which the Germans will fight at a strategical disadvantage. If the Germans are defeated they will lose their line of retreat down the Lys river

The Russian; offensive on both sides of the Orjiee river continues to develop, despite tho stubborn resistance of the Germans.

It is reported from Rome that Prince Yon Bulow ha's given Italy assurances that Germany will be able to overcome the ;rpßistanco of Austria and* induce her : t6Vjcedef'territory. Germany is prepared to give Italy a free h'aitid in southern Albania, and further her ambitions jn| tho eastern Mediterranean. Germany' points out that the naval sup,- ---( V -- ■■:}■-

rcmacy thorp of Great Britain ,'And- ( France will squeeze "Italy out. The"' supporters of tho Triple Entente state that the defeat of tho. Austro-Germah armies is inevitable, whether Italy participates iii the war or not. At the conclusion of peace, the separation of Austria and Hungary is expected,.lca.ding to the absorption of the Austrian ; provinces by Germany and the extension of the Gorman dominion to Tri-'i est which* would i-ihehulbe .lost to Italy ! for ever. Italy ■'would further be forced to abandon Avlona and the Aegean. Islands. Italy demands certain territory, while on the other hand Austria lias made a much modified offer. It is' stated that the difference between Italy's demands and Austria's offer is so. great that an adjustment is unlikely. j