PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2326, 7 December 1914, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Further sharp' fighting in- the Ypres district is reported. . Tho Allies have had the best of the _ encounters, and have made considerable progress. Reims is receiving further attention from the enemy, who has renewed the attack on what is left of this much-bombarded town. In fthe Argonne the Allies have captured several of the enemy's trenches, and have succeeded in repelling all counter-attacks. Taken as a whole the news regarding the Western theatre of war is satisfactory. The forward movement- of 1 the forces of the Allies-may be slow, but, though tho resistance is most stubborn, the Germans are being surely and steadily driven back. * * « « According to an interesting Qfficial Bulletin issued in Paris, the Kaiser is extremely anxious to break through the lines-of the Allies, and strike a decisive blow by taking Dunkirk, Oalais, or Boulogne. This of eourße has been apparent for some time past. If successful _ it would be followed by a decaration that Belgium had been annexed. After desperate and continued attacks it became evident that the position held by the Allies was impregnable, and the German onslaught has gradually weakened. The check of the enemy's forward movement at Ypres was complete, and the _ German losses in the battle are estimated at 120,000. The Allied forces are said to be confident of victory, and with every reason. # # « # On the Eastern frontiers the superiority of the Hussians is becoming more pronounced than ever, and tho German halt seems bound to develop into a retreat. The Moscow newspapers assert that only a mere remnant of the two German _ army corps which got into difficulties in Poland in the. neighbourhood of Lodz managed. to.. fight its way out. Even 1 the Berlin Press admits that the German losses are enormous.' A Copenhagen message states that German ''official returns show that the combined casualties of the Austrian' and German armies for four months averaged no less than 20,000 a day. This gives the huge total of 2,400,000. These figures give some idea of the gigantic dimensions of the present struggle. Great as is the military power of our enemies, the tremendous strain cannot be long sustained. It is not surprising that Berlin is reported to be anxious for an early peace. * * # # The report of what took place at a confidential meeting of leaders of German political parties held atBerlin must be accepted with considerable reserve, though, as far as it goes, it may possibly convey a fair idea of what' actually : took placea. According to the cablegram the Ministers present had a good deal to say about what would happen after the war, but tho probabilities are that other nations will have a very powerful voice in the determination of Germany's future, and the' size of her army and navy. We are told that Ministers asserted that the German atmies are much more powerful than those of the Allies. It is however extremely significant to find that it was generally agreed that an early peace was desirable even on the basis of a return to the position which existed hefore tho war. It is •not easy to see why the Kaiser should desire an early peace if his armies arc much stronger than the forces opposed to them. But it is no longer possible for Germany to conceal the fact that her plans havo failed and that her position is grow-, ing more desperate every day. Tho German armies have not been able to repeat the performance of 1870, and the'effort to do so has been attended by appalling losses- * * » « It is rumoured that the Kaiser's generals are falling out among themselves and blaming one another for the failures that have occurred. It vnn recently stated that a section of the .German Frees,, which y.oices

the views of an influential group, bad started a campaign against the Imperial Chancellor (Dr. von Beth-mann-Hollweg), whose critics describe. him as a mere quill-driver who wants to rob tho sword of the fruits of its victories. It is true that protests have been made against these attacks, but tho fact that they are being made shows that things are going wrong. Even the Chancellor does not seem to be sufficiently bloodthirsty to satisfy the Prussian military clique. Thiß "shining armour" party tells us that 'inexorability and seemingly hideous callousness arc among tho qualitics_ necessary .to him who would achieve great things in war." The Kaiser may now be ready to go back to tho position prior to the war, but tho Allies are not likely to agree to a settlement on any such terms. They are not going to stop the war until tlie power of these . advocates of "hideous callousness" ife completely and finally broken.

