Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16152, 5 March 1918, Page 6

Progress of the War.

Although the nows from the West front to-day inclieatos that the German activity along the British and French fronts is increasing, there is a conflict of opinion as to whether the enemy aggressiveness can bo construed into indicating the initial stago of liis hig offensive, or whether the attacks of the past few days have Loan merely carried out to test the strength of the Allied positions. From the reference in one of the correspondent's reports to the unsettled weather conditions ft would appoar that the latter interpretation of events is the correct ono, for until the weather can be rolied upon with some degree of certainty it is hardly likely that the enemy will risk prejudicing his prospects by striking prematuroly. Such local attacks as have been reported during the past few days are only what ono would j naturally expect with tho coming of [ spring, and no special significance can be attached to them. Tho most satisfactory feature of the recent activities is the reception accordcd to the assailants by our allies, tho Belgians and the Portuguese. In tho attack on the Belgian sector tho enemy failed to reach the defenders' lines, and though in the attack against the Portuguese a whole enemy battalion was employod, some of whom, after a fierce bombardment, managed to reach their lines, they were immediately driven out by a strong counter-attack, indicating that tho "Wostorn line is as strongly held on the Belgian and Portuguese sectors as at any other point. Tho news • from Russia is as usual conflicting. A German official report announces that tho ' jijsatfsion has been stopped owing to the signing of the peaco treaty, but other messages do not bear out the German statement. A similar state of doubt prevails with regard to the position of Roumania, messages announcing that peace negotiations are proceeding, while another declares that they have been broken off, owing to King Ferdinand's refusal to accept the enemy's terms.