WAR TOPICS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 162, 1 October 1941, Page 6

WAR TOPICS

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AFTER TWO YEARS

THIS WAR AND LAST

POSITIONS COMPARED

I While a survey of Hie war to-day may leave an impression of some anxiety, particularly in regard to Russia, a comparison of the position now and in September, 1910, when the World War of that time had lasted just over two years, may afford a measure of relief, ljn the retrospect of twenty-five years there is the consolation that vicissitudes in war are inevitable, that losses must be faced as well as gains, and that an enduring will to win against whatever odds is the best assurance of final victorv.

IX Russia to-day is rapidly approaching the peak of her crisis, tilings were even Avorse, from the purely Russian standpoint, in September, 191 G. The Russian army, recovering from the smashing blows delivered by the Germans in 1915, had in a brilliant summer campaign Under Brussilov swept back from Galicia, taking many prisoners and war material, but suffering such losses that the offensive Avas halted by the first Aveek in September. In the words of the historian, "the brilliant offensiA'c Avar oA~er; it Avas the last leaping llamc of a dying (ire." Next year Russia col lapsed, revolution ended the old regime, and the Peace Treaty of Brest-Litovsk kept the Central PoAvcrs in possession of the Ukraine far beyond the limits

now readied,

Events in 1916

In the Avcst the Battle of the Sommc was entering its third phase, which lasted from September 11 to November 10 and in Avhich the New Zealand Division played its part. The fourth phase (November 11-18) was marked by the. action at Beau-mont-Hamel, in Avhich General Frey-

berg, then Lieutenant-Colonel, Avon

iiis V.G. The battle ended with the advent of Avinter. The New Zealandcrs sustained 7500 casualties, and the total losses of tlie Allied armies

were over half a million

Ground had been gained at a heavy ■Cost, but the battle was indccisive.

and the ground was again lost in the German offensive of the spring of 1918—the most critical stage of the last Avar. To set against our disappointments in Greece, Crete and Gyrenaica"

this year there were the Gallipoli evacuation at the turn of the year

1915-16', the surrender of General ToAvnshend at Kut-el-Amara, the ill success at the time of the operations based on Salonika, and the collapse of Rumania under the German attacks through the passes of Transylvania, Rumania's resistance Avas overcome in a few months. After

the collapse of Russia Rumania was compelled to sign the ignominious Treaty of Bucharest.

Losses and Gains

On the other hand, the Turks at this time of the year, 191G, had failed in their second attack on the Suez Canal and Avere beginning their retreat on Palestine, pursued by the Imperial Forces, in Avhich the New Zealanders and Australians plaj r ed a prominent part.

There were disappointments next 3 r ear at Gaza, but there Avas no retreat, and by the end of 1917 General Allenby Avas in Jerusalem. In the minor colonial Avar in East Africa, resembling in some respects the recent Abyssinian campaign, General Smuts Avas carrying out operations Avhich by the end of 191G broke the German resistance.

At sea the event of 191(5 Avas the Battle of Jutland, Avhich, though the British NaA-y suffered lieaAier losses than the German and to that extent incurred a tactical defeat, was a strategic British A'ietory. for the Germans never risked another encounter of the kind, and finally had ingloriously to surrender their High Seas fleet, scuttled at Seapa Flow.

German} 's Failures

If the .Allies had their failures and disappoint incuts, so had the Central Powers. (Jennany's inva.sion of France had been chocked at the Ma me in the first t-reat crisis of the •war. The Aus! rinns sustained heavy losses in (lalicia. until the Germans cam.- to their rescue in 191 ,"> and strove the Russians out. Verdun \vr.<

Germany's greatest failure in 1916, though at times victory seemed imminent. The elimination of Serbia and afterwards Rumania from the war were the chief successes of the years. Italy's campaign against Austria made its best progress at this time,

Position To-day

The greatest losses to the Allies in the present war still remain the failure of France and the German occupation of the Atlantic coasts of northern Europe. Their repercussions are felt everywhere, but as a counterpoise to that there is no German High Seas licet to fear now as there was then. Further, there is a debit side to the German occupation of the greater part of Europe. In the fast war many of these countries were neutral and traffic through them, for the first two years at least, greatly reduced the efficacy of the British blockade. To-day these countries are in many respects a liability rather than an asset. Though their occupation offers military advantages, among them that of barring the road to Russia, there are serious drawbacks in the unrest that pre" rails everywhere, adding 'to the troubles of the Axis in calls on garrisons for work of suppression.

Above all it is a different Russia that faccs Germany to-day. If the German army in 1941 is stronger than it was in 1916, so too is the Russian this year, immeasurably 'stronger than the ill-armed and illsupplied hosts of the Tsar that in 1917 gave up the fight and melted r\va3 T . The United States also is n tloser friend and helper now than in 1916, and is organising more quickly and on a greater scale than then.