PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2312, 20 November 1914, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

It is a little puzzling to follow the course of events in the Eastern theatre of war just now. There can be little doubt as to what is happening in Galicia. There the Russians unquestionably hold the upper hand. Przemysl and Cracow are Doth hard pressed, and the Austro-German forces nave been badly worstec}- It is here that the main Russian ■ advance seemed to be developing with every appearance of success, and there is no reason to doubt that this offensive movement is being well maintained. .F.urther North, however, along the frontier of Germany and Poland, the situation is open to doubt. A great battle is state a to bo raging between the Rivers , Vistula and Warta in Poland, and the Germans claim a victory. _ A semi-official Russian report admits the' great battle but denies that there 'is yet any decisive result, and hints at the possibilities of a victory _ of farreaching importance in its effects on the future of the oampaign. If this means anything at all it probably is that the Russians hope to break through the first line of defensive positions along the Vistula and in Posen. Should they succeed in this then they will indeed have made a marked forward- movement in their invasion of Germany. It would seem, however, that a portion' of their line has received a check in the vicinity of Soldau, on the German side of tho frontier of East Prussia, while elsewhere they have made progress. We must wait for fuller nows before we oan hope to arrive at any safe conclusion as to what tho seeming check at the point mentioned may mean. The fact that the Germans are reported to bo in great forco between the Vistula and the Warta suggests that the greater mobility of the German troops has enabled them to score a temporary advantage here, possibly at the expense of weakening their defence elsewhere. * 4» * » In Belgium and France there has boen little change. Lc Temps hints that the last great effort of the Kaiser's troops to break through the Allies' lines having failed, retreat of the enemy is now inevitable. A London paper's correspondent at tho front confirms this view, stating that the road to Brussels is choked with transport wagons retreating to the next lino of defence in the vicinity of Waterloo. Tho Parisian journal promises great jubilation for the

can all hope that these forecasts will be realised. The appalling losses suffered by the Germans in their recent offensive movements* overshadow anything previously recorded, and it would seem impossible for them to maintain the pressure in face of such Retreat, however, to their next line of defence probably will prove a costly business, and the sacrifice of the force covering the operation. If the Germans can bo compelled to act on the defensive on both frontiers at this comparatively early stage of the war then indeed have all their plans gone awry. The Allies can then settle down to allow the process of exhaustion to play its part. * * e » The action of the Japanese authorities, with the concurrence of the British Government, in handing over to Australia the German Pacific possession recently captured by Japanese forces, will place a heavy responsibility on the Commonwealth, but it is no doubt quite ready and willing to shoulder the burden. Japan is acting in strict'accordance with the assurance she gave when she declared war that ,sne had no desire for the acquisition of German territory, and- with her subsequent announcement that she intended to relinquish the.Marshall Islands and Yap (w the Carolines), to Britain at an early date. This promise has now been carried out, and tbo Commonwealth will have to provide for the military occupation and general administration of the above-mention-ed islands. When the time comes to consider their ultimate disposal, together with Samoa''and German New

Guinea, it may, be taken for granted that nothing will he done-without consulting Australia, and New Zealand, ana it is almost certain that most of'them will bo eventually incorporated in the British Empire. Public opinion both in the Dominion and the Commonwealth will strongly favour this course, on account of the strategic as well as the commercial value of the captured territories, and there is every reason to believe that the Imperial Government will do its utmost when the time comes to effect a settlement on these lines. It is. extremely improbable that these Gorman territories will bo handed back to the previous owners in a fit of mistaken generosity. The Empire has suffered so much from errors of'this kind in the past that it is not, at all likely that the fruits of victory will be lightly thrown away on the present occasion. « » a a It is becoming more and more evident that the United States cannot maintain the attitude of an indifferent spectator as regards the preisont war. She may not find it necessary to take part in the' actual struggle, but problems are _ being raised which must have an important bearing on her commercial interests and foreign relations. Her export trade has of course been seriously hampered by the closing of German ports by the British Fleet. Britain's action in making oopper contraband will, it is stated, mean an,.annual loss of income to American producers of something like £30,000,000. This fact gives some idea of the far-reaching effect of a great war. It is quite _ impossible for a Power like the United_ States to maintain an isolated existence. It is compelled to have relations,with other nations, and it must bo in a position to protect its subjects and ■ its trade in. all parts of the world. The entry of Turkey into the war has made it necessary for the American Government to send a cruiser to guard its Consulate at Smyrna, in Asia Minor, and the action of the Turks in firing on a party of Arnerioan bluejackets may lead to serious complications.

