PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2311, 19 November 1914, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Outstanding in to-day's messages is the news of Russian progress in Galicia. Cracow is in flames and Przcmysl is hard pressed. It may be some days before these fortified towns succumb to the attack of the Tsar's troops, but with their downfall should comb the real invasion of Germany in'tho East. The fighting in Belgium and Franco continues violent, and it is cheering to note that- despite tho renewed efforts of the Germans tho Allies still. • more *han hold their own. An official

message records that during tho last two days they have made more or less progress _at every point. Read , 'in conjunction with the reports of reinforcements sent to strengthen the' German attacks this is decidedly encouraging. _ The splendid gallantry of tho British troops is again recorded, and makes an inspiring tale. * * • t> The war is costing Britain about £1,000,000 a day, and Mr. Asquith states that the cost is not likely to diminish as the struggle proceeds. The expenditure for the. first year is estimated to amount to £450,000,000. War was never so expensive as it is to-day. The soldiers are better paid, better fed, and better equipped than on any previous occasion j the numbers engaged are enormously greater, and the arms, ammunition, and machinery of war are on a much more elaborate scale, and with quick-firing guns, the consumption of ammunition is enormous. The gigantic figures placed before Parliament by the British Prime Minister and the _ Chancellor of the Exchequer may give the taxpayer a good deal of food for thought, but he has the consolation of knowing that the enemy has to bear a similar financial burden and is not nearly so well prepared to stand tho strain. British trade and industry are still being well maintained, though not, of course, at the same level as in times of peace. The Board of Trade returns for September show that Britain was able to import goods to the value of £45,051,937, and to export her own produoe and manufactures to the extent of £26,674,101. Of course, there has been a big falling off, but the above figures disclose a really wonderful record for.a nation -which is in the midst of a life-and-death struggle like the present. - From the financial point of view we have an enormous advantage over our enemies. The overseas commerce of Germany has beeri almost annihilated and her industries are at the lowest ebb.

ti it » » A whiter in the October issue of the Nineteenth Century, contrasts the financial difficulties of the German Government "with the ease with which £45,000,000 of Treasury bills on account of- Great' Britain's war expenditure were placed in one month with so little appreciable impression on the available resources of the country that money to almost any amount has been obtainable in the open market at from 3i- per cent, to 3J per cent." The public debt of Germany has grdwn enormously in the years of peace, and the writer referred to'declares that this fact is going to play.an important part in the present struggle. Both Britain and Germany will have to go on , spending vast sums, and it remains to be seen which of them can last longest at that game. If the last few hiindred millions are to win the war Britain's chances of winning aro vastly greater than Germany's. Tho energy, progress, and enterprise of Germany have been remarkable; "but when ono. comes to consider the antiquity, strength; and duration of Great Britain's na" tional wealth, Germany is but an infant in arms in comparison. . . . Britain is far and away the biggest creditor nation in the' world, and a vast income from her foreign investments flows into her treasuries year after year." Tho financial pressure of the war will bo severely; felt by the British Empire, but it- must eventually- prove absolutely crushing to Germany and Austria.

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Turkey entered into the war in a very half-hearted spirit, and soon found herself beset .with troubles [both at home and abroad. She,has already 1 met with serious reverses at the hands of British and Russians, and her efforts to stir up disaffection in Egypt have ignominiously failed. The latest news shows that a force of Turks and Kurds ha.ve been ■ defeated in the neighbourhood of tho Caucasian frontier, and that attacks on Russian posts in • the Black Sea resulted disastrously to the Turks, who havo ■ also been defeated witn.heavy,loss by the British in the vicinity of Fao, at the head of the Persian Gulf. In addition to its other misfortunes Turkey . has now to face an Arab rising in Eastern Asia Minor; and various frontier tribes are assisting tho .'Russians. This accumulation of untoward events is sure to increase, tho feeling of dissatisfaction in Constantinople, ■ and there is probably serious trouble ahead 'ii the pro-Ger-man party. Neither Bulgaria,' Rumania, nor Greece has yet mado a definite move. It is rumoured, however, that an understanding has been arrived at between Turkey and Bulgaria, but it is thought that this report is being circulated for the purpose of compromising Bulgaria in' the eyes of Britain. The fact that the Italian' Cabinet has set aside £16,000,000, for.defence and to meet eventualities is another indication of Italy's nervousness in regard to the outlook. She has been hesitating ever sinco the beginning of the struggle, but seems to be getting nearer and nearer to the brink of war. • * « o The battlecries of the British troops are a puzzle to the Germans, who appear to resent being shot and bayoneted to such incongruous ejaculationsas "On tho ball" or "Here's for a, goal." To the serious .German Buch cries must seem to be undignified and altogether-too frivolous for the battlefield. Probably he thinks that tho British should shout "Rule Britannia" or "God Save the King", when they make a charge; but Tommy Atkins is not built that way. Hβ carries his sense of humour right into the firing line and the bayonet charge, ' and his capacity for seeing the brighter side of things' helps nim to maintain his cheerfulness in the most cheerless situations. A war correspondent tells us that the spirits of our soldiers are unquenchable. "They sing and joke and laugh as they come from battle, even with numbers sadly diminished by the - enemy's fire. After a big engagement "they play football aa a relief to tho mind, and many a card game goes on in the trenches under the very nose of the shells." The sayings and doingsj of tho British eoldier amuse his French comrades, and bewilder the Germans. Ono Irishman describes a bayonet chargo as "like tossing hay. . He had no special ill-will against tho Kaiser's men, but he thought they were extremely unreasonable and inconsiderate. "In the trenches for hours we were," ho remarks, "and raining all the time and they did not come. Wo camo out to get a bit to eat and a rest, and while the tea was'boiling they attacked us." Ho does not think that was playing tho game fairly. "Sheer bad luck! We never got that tea." • However, much Tommy Atkins's battle-cries may clash with German ideas as to the fitness of things, they servo their pnrposp extromely well, and we 0,10 &U very 1 jjiroud of him, • J