NOTES ON THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2245, 3 September 1914, Page 4

NOTES ON THE WAR

A general survey_ of tho position to-day leaves the impression . that matters are progressing satisfactorily for tho Allies. In France a terrible battle took place along the Allies' lines on Sunday and Monday, and at latest advices was still proceeding. With the result, so far a-s it has gone, we haye reason to be satisfied. In Austria the Russians have inflicted a heavy defeat oh the enemy, which it is considered will have far-reachinpj effects. In other directions also the news is, on tho whole, of a favourable nature.

The Censor has succeeded admirably in his task of shrouding in .mystery the more recent mdvements of the Allies in France. We are given 1 a, good deal of' information concerning tho earlier fighting, including picturesque stories of wounded soldiers who are sometimes made to speak with confidence of matters obviously quite outside,.their knowledge, but plainly we are several days behind actual events. The latest news at time of writing is from Me. DononoE, the enterprising correspondent of the London Daily Chronicle, whose messages on several occasions have- been the first intimation received here of important happenings. Mb. Donohoe in present. instance dates-his message from a town in the Somme district in -Northern Franco, and he tells us of a further J German attack on Monday' last on the Allies' left wing. Where tho left wing was situated at the time of the attack is not stated, but seeing that tho British forces were sustaining the brunt of the attack, it was probably in the vicinity of La, Fere. The' last wo heard of our troops was in, this neighbourhood; So far as we know, they have not been engaged in any serious fighting since August 2G, and they have had their ranks strengthened by fresh troops sent from England to repair the losses' sustained. These reinforcements arrived_ in timo to take part in tho fighting which recommenced on .Monday last,, and,- i,t is fortunate, that they di'd so. Tho ■whole weight of the German forces is stated to have been thrown against' tho British troops, and unless they are strongly supported by the French a 'furthor retirement probably will be ' recorded. This is only to be expected. The weight of numbers must tell for the time being, and a retiring fight is sound enough strategy on tho part of tho Allies at £he present, stage of affairs. The views of tho military correspondent of the London Times on this point, which appear in our cable news this moming, are worth noting. Possibly our late messages this morning will bring fuller information regarding this engagement.

A later message, which reached us shortly before 1 o'clock tbjs morning carries the fighting in France a stage further. The German attack, it seems, began on Sunday morning, and tho British, though attacked in overwhelming force, again held their ground magnificently throughout the whole of a fierce day's fighting. As night drew on they_ fell ba-ck slightly, and the Frenoh seized the opportunity to deliver a counter-attack on the wearied German troops, which is stated to have added heavily to the German losses. On Monday the fighting was resumed, the British, agaanst whom the Germans again concentrated their efforts, being reinforced.. Again the Allies appear to be holding their own. Tho details of the German losses are not given, but it is evident that they pursued their customary tactics, relying on the weight of numbers, and the carnage wrought in their ranks must have boon terribly severe. The picture of that "wall of steel," as Mr. Donohoe describes it, resisting unflinchingly hour by hour throughout the dragging minutes of those desperate days, the fiercest onslaughts of the mighty masses of German troops, is a thing to stir the hearts of all who call themselves British. Never in the history of the nation have our soldiore been called on to face more desperate and deadly conditions of 'warfare, and never has the spirit and courage of our men risen to greater heights than have been witnessed during the present titanic struggle, forced on the world by the brutal arrogance of the.military oaste of Germany. ,

There is food for speculation in the news from Belgium. The Germans seem to have suddenly become anxious concerning their position at Brussels. Eighty thousand fresh troops are reported to have arrived there, and the forces are busily engaged fortifying the environs of tho city: Why? So far as we know, tho total strength of the Belgian forces available in tho field is less than 100,000 men, and the Germans, with tho,fresh troops referred to, must have at least half as many again: In tho circumstances it would seem that the Belgians must have received some addition to their strength. It may be that the landing of marines at Ostend was merely a cover for tho landing there of a much stronger British force, and that this force will act in conjunction with the Belgians in driving the Germans out of Brussels and in harrying the German lino of communications. The further the-' German armies force their way into Franco the more difficult will it he for them to maintain supplies of food and ammunition and reserves over the long stretch of country between their base on German territory and their fighting line. A fairly strong force striking ay way of Belgium might pfuialyea their efforts by dislocating their line* of vmupnnL

cation. In any case, a force operating there would be a constant source of danger to the Kaiser's advanced troops, and would necessitate the detaching of a substantial body of German troops, which might otherwise have thrown their weight into the movement against, the Allies in Franco. The question probably will be raised as to whether England has at the moment the necessary troops to throw into Belgium. There can be little doubt on this point. \Ve have not been told when the Indian Army troops left India, nor when the Canadian forces left for England; but both these contingents must be now somewhere noar the Mother Country, and at any moment we may hear of their arrival. Instead of landing in England they may be landed direct on the Continent. In any case, it is pretty cer•tain that the-German activity at Brussels is not inspired solely by fear of the Belgians.

A heavy disaster appears to have overtaken the Austrians in Galicia, where the Kussian forces have been showing increased activity. From various quarters we have had news 'of a great battle in the vicinity of Lemberg, the capital of Galicia, and the latest advices indicate a crushing defeat of the Austrian forces. Lemberg is a city of nearly 200,000 inhabitants, Y5 per cent, of whom are Poles; It is worthy of note in passing that a message to-day states that the Tsap.'s proposal to restore to the Poles the right of self-govern-ment has had an extraordinary effect on German Poles in attracting them to the side of Russia, and probably something of the same kind is happening with the Austrian Poles. This should greatly assist the Russian forces both in Germany and Austria. Reverting to the Russian victory in Galicia, it is stated on the authority of the Rumanian General Staff that the 1 defeat of tho Austrians will be found to have been decisive. Tens of 'thousands of wounded Austrian soldiers are stated to have been transported by rail from the scene of conflict, and numerous regiments are said to have been destroyed. Apart from the tremendous effect this great victory must have in weakening resistance to the Russian' advance in Galicia, it must also exercise a wholesome effect on tho Balkan States and on Turkey. Rumania, which seems to be on the verge of joining in with- Russia againet Austria, may be encouraged to take the decisive step, in which case Bulgaria has already promised to cast , in her lot as well. The heavy blow to Austria might also assist Italy to mako up hor mind to join tho Entente.

The return of tho German cruiser Nurnberg to Honolulu, reported in our cable messages to-day, raises an important question regarding • the duties of neutral States in time of war. The United States Government recently announced that any vessel leading an American port with coal for a belligerent warship would be, regarded as a man-of-war, and would not bo permitted to call at any Amerioan port again for three months. This means that the Nurnberg cannot bo supplied with coal, if she was given a supply during her previous visit, which took place just about a month ago. What then is the object of her present visit? Is it to obtain information regarding British shipping,, and, if- so, ought America .to allow her ports to" be used for this purpose? On tho other hand, it must be borne in mind that if tie Nurnberg gets information as to the whereabouts of her enemy's vessels, the announcement of her arrival at Honolulu will assist the British warships in their search for her, and will also bo a warning" to merchantmen to beware of danger in that locality. The law of nations leaves a great deal to the discretion of neutral Powers in regard to the treatment of belligerent ships, and it is satisfactory to know that President Wilson/ is showing a desire to do what is just, in this matter.