NOTES ON THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2248, 7 September 1914, Page 4

NOTES ON THE WAR

There would seem to have been a temporary lull in the fighting in France. So far as can be gathered, the position of the Allies has not materially changed except that their lines now appear to run rather more east and west than north and south, with Paris as the centre. The Germans have been trying further enveloping movements, but also what looks very much like a direct march on Paris from a point east by north which'was checked at La-Ferte-sous-Jouarre, some _30 miles from the capital. It is in the east and southeast that the Germans'are reported to be most active, but at timeof writing (0.30 a.m.) there is no clear indication of what is afoot beyond the fact that the Allies' position has been well maintained. In the Verdun region, 120 miles away to the east, the French are reported to have ohecked the German advance from that direction, and in Lorraine, in German -territory, possibly another 40 miles to the south-east of Verdun, our Allies have been a little more than holding their own.' Altogether the position appears to be-as satisfactory as could be expected in the circumstances. \For the present the Allies must be content to act mainly on the defensive and avoid a decisive battle. The movements of the Germans advancing on Paris, judging by the places mentioned in different messages as the scenes of their opera-tions,.-have been leading up to attacks from the south-east and east.

One very important effect of tho great victory of the Russians over the Austrian Army in Galicia has been the release of a large part of the Russian forces operating in Austria for service in Germany. It is stated jthatat the outset of the war Russia's strongest opponent in the East was Austria. Germany had eent the great bulk of her troops against the Allies in France, but except for the force sent against Servia, Austria had concentrated practically her whole strength on the Russian frontier. The smashing blow suffered by the Austrian forces in Galicia, coupled with the lesser but still severe set-back she received at the hands of the Servians, have materially changed the position. Russia considers that 10 army corps, 450,000 men, will be now sufficient to hold the Austrians in check, while she will bo free_ to employ double that number against Germany. We havo not been told how many army corps were actually engaged in the invasion of Gormany, but it is plain that something like a million men must be over-running the country, and behind these no doubt are reserves of equal strength. Tho Germans . appear to have realised that the position in East Germany is becoming serious, for there is news today of five of the array corps having been removed from the vicinity of Belgium to tho eastern theatre of

war. In Galipia the Russians seem to have pressed forward on their vie-' torious march with great > speed, for it is now reported that they havecaptured Halicz, some 85 miles to tho south-west' of .Lemberg,'and incidentally that distance nearer to Vienna* Our lateat cable messages also bring news of a further heavy defeat of the Austrians. .

As evidence of tho spirit which is I behind tho Allies in the present struggle is to bo found in the agreement announced this morning as having been formally entered into by the authorised representatives of England, France, and Russia. The undertaking has been mutually entered into not to conclude peace separately during the present war, and further that no terms of settlement shall be agreed to by any one of the Allies without the consent of the others. This is a further proof, if such wore needed, of the determination of the Allies to stiok together and sec the thing through to the bitter end. The purpose in formally entering into this agreement is no doubt associated with the attitude of one or more of the neutral Powers. Italy, for instance, might well be influenced by the fact that such an agreement were in existence, for in the event of her deciding to throw in her lot with.tho Entente it would afford her an assurance that there would be no settlement prejudicial to her interests. Rumania might also be influenced in the. same' way, while with Turkey it might act as a wholesomo warning, as well as a guarantee.

Pbisonebs of war are entitled to humane treatment. They may bo detained till peace js restored, or they may Bβ exchanged) or released on parole; but the captured, spy can oxpect no better fate than a speedy death. Vattel states that "a man of honour, who would not expose himself to die by the hands of the common executioner, ever declines sorving as_ a spy. Hβ considers it him, as it seldom can be done without some kind of treachery." This is tho generally accepted view o£ the spy and his work, but others have defended spying as one of tho necessary ruses of war. The Brussels Code defines a spy as a person who, acting secretly or under false pretences, _ collects or tries to collect information in districts occupied by the enemy, with, the intention of communicating it to the opposing forco. The Code lays down that a. "spy, if .taken in the act. shall be tried and treated according to the laws" in forco in the army which captures him." It is interesting to -find that during the siege of Paris in 1870-71 tho Germans held that those who reconnoitred from balloons should be treated ae spies, and be made liable death penalty, but that theory has been definitely abandoned. The use of spies is permitted by international law, but it is clearly understood that they do their work at the risk of their lives. As regards tho present war, the German spy department certainly seems to be superior to that of the Allies, and the activities of our enemy in this respect are not confined to the actual field of military operations. German spies, or secret agents, have been discovered in various parts of Britain and Canada, and there'are reasons for believing that there have been signs of their work even in New Zealand.

There is a good deal more than meets the eye in China's announcement that sno will allow belligerents to use her territory where it is necessary for their operations, as she' did in the Russo-Japanese War. The position now is very different to that whioh existed during the RussoJapanese War. Then there were two nations at war, each with large armies and each benefiting by the permission granted, and 'each prepared to trespass if necessary without permission. In the present instance only one nation oan benefit by the permission granted; that is. of course, Japan. _ German territory at Kiao-chau is difficult of approach from the sea. At the entrance to Kiao-chau Bay is a strongly fortified town, Tsing-tao, the principal town in the German territory, which commands the entrance to the bay. The channel leading into the bay is a narrow one, and no doubt has been well mined, so that, an'attack from this direction would bo dangerous and costly. Nor is there a safe land-ing-place- for troops along the sea front. By wa,y of China however, access is much more simple. There are fouror five good roads running in the direction of Teing-tao, and a" Japanese army could approach along these with little difficulty until within touch of Tsing-tao. China's action will enable the Japanese So attack simultaneously by sea and by land.