PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2317, 26 November 1914, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

A sensational item of to-day'a war nows is the successful attack of the British Fleet on Zeebrugge, the naval baso established by the Germans in Belgium, from which to make raids on shipping in the English Channel, and possibly further more ambitious plans. Tho affair seems to have been carried through with great dash and complete success.- Despite the presence of German submarines, the British vessels bombarded Zeebrugge until tho whole of the six submarines transported there in sections were destroyed, the docks damaged, and heavy losses in tho shape , of the destruction of munitions of war in l dieted. It was a fine, stirring achievement, and a nasty set-back to the Kaiser's naval plans. Coupled with _ the daring exploits of the aviation department, which has been causing the German War Lord so much irritation of late, this latest achievement must prove most disconcerting. It is not so much the actual injury inflicted as the constant upsetting of German plans when it is" so necessary that an endeavour should be made, to convince the forces and the German people that all is going well. .

* * # * The fighting in France and Belgium still continues to favour the Allies, and there are sijjns of increased activity, but nothing of any special moment has occurred in the Western theatre of war. In tho East, however, the great struggle in Poland and G.ilicia is proceeding vigorously, and with every appearance of further Russian successes in sight. .The Austrians appear to have again become dispiiitod. Probably this is as much due to the fact that they are little better than, pawns in the hands of Germany, as to the ill-fortune which has attended their efforts in His field. » ■» * * * We are told that the authorities at Berlin consider that it would be impossible to withdraw the German troops from France and Belgium, as such a decision might cause a revolution. Tho mere discussion of such a possibility by German politicians and generals shows that the . military 'situation is exceedingly unsatisfactory from their point of view. They dare not let the people know tho true position. Such an open admission of defeat as tho evacuation of France and' Belgium would throw the whole country into a state of panic. Yet the increasing pressure of the Allies in tho Western theatre of war, combined with the Russian onslaught in tho East,, may compel the Germans to abandon offensive tactics, and fight within their own, borders. If this should happen public confidence- in Germany would be terribly disturbed, and it is quite possible that final defeat would lead to the overthrow of the Kaiser himself by the, rebellion of an angry and disappointed nation. * * # *

A great cry for more Zeppelins is being raised in Germany, according to a statement by a correspondent o* the London Times which appears in our : cable columns. The German people have been a-ssured so often by the newspapers . and the military authorities that a great blow is about to be struck at Britain, that they are probably becoming impatient at the delay. They have heard so much about naval raids on' the British' coast and airship attacks on London that they are beginning to demand something in the way' of deeds to justify the expectations that have been raised by all this bold talk about bringing Britain to her knees. We are told that the people are placing their hopes in tho Zeppelins, as they realise the superiority of the British Navy. % The idea of an airship fleet dropping bombs on London and throwing England into a. state of panic seems to have captured the German imagination, and there is every reason to believe that a raid of this nature will bo attempted sooner or later. y ■ Many difficulties stand in the way, and a combination of favourable circumstances is necessai'y to ensure a fair chance of success. Many people think that, owing to .' the stormv weather that prevails in the North Sea in winter _ and spring, • the threatened, invasion would not be attempted before the coming summer, out it may be taken for granted that the blow will be.struck when least expected. The precautions taken by the British authorities show that they do not intend to run the risk of being taken by surprise.