The war is directing public attention in the United States to various problems of defence and foreign policy. A cablegram published in another column states that a military expert has drawn attention to the fact' that any first-class Power .could menace Panama, and that tho Philippines would fall an easy prey. , If Germany emerged triumphant from the present struggle, the United States would have tb . greatly 'strengthen her means-of attack and defenco, for nothing but force would prevent the Germans from treating the Monroe Doctrine as a scrap of paper if it happened to clash with their aims and ambitions. Thoughtful Americans realise that the progress of events in Europe must havo an important bearing on the future of their country.

* * * # The decision of the President, of the United States_ not to take any initiative in the direction of mediation will certainly meet with general approval throughout tho British Empire. "It will be quite time enough tor the United States to give attention to this matter when-one of the belligerents makes formal application for its good offices. In the meantime peace proposals by neutrals, however well intended, are not likely to have satisfactory results. In a recent article in the New York Times, Me. Roosevelt gavo some wholesome advice which deserves-the careful attention of those "kindly people who know little of life, and nothing whatever of the great forces of international rivalry, but who seem to think that perfect harmony can ■ be permanently established _in tho world by means of- "arbitration and peace treaties. Referring to President ' Wilson's policy, ho writes:

For the United States to proffer her good services to the various Powers entering ujion such a fxeat conflict as the present one occomplisnes not- one pafltiele of good; to refer them when they wutually complain of wrongs to The Hajnie, which is merely a phantom, does less tfian no good. „

Ho does not contend that international opinion is useless or that peace treaties are mere waste paper; but he does hold that war cannot always be prevented by such means. He says righteousness must be placed above peace, and therefore the United States must be prepared for war. Many people _ are ox opinion that a most emphatic protest should have been issued from Washington against German barbarism ' at Louvain and Reims, and against the gross violation of the laws of civiFiscd warfare by the Kaiser's armies. Tho American Government has been altogether too weak and hesitating in regard to certain aspects of the conflict. The world had a- right to expect a strong insistence on tho rights of small States and the claims of international morality from the great American Its timidity, in this lespect has caused a good deal of disappointment. * * * « The figures quoted by tho British Chancellor of tho Exchequer regarding the cost of the war are, decidedly interesting from several points of view. The following figures will provide the data for comparing the present outlay of £450,000.000 for tho- tot sea* if'.tte

the expenditure on previous grpat wars:— £ England,'and. Franco (1793-1815) 1,250,000,000 England, France, and Russia, (1854-SG) 805,000,000 France and Austria (1859) 15,000,009 United States Civil War (1863-65) 1,600,000,000 Prussia and Austria (18G6JJ. 20,000,000 Fiance and Germany (1870-71) 316,000,000 Russia and Turkey (1876-77)... 190,000,000 England and Transvaal (18991902) 211,000,000 Russia and Japan (1904-05) 170,000,000 Balkan War (1912) 215,000,000 The above figures show the combined expenditure of the nationß involved in each conflict. The expenditure of the present belligerents is proceeding at an enormously greater rate than in any of the wars mentioned in the above table; but fortunately for ub Britain has never been in a better position to bear the strain. Her income is now £2,300,000,000, as against £250,000,000 in the days when wo fought Napoleon. It is satisfactory to know that the War Budget has met with general approval, Its reception shows the spirit of the people. There it no grumbling or sign of- dismay, but a resolute determination to crush the jnemy j' whatever the cost- may be.