PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2320, 30 November 1914, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The outstanding news to-'day is again from Russia. In France and Belgium there ■ is little,, movement, unless it is that Dutch reports now go to show that instead of the Germans being reinforced there, troops are being withdrawn and transferred to Poland. The news seems a little mixed in some respects, probably owing to the dates being uncertain. For instance, a Dutch report speaks of Zeebrugge having been made into a much more formidable naval base than was previously reported; whereas we were'told a few days ago Zeebrugge ,was reduced to' a scrapheap . by the bombardment of the British Fleet. Probably the Dutch message relates* to .<.the position at Zeebrugge prior to the bombardment. ( The situation in France and Belgium continues satisfactory. The honouring of .General J.ojtre reported to-day is a well-earned tribute to' the great skill with which he [has met and countered the German army of invasion. . . * * # # Great things are now happening in the Eastern theatre of the war. The desperate battle which has been proceeding between the and German, forces in Poland has resulted in an even more serious reverse to the Kaiser's army than was at first stated. In order to relieve the pressure of the Russian operations in the vicinity of- Oracow, the Germans planned a powerful counterstroke at Warsaw, and the movement seems at first to have met with some success. The Russians, by a clever counter-stroke, however, have turned a seeming German victory into a German disaster, and three army corps ard in imminent danger of either being captured or cut to pieces. The German plan was to. break the Russian Centre, and to surround the 'Russian' army between Czestochowa, in South-West Poland, and Cracow. The engagement was evidently regarded as one of supreme importance, as the Kaiser himself seems to have assisted in planning the attack, and he informed the General in charge that the eyes of the world were upon him. * * * * The Eussian Centro wa3 broken by General Mackensen, but only to find that his three, army corps were cut off, and the decisive defeat and subsequent retreat of General Fkancois increased, the difficulty and danger of the situation. Another German force had in the meanwhile been defeated at Czestochowa, and now the Russians, aw converging on Oracow from' three sides. * » * * The Germans appear to be in a desperately perilous position. It may be possible to extricate a portion of the three corps, but the losses are sure to be extremely heavy, for • their supply of ammunition is running out, and they are being incessantly harassed by the Russian cavalry. The result of the battle is regarded by the Russians as a striking illustration of the failure of German generalship. It was predicted at the beginning of the war that the Germans would, be brought to grief by their rigid reliance ■ on text-book strategy, without' ma-king duo allowance for the human factor and other circumstances which cannot always be provided for in advance. Unforeseen occurrences are apt to. upset the "book moves," and.German strategy does not seem fco be sufficiently elastic to cope with situations which do not fit in with a plan of campaign worked out beforehand on strict mechanical lines. The Times is of opinion that this inability to grapple with unexpected developments combined with Prussian arrogance is going to have disastrous consequences for Germany. * ft # * It will be noted that the Germans claim a victory, and' the Kaiser is reported to have made General Hindenberg a Field-Marshal. This may, or may not be true. It is quite possible that the initial success of the German attack did lead to the assumption that a German victory was in sight; but it is plain enough that the later stages of the battle developed in favour of the Russians, and that the "Kaiser's forces havo been badly hit. Some confirmation of this is to be found in the fact that German troops are reported to be in process of removal in largo numbers from Belghta to Poland. ■ "Why, if the- Germans have been victorious, should this transfer of troops to Poland be necessary? * * * # Rtjjio'urs of intervention by neutral nations with the object of-promoting peace arc again in circulation. They ma.y bo tho result of "icolcra'

thrown out from Berlin, or of a desire on the part of some wellmeaning i neutrals to put an end to the conllict. But whether these rumours have any foundation in fact or not it is quite certain that the" Allies are not at all likely to entertain any proposals for mediation at tho present stage. As the Paris Figaro states, all such offers will bo vain "until the Allies have the German Empire at their mercy." A similar view has been expressed in emphatic terms by tho French President, who sees quite clearly that nothing short of the complete defeat of the enemy would justify the Allies in stopping the war. He realises that a "precarious peace" following on "indecisive victory" would leave German barbarism in a position, at some more favourable occasion, to renew its attempt to dominate the world. British and Ptiißsian statesmen are equally resolute in their determination to press on with the struggle until tho enemy is completely and finally 'crushed. This is the only safe and sure way of dealing with a nation which, in the words of one of its most popular historians, only regrets one thing—"that the German did not, everywhere his conquering army preyed, exterminate more completely." The time has now come to piit_ an end to the preying'and exterminating power oi that "conquering arm." r # t- * "Others aro coming here to borrow while we are conducting -"a war costing £400,000,000 or £500,000,000 a yeaT." These words, of the British Chancellor of the Exchequer give some indication of the marvelloUß financial resources of Great Britain. In addition to standing the .strain of her own share in this tremendous conflict she has lent money to Belgium, Greece, and Servia besides providing Joans on favourable terms to the British Overseas Dominions. The splendid, success of Britain's great war loan must, have - had a decidedly ■■ depressing' effect on tho Germans, who had to resort to a variety of unpleasant expedients in their effort to raise a much smaller sum. The loan is an undoubted financial victory'which cannot fail to have impressed., the whole civilised world. It is » magnificent proof, of the unshaken confidence otthe British public in the fighting strength and financial stability of their country. ** * * In contrast _ to this optimistic spirit the feeling in Germany is extremely gloomy. News coming througji Copenhagen shows that there is a strong impression in Berlin that the £10,000,000 which Germany has advanced to Turkey is money thrown away, and that German investments in that country are also likely to be sacrificed. In