# * * * It is_ reported that the Germans are trying to sow dissension between the British and French Armies, but such tactics aro not likely. to meet with success. According to English files the two forces are. working together most harmoniously, and very friendly relations have been established between Tommy Atkins and his French comrades. They are not going to fall out in order to please the Kaiser. The Germans may ■ be very cunning* but if they, rely on securing a win by dividing their opponents they are merely adding .another to their long list of miscalculations. They have already thrown put feelers with the .object of ascertaining the possibility of.coming to' terrhs separately with Russia, or France; or Belgium, bitf the results have been far from encouraging, • The Allies have come td a .clear understanding among themselves, and have resolved to aOt in concert until the final settlement. Gerrnan schemes for creating discord are therefore doomed to failure. * * * * It is by no means an easy matter to starve & country like Germany. There will_ no ddiibt be a serious shortage iii Certain kinds of food, but'as'a T.imek correspondent states, it is hardly possible to absolutely stai-ve her but. This does not mean, however,. that Germany cannot be exhausted. On the contrary, she has been desperately hard -hit economically already, and even in the matter of food supplies things might become so bad that a. tremendous public outcry against the war would result. It is quite certain that as the war proceeds unemployment and distress will increase, and the industries of the country, with the exception of' those concerned in the production of war material, must drift rapidly into a state- of complete stagnation. Towards the end of August, when the war had been in progress for , less than a month, the VorwaerU ,jave details of an inquiry made by the Industrial Commissioners of Berlin regal' Sing the problem of unemployment. It was then proved that there tfcNS in Berlin proper 57,188 persons out of work, and in Greater Berlin JOD.OOO. The state of affairs is undoubtedly far worso at the present time, than it was three months ago. • Jtf (t.n iiVU<;lq jHibliehgcl i» ijiily .last J)i, JiA.ai auMßx of Berlin

disagreed with the contention of Vice-Ohancelloe Delbruck that Germany could not be starved. Dk. BalLod expressed the opinion that in time of war Germany would be unable to feed her people. He also pointed out that 4,900,000 men between the ages of twenty and thirtynino would be called to join the colours. _ Tho effect of the withdrawal of this vast number of men from agriculture and industry, the closing of factories due to the lack of importation of raw materials, must cast out of work a great many men, boys, women, and girls. This would result, according to Dr. Ballod, in putting Germany's recent dcvolopment two hundred years back, and Betting her down from her pinnacle of commercial achievement to a levol below Finland, Switzerland, or Belgium. « * » # The princes and peoples of India have already proved their loyalty in a 'very practical manner, but they are prepared to do still more if necessary. A cable message published to-day states that the Mahaeajah or Idae, who is proceeding to the front told an interviewer that "if the Emperor (King George) requires an army as large as that of lxussia, India is able and willing to supply it." The unanimity and enthusiasm of the response of India to the Empire's call nas astonished the world, and has been a bitter disappointment to our enemies, who seem unable to understand the nature of the tics which bind Hindu and Mohammedan, Maori and African, to the British Throne. The loyalty of India is explained by a distinguished Indian Judge, Nawab Nizamui Jung, in the following lines, entitled India to England," which recently appeared in the London Times: — Thine equal justice, mercy, grace. Have made a distant alien race A part of thee! ,'Twas thine to bid their eoule rejoice, When first they heard the living voice Of Liberty! Unmindful of their ancient name, Andlost to Honour, Glory, Fame, And sunk in etrifo Thon fonnd'ot them, whom thy touch hath made Men, and to whom thy breath conveyed A nobler life! They, whom thy lovo liath guarded long, They, whom thy caro hath- rendered ' strong . In love and faith, Their heart-strings round thy heart en T twine; . ■ They nre, they ever ./rill lie thine, In life—in death! * * » » • •

The Maharajah of Idar is not greatly troubled about the Holy War made iu Germany," 'Ho is not deceived by the efforts of the proGerman party at Constantinople to persuade the Moslem world that tbeir religion ■ ronuires them to help Turkey, to fight the Kaiseh's battles. He sees quite clearly that Turkey "is only a football, coerced and driven by Germany," and declares that the Mohammedans are unconcerned by Turkey's action. Tho only thing Britain has had to fear in_ this connection is ignorance and misrepresentation, and it is very Batisfactory to find that the Mohammedans of India' and Egypt have such an intelligent grasp of the situation that the campaign of mendacity directed from Constantinople and Berlin has not been able to lead them astray or shake their loyalty'to the British Empire. ■