tt « * « What part is Portugal going to play in the present struggle? A cablegram which we pubhsn this morning states that there is a Cabinet crisis at Lisbon, but there' is no likelihood of a change in foreign policy, though a change of Government is' inevitable. It was announced a few days ago that Germany had., apologised to Portugal for the invasion of Angola, a Portuguese possession in West Africa. Possibly thp attack on Angola was made under the assumption. that in any case a declaration of war by Portugal 1 would bo the inevitable consequence'of her treaty obligations with England; but as no such declaration has yet been made Germany seems to think that by expressing regret for her wrong-doing she may' induce Portugal to keep out of the fray altogether. * * # » Not long ago the Berliner Morgeivpost published a report that full mobilisation was proceeding in Portugal, and made the following comments:— Of all the incomprehensible things that this -war Tiaa Got forth in such rich masses the conduct of Portugal is the most incomprehensible. Not even the fall of Antwerp has been sufficient to oppn Portugal's eyea to the fate which betaljs itliose who rely upon that small auxiliary nation, England—tho fate to bleed to death for England and ther\ bo left in a. hole. In addition to Ithis, there is the high probability- that tho Republic of Portugal will cease to exist. We have already 'announced that the, fugitive King Manool has been carrying on activities in England which ought to give the Republic, mobilised in the interests of England, something very serious to think about. The exiled King has had a long interview at the.English Foreign Office with Sir Edward Grey, and ia now in company with the former Portuguese Ambassador in London, the Marquis de Soveral, both l as guests of the English King at Sandringham. These German efforts, ■ to cause trouble between Britain and Portugal are not at all likely to succeed. The Lisbon correspondent of 1 an English newspaper recently remarked that there is no doubt as to the wholeheartedness of the Portuguese support of England. This is evidenced by many acts, one of which may be specially noted. The Lisbon people had put by £1000 for the festa on the anniversary of the proclamation of the-Republic. They are very, fond ,of feslas, but the war, having put out of the question anything in the festive line, they banded the money < to the British Minister for the relief of the British ' wounded. As a matter of fact Portugal quite definitely ranged herself on the side of the Entente at the beginning of the conflict, 'though she has not so far actually declared war. It is practically certain that a clear understanding, exists between the authorities at Lisbon and the Allies. The efforts of the authorities at Berlin to mislead the world by false reports regarding the war may have met with some little success during the early stages of the conflict; but as time went on bo many statements from that source wore found to be untrue that German-made news became utterly discredited. The Spanish newspapers at first placed some reliance in tho accounts of German victories sent out from Berlin, but they have now discovered that they were deliberately misled. A cable message states that tho paperß are pot now printing German news, and that public feeling strongly favours 'the Allies. Early in October the Spanish Ambassador at Paris declared that though the sympathy of the vast majority of Spaniards is with France, still opinion in Spain is in favour of maintaining a strict neutrality, as the country has no terial 1 interest that would justify her in ceasing to be neutral. • # * # # The Ambassador went on to say that oven if she wished on sentimental grounds to act otherwise Spain is not sufficiently prepared to be able to do so. Since 1870 Spain has been severely tried, and a series of wars has forced heavy sacrifices on her—tho Carlist wars, the trying Colonial campaigns in Cuba, and the Philippines, the war with the United States, and, finally, the expedition to Morocco, when she sent las many as 80,000 men. Spain is consequently neither willing nor ready to interfere in a European war. For sentimental reasons, too, it would be unreasonable for her to take part. That is the general opinion, with which the King and the Government are in accord, despite j the statements of tho Radical leaders, who assert that the personal wish of the King is to cease to be neutral, which is not'the case. » * * e More compliments for Tommy Atkins. This time they como from Sir John French, who tells his men that they have "maintained magnificent British traditions and added to their lustre." So much praise might almost be expected to bring on an attack of that "swelled head" about which Dr. Emil Reich "wrote a book some years ago, wero it not for tho fact that Tommy's British pride would not permit him to contract a German disease: But in spite of all the nice things said about him _ the British soldier has his limitations. He does not seem to know when he is a hero, and he will not sing the songs which many good people think he ought to sing, preferring songs of a light and frivolous nature which have no bearing on the serious business he has in hand. —Sir Quiller 'Couch recently related how a clorgyman, deeming "Tippcrary" . inadequate to the spirit that should animate a soldier in this