NOTES ON THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2273, 6 October 1914, Page 4

NOTES ON THE WAR

Although there is not much of it, the news from France to-day continues good. The fighting is still proceeding all along the line, but apparently is of a less violent nature than hitherto—and small, wonder. For over six weeks "now the German forces have been fighting practically daily, and while they may have had occasional rests, and while new troops have been thrown into the firing line, there is abundant evidence that tho terrible strain has made itself felt. During the latest engagements the Allies have scored further successes in their attack on the German Right in northeastern France'. At Soissons, on the Aisne, they have captured the German entrenchments, while at Eoye, about 30 miles further north, a force of Bavarians was trapped and practically decimated. A Dutch account of the situation states that the Belgians have functioned ; with tho French and British troops in northeast France, and that the German Right is now enclosed in a ring of steel. This may be taken as a figure of speech rather than •■ an actual statement of fact. The "ring of steel" in all probability means that the Germans are now being attacked on _ three sides of what may be described, as a- huge uneven square, the northern side of which extends east to south-west, from Valenciennes to Ohaulnes; the western side in a southeasterly direction, from Chaulnes to about Sommepy; and the southern side from Sommepy eastward to the Franco-Belgian frontier, North, west, and south the Allies are either holding their own or progressing, and each, day the German position becomes more difficult and dangerous.

The renewed activity of the Germans in Belgium may perhaps ha\e something to do' with, the' reported junctioning of Belgian troops with the Allies' forces in north-east France, somewhere near the FrancoBelgian frontier. The Germans, fearing the effect of any further pressure in France on their already greatly embarrassed Right ■ Wing, may have directed a vigorous attack to be made on Antwerp, with a view to forcing the recall of the Belgian troops co-operating • with the Allies. It seems_ clear that the onslaught on the Belgian seaport is being made in some force. Great siege guns are being used, and enormous sacrifices, it is stated, are being made to press home the attack. Antwerp, however, is very strongly fortified, and can. be expected to hold out for some time, even if forced to rely entirely on its own resources, which is extremely, unlikely to be the caso.

The details of defeat of the Germans ,at the battle of Suwalki disclose the desperate nature of the fighting. We-may safely discount thfl 20,000 German corpses floating down the Niemen, and confins ourselves to the main fact that the German attempt to interfere with the Russian line of communications has completely failed, and that the M KAiSEii,'s.trou.ps,;lost,heavily. At,tho outset of this engagement we were told that General Rennenkajipf had manoeuvred the German forces, into a position which suited his own purposes, and this seems to.be borne but by what has since transpired. The German troops were compelled to cross the River Niemen to carry out their advance, and General Rennknkaupf appears to have taken full advantage of the opportunity this afforded him. After allowing a portion of the enemy to cross his artillery smashed up the pontoons by which they had crossed, "and then mowed down the men in hundreds. Several attempts to cross the river were frustrated, and the battle terminated in a retreat of the Germans with_ heavy losses of men s guns, and munitions of war. It seems impossible, however, to have what might bs termed a really decisive victory in modern warfare, where such huge armies are engaged. To-day's victory is usually followed.by an equally severe struggle on the following day.' Ultimatsly the moral effect of repeated reverses may make itself felt, or it may happen that economic factors will prove mightier even than modern weapons of' slaughter; but at present the battles seem endless. It is satisfactory,' however, to know that the advantage in both east and west f Qr somo time now has been in our favour, and has every-.appear-ance of continuing so. •