German commercial circles the embroilment of Turkey in the war is regarded as likely to do Germany more harm than good. The opinion seems to prevail that before long the greater part of the Ottoman Empire will be in the hands of the Allies. Certainly the Turks, have so far had all the worst of the fighting. Sedition as rife in Constantinople, the army is badly equipped and discontented, and the position is unsound. In such_ circumstances it is almost impossible to carry on a successful war. - The latest pronouncement of the President of the United States regarding, the war takes the form of an unofficial communication to American diplomatic officials abroad that he disapproves'of bomb-attacks by aircraft on , unfortified cities. T-he President undoubtedly means well, but his attitude regarding breaches of the rules of war is altogether too weak and timid to be effective. It might have been taken for granted that ho viewed with disfavour the action of the Germans in dropping bombs on unfortified towns. His personal opinion on the matter is not likely to get much attention from the Kaiser and his Generals, whereas an empl etic protest from him in his position is' President of the United States would probably, receive some consideration, as Germany is very anxious to secure the goodwill of America. It would at any rate brand, German lawlessness with tho ' condemnation of a great neutral State. But this : is just what the President wants to avoid, and he.is careful to make it clear that his communication is unofficial, and does not involve his Government. It'is difficult to imagine what possible good he expects to achieve by such non-committal methods. . * K » « In his reply to a message recently sent to him by .the. Kaisek, • President. WitsoN, speaking "as a friend to a friend," declared that' his reservation of judgment till the end of tho war, "when all events and circumstances can be reviewed as ;• a whole," , must recommend itself as the true expression of sin?ere 'neutrality. "Whoever has been in the wrong will leasff the sequel, and the responsibility will fall on ■ the -guilty. This sounds very well, but it is a futile way of facing the plain fact that the Germans have dropped bombs on unfortified towns, needlessly destroyed Louvain, and bombarded Reims Cathedral- Reservation of ■ judgment regarding these outrages t-iems- absurd, whereas a vigorous protest at tho present moment might cause the Germans to pay a little more heed to the dictates oi, international law. : ■ ' * # # ». The permissibility of throwing explosives from aircraft was considered by tho. Hague Conference of 1899, when, the following restriction was agreed to:— . -. ; The Contracting Powers agree for a period of fivo years to the prohibition against the throwing of projectiles and explosives from balloons or from anyaimi; lar new contrivances. '■ The Second Conference met in 1907. The period of •' the abovo restriction had then expired. The Sub-Commission of the 1907 Conference discussed the matter very fully, and the Belgians proposed to renew .the 1899 • agreement for another five years. The Italians proposed and carried in S\iD-Commission a proposal to confine the throwing oi explosives (1) to dirigibles in military form, (2) subject to the ordinary laws which prohibit all bombardment of undefended towns. This would have made } air-bombardment possible ■against fortified towns Russia supported this, and Great Britain supported Belgium. France wanted to leave things alone, Germany stood aloof. The full Conference adopted tho Belgian scheme with an important British modification, leaving it iu being until the nest Hague Conference. This agreement, therefore, now represents the international law on the. subject, and runs thus: The Contracting Powers consort, for a period lasting up to the close of tho Third Conference of Peace (not yet held), to tho prohibition against tho throwing of projectiles and explosives from balloons or aw similar new contrivances.

In addition to thie the ordinary protection of undefended, towns was strengthened at the suggestion of France and Italy thus: "It is forbidden to attack, or to bombard, by any means whatsoever, . any towns, villages, or buildings which are not defended." « * « * The 'predictions contained in tho third volume of tho life, of' Disraeli (mentioned in our cablo columns this morning) aro certainly very striking. He saw fthat tho seizure by Germany of the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein would eventually lead to a challenge, to England on 'tho sea. In due course it was followed by tho present. Kaiser's famous declaration that Germany's future "lies on the water," and the present generation has witnessed the creation of a navy second only to that of Great Britain. DiSHAELi's prophecy regarding the intellectual development of Germany has also been fulfilled in a very impressive manner. He declared that the 'intellectual march of atheism might lead to a revival of national idolatries, modified mythically, but dressed up according to the spirit of the age. This prediction at once recalls Nietzsche's uncompromising attack on Christianity, and glorifica-, tion of Odin as "greater than Jehovah." This German apostle of the religion of Odin lays down the new law in these remarkable words: Yβ have heard how in olden times it was said, blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth; but I say nnfco you, blessed ate the valiant, for they ohall 'make the earth their throne. And ye have heard men say, blessed arc the poor in spirit; but I Bay unto you, blessed are the great in soul and the free in spirit, for they sliall enter into Valhalla. And yo have heojd men say blessed aro the peacemakers; but I say nnto you blessed are the war-ma!:ers, for they shall be called, if not the son 3 of Jahvo (Jehovah), the Children of Odin, who is greater than Jahve. . ■ ■ , Odin was the supreme god of the Teutonic tribes. He was regarded as the source of wisdom and valour, and the patron of culture and heroes. He was probably originally a storm god, his name signifying "mad, "or the "raging one." Nietzsche himself went mad before he died. * * * * Many of tho leaders of German, •"culture," who hold up Napoleon as their ideal, practically take it for granted that "Corsica has conquered Galilee," fo use the significant phrase of the late Professor Orambe. In this connection an English newspaper recalls the following linos by William Watson:— Tho Caesars and the Alexanders pass, While he that drank the hemlock, Hβ that dTank . The Cup more dread on Calvary Hill, ! remain, Servants and mighty oonquerora of the world. "He that drank the hemlock" was, of'course, Socrates. The Roman Emperor Julian, who endeavoured to revive paganism, thought that he could conquer Galilee.. But' later in life he found out his mistake, and at his death he is supposed to have cried out "Thou has conquered, 0 Galilean!"