PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2301, 7 November 1914, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Each day's news just now is very much like that of tho preceding day's messages so far as tno operations in Franco and Belgium > arc concerned. We have a little- more light thrown on .the tremendous nature of the efforts made- by the German commanders in their endeavour to secure possession of tho northeastern coast line of Over 700.000. men are stated to have been

employed by the Germans in the attempt to break the Ypres-Lille line, that is to say, over a distance of anything between. 20 'and 30 miles this huge mass of troops was thrown against the Allies' line. We know now how this great effort failed, largely owing to the stubborn defence of the British forces, followed up by bayonet charges and cavalry work. But the struggle still continues. Reinforcements enable the Germans to return to the attack despite their appalling losses; but they continue to lose ground at many points, and the longer the struggle continues the worse their position becomes. *.# * * Tee official report intimates that there are no .notable changes to report in Belgium or France. The purpose of the Germans in seeking to gain • possession of the coast-line, however, is made clear by the news that Zeebrugge, which is 12 or 15 miles to the north-east of Ostend, is being used as a base for submarines. Zeebrugge is most conveniently situated as a base for raiding operations in the North Sea and English Channel. It is only some 90 miles from the mouth of the Thames. Of course it may prove a more- difficult matter to establish a base there than appears on the face of things, but to all. appearances the only real safeguard against it is the advance of the Allies forcing the Germans to retire from the Belgium coast-line, and we have seen that this is a slow process. The Kaiser plainly is prepared to make tremendous sacrifices to hold his ground. * . * > * Better than ever is the news from Russia. In the north, that is to say along the East Prussian frontier, as Well as further, south in Poland, the Gormans are yielding to the pressure of the great Eussian armies. The retreat in Poland has become very marked, the towns mentioned as being captured, Preborz, Kielce, and Sandomiez, being considerably in advance of the last reported positions of the Russian, forces in this quarter. It would seem as though the whole of the enemy's Left Wing is being forced'back in a manner likely to seriously, impede the movements of the Centre, unless a decisive stand is soon made. This may mean disaster for the Austro-German forces in this region.

#*' * # At the moment, there is : noofficial confirmation of the account of the naval fight off Valparaiso. We are told now that this story emanates from German sources alone, and in consequence there is a tendency to discount it severely.' It is impossible to believe, that the reported engagement was entirely without foundation. If there was any fighting at all the German cruisers when they entered Valparaiso must have shown some signs of it, and unless they did so it is hardly likely that the correspondent of the London Timqs would have sent the report he did to his paper. What is in doubt about the matter is what actually happened in the encounter. The Times correspondent, obviously on secondhand information, stated that two British armoured cruisers, the Good Hope and. the Monmouth, were sunk and the Glasgow, a smaller vessel, damaged. On the other hand, the Germans themselves only claim to have sunk the Monmoutn. No mention is made from any source of damage to the German vessels.

/»■##* The most powerful of the British vessels said to have been concerned in the alleged engagement, the Good Hope, was a sister ship to a cruiser well known in these waters, the Drake, at one time flagship of the Australian Squadron. . This was the only boat of the three •_ mentioned that would have e, fair fighting chance with the German cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst, and only two of _ her guns (9.2 in.) could be brought into play provided the German boats succeeded in keeping out of range of the 6in. guns which, constitute the remainder of her armament, and that of her consorts. The two German boats each carry eight B.2in. guns, which would outrange all but the two big guns on the Good Hope. As a matter of plain fact, the two German cruisers are very powerful fighting ships, and very nasty snags for any but our best armoured cruisers to meet.

