NOTES ON THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2260, 21 September 1914, Page 4

NOTES ON THE WAR

A good deal is k> be gathered from this morning's cable messages concerning the position at the centres of war. Chief interest still attaches to the operations in France, and it grows increasingly clear that' the retreat of the German_ invaders has been accompanied with very desperate fighting. The details of the engagements which have been fought since-the great battle on the River Marne go to show ■ that the German retreat quickly steadied, and tho efforts of the rearguard enabled the main body of the invading army to take up.a strong natural position, 'which has been further strengthened. The progress of the Allies since has been slow, but progress has been made. . Several counter-attacks made by the Germans have been repulsed, and' from Reims to the Forest of Argonnc, a distance of about 45 miles, tho Kaiser's forces are now forced to act on the defensive. It is significant, too, that the Germans arc actively engaged in fortifying positions along the valley of the River Sambre, in Belgium, from Maubeuge, on the frontier, to Namur. Some days ago,' we suggested that the German retreat seemed to point to' a concentration in this locality, but it would appear that the stand proposed to'be made there is of something more than a temporary nature. Important defensive works are being pressed forward, and it is .probable that we shall learn within the next few days that the German forces have been driven i out of France, and that Belgium is _ once more the chief theatre of war in the west. It is well to bear in mind that the' Allies cannot afford to take unnecessary risks in pressing forward their attack. The Germans overreached themselves by attempting to advance at a greater speed their supplies could be conveyed.* and,in addition the men were exhausted by the tremendous strain put on them. The Allies are profiting by this experience, and while losing no opportunity togain an advantage, are proceeding in a methodical manner, and with a'proper consideration for the probability of having to provide for a long struggle.

While the main forces of the Germans appear to be making their way towards positions along the River Sombre, which runs in a direction east by north through the western part of Central Belgium, there has been as well a marked increase of activity, in Northern Belgium, chiefly in the region between Antwerp and Brussels. WS'are told that the Germans, who have been strongly reinforced at this point, have taken up a position in a deep semi-circle from Buggenhout (north of Brussels), sweeping in a north-easterly direction through Campine, and curving round in a south-easterly direction past and beyond Louvain. The purpose of this movement presumably is to prevent'any attempt on the part of the Belgian forces in the vicinity of Antwerp interfering with the German lines of communication passing through Belgium, and along which supplies are transmitted to the army invading France. It is stated that 150,000 German troops are engaged on this task, which again raises the suspicion that the Belgians have been reinforced. Why otherwise should this large force of Germans be detached to hold in check a Belgian force of a little more than half its numerical strength, when every German soldier-who can possibly be spared is wanted in the fighting line against the Allies' main forces in France? The suggestion that interesting developments may be looked for in north-east Belgium does not appear to be without Foundation.

This calls to mind the fact that the mysterious new array which' is stated to be assisting to turn tho German right in northern France has not yet been accounted for. It is now stated to he an army of secret composition, which perhaps may bo translated as being an array composed of forces drawn from different parts of the British Empire, including India, and landed secretly in France. Speculation on the point is not very profitable, but it is.as i well to note that we are again reminded

this morning of the secrecy with which Loud Kitchener's plans are carried out. Speaking in the House of Lords, the head of the War Office stated i that he was drawing on the overseas garrisons of trained troops and replacing them with Territorials. Already, ho stated, a division of Territorials had been sent to Egypt, and a brigade to Malta—and this is the first we have heard of it. It is by no means improbable that the division of trained troops released from service in Egypt and the brigade from Malta have gone to swell the total of the "secret" army now in France.

The statement is made in one of our cable messages _ that there are countless trains being assembled on the Luxemburg border in order to transport Gorman troops retiring from Prance to the east to-strengthen the forces opposed to Russia. The 6tory is that the first line GcrmaD troops.will be sent to the east, while the remainder act- on the defensive along the western frontier, holding the Allies in check. This is not' the first time we have heard of this moving of troops from west to cast, and in view of the collapse of the Austrian troops before the Russian invasion, it is not at all unlikely that the Kaiser may find it necessary to send reinforcements to the cast. The point at which the transport trains are stated to be stationed is on© of the strategical railway, centres specially laid out for the rapid entraining and detraining of troops. There are miles of platforms, and sidings and double lines of railway. Presumably if troops are to be taken from Franc© as suggested, they will bo the forces that have been operating around the region of Nancy and Verdun. It would seem that the German forces in the west will be compelled to act on the defensive for some time to come. . At the present time they are doing so at practically all points, and the- weakening of their forces by the sending of reinforcements against the Russians in the east will prevent any possibility of a serious aggressive movement on their pai't. It may be taken for granted that the attempt which seems about, to be made to deal a crushing blow at the Russian advance will compel the Allies in France to hasten their attack. Just as the Russians' pressed forward in the east to relieve" the pressure on the Allies in the west, so now will the Allies in the west be called or; to perform a similar service foi tneir friends in the east.

". It is stated to-day that the Russian mobilisation has been completed to the extent of six million troops. Only about two million of these troops, however,, are actually at the front, while two million are acting as a reserve, and the remainder are being hurried forward from outlying parts of the great Rusptan Empire. The main Russian force, practically a million strong, is said to be advancing on Germany *by way of Posen, while half a million are operating in East Prussia; and another half-million in Galicia. These figures must be accepted with reservation. It is not at all likely- that Russia is disclosing her plans.to the world. The probabilities are, how that the tension on the Allies in France has been relieved, Russia will not hasten her advance on Germany. Time is on her side. Each day brings nearer the millions which are to swell her army of invasion. It is Germany that must hasten- to strike before'the full strength of Russia is mustered against hei. Still, the Russian troops are not idle. There is news to-day of .further successes against the trians in Galicia, and she is pressing home her advantage and seeking to prevent'the Austrian forces from cscuring that respite which might enable them to shake off the demoralising effects, of their repeated defeats. f Italy is trembling on the brink— so we are led to believe. ■ Her people have evidenced their desire to join with the Triple Entente; her politicians are stated to favour a similar course; and her reserves are stated to have been summoned for the 28th inst.' Russia especially has been making great efforts _ to bring Italy into the'war on the side .of the Entente, and France and England no doubt have not been idle. Italy has so much to gain from the defeat of, Austria and Germany that the odds a/ppear to be in favour of her joining in. But she has been slow—• very slow—in making up her mind on the' point.'

The loss of the Australian submarine AEI, with the whole of the officers and crew, brings nearer to bur doors the tragedy of the war. The fact that the vessel appears' to have been lost through an accident due to the weather or to some breakdown of her plant in ho way mini'hiises the loss, nor can it deprive the men who went down with her of the honour of meeting their deaths in the service of their country. There were only two submarines attached to the Australian Navy—boats of some 800 tons displacement, capable of steaming about 15 or 16 knots on the surface, and as much as 10 knots beneath the water. With officers and crew there were 34 all told on the lost vessel. There docs not appear to be the slightest hint as to how she met her fate. Apparently she had been' doing scout duty on September 14 when she was last seen, and since then she has disappeared. Search by other vessels of the fleet failed to disclose any trace of her. and as there were no hostile vessels in the neighbourhood it is assumed that some accident occurred. Two New Zealanders are reported to have been included in the crew of the lost submarine, a fact which will deepen, if that were possible, bur sympathy with Australia in this tragic episode in hor brief naval History.