Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15870, 9 April 1917, Page 6

Progress of the War.

"While cablcd advices from Petrograd insist that all is well with. the army, it cannot be denied that there appears to bo every necessity for prompt and effective measures to meet the growing enemy activity on the Russian front. Tho recent Russian retirement, across tlioStokhod river appears, from to-day's cables, to be a very much more serious matter than we had been led to believe. The enemy claims to have taken closc on 10,000 prisoners, including 1-30 officers and a quantity of guns. Even allowing for the customary exaggeration in German communiques, it is clear that tho Russian losses in this fight ■were severe. Indeed, their own communique admits that three regiments were badly cut up, and that the troops defending the bridgehead at Tolby lost severely. It is disquieting, in the face of such reverses, to read of n million Russian soldiers and civilians being present at the national funeral givoa V* tho victims of tho Russian revolution at Pctrograd, and also of the desertion of soldiers who were afraid they might miss their share of the distribution of land. This morning's news that the first detachment of new soldiers for tho trenches were given a splendid send-off at Moscow may mean that Russia is ovorcoming her internal difficulties, but it cannot be denied 'that tho present situation on the Russian front leaves much to bo desired. In France the Allied advance continues, nnd the British havo occupied Lcmpire, slightly north-west of tho village of Ronnssoy, captured last -week, and about two miles from Le Catelet. Tho enemy claims in connexion with aerial operations are again disquieting, in tho light of the announcement made last week in tho House of Commons. The destruction of 44 French machines at a cost of only three German planes seems rather a tall order, and it is to bo noticed that neither the French nor British communiques mention any extensive nir losses, although both speak of considerable aerial activity. It may bo that Germany is purposely exaggerating her air successes in view of the evident perturbation of the Allies as revealed in recent debates in both the House of Commons and tho French Chamber of Deputies. j