Britain and Turkey are now definitely at war. All doubts on this point are removed by the official cablegram dated November 5, which declares that owing to hostile acts committed by Turkish forces tinder German officers a state •of war ex? ists between Britain and Turkey. Prior to this definite announcement faint hopes still existed that the' door had not been finally closed on peace. Britain's first blow, following on the bombardment .of the Dardanelles, takes the form of the annexation of Cyprus, the third largest island of the Levant. Cyprus was subject to Turkish- rule from 1570 to 1878. Since the latter year it has been governed through the British Colonial Office, the administration being carried out under a High Commissioner, assisted by executive and legislative councils. Britain has now taken full possession of the island. Fighting has already commenced between the Turks and Russians in Armenia, and the Turkish Fleet is concentrating in the Bosphorus, but it seems to be avoiding an engagement with the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The attempts to foment disaffection among the Tsar's subjects in Oa.ucasia have so far failed. ,It is stated that all the races which inhabit this district have pledged themselves to support, Russia.. The fact that fighting .has commenced between Christians and Mussulmans in Albania will add to Italy's anxieties, for she_ has undertaken special responsibilities in connection with the Albanian question, and she may bo compelled to intervene. ■ • * * * *

The report that German organisations in the United States are making preparations for the invasion of Canada should not be taken too seriously. No doubt tho majority of German-Americans detest Britain most heartily, and they are possibly indulging in a good deal of wild and reckless talk; but anything in tho nature of a- serious invasion is most unlikely. Both. tho British and French Canadians are absolutely solid in their support of Britain, and the Government of Canada an'nounccs that it is quite prepared for any hostile movement from across the border. A German attack on Canacla from American territory would' probably result in something very like civil war, for the majority of Americans sympathise with Britain in-the present struggle, and the pro-British element in the population would almost' certainly take effectivo measures to counteract a German attack on Canada if such were seriously contemplated. Thomas Jefferson, when Secretary to the United States, in a' note to the American Ambassador in Paris, laid it down that no foreign Power or person has the right k> levy. • men

within the territory of another nation. "If the United States have a right to refuse the permission to arm vessels and raise men within their ports and territories, they are bound by the laws of neutrality to exercise that right, and to prohibit such arniaraents and enlistments." The United. States Government today would undoubtedly fcake . the same view ne that laid down by Jefferson, and prevent the organisation and drilling.of German contingents for the invasion of Canada, though it may not be able to stop individuals from crossing the border with . hostile . intent. Tho Canadian Government will bo quite able to deal effectively with' secret plots or disturbances hatched in ■America or anywhere else. '

The announcement that Sir Percy Scott has- returned to the Admiralty "on special service" naturally recalls the keen controversy which, took place shortly before, the commencement of the war regarding the part which the submarine was destined to play in modern naval warfare. Sir Percy Scott contended that the submarine had revolutionised sea fighting, and that the battleship icould not hold its own< against its under-water enemy. His thorough-going belief in the Euperiority of tho submarine was strongly assailed by naval experts of high standing, but he maintained, that none of his critics had given a satisfactory _ explanation, of what our battleships would do if we should be at war with a nation well-equip-ped with submarines. We are now at war with such, a nation, and though the submarine has not caused as much havoc as Sir Peroy Scott predicted, it has certainly proved itself to be a deadly, instrument of destruction. .* * * * The most effective method o:E dealing with this menace is no doubt one of the most urgent problems which tho Admiralty has to face at the present moment, and it is reasonable to assume that Sir Percy Scott's "special service" will, deal largely with this phase of the war. The recent appointment. of. Lord Fisher to the position of First Sea Lord, taken in conjunction with the return of Sir Percy Scott, indicates that it is recognised that nothing should bo overlooked that is'likely to ensure the maintenance of ■ our superiority on the sea. Lord Fisher is known as "the scrapper" because of his ruthlessness in condemning out-of-date ships to the scrap-heap. By a stroke of the pen when in charge of the Admiralty he removed no fewer than 150 warships from the effective list. Unfortunately ueveral of these were subsequently returned to active service, instead' of being replaced by modern vessels. Lord Fisher, like Lord Kitchener, has no belief in, Half-measures, and his reappointment to the Admiralty may be taken as an assurance that thoroughness and efficiency will be carried to the very highest point as far as the Navy is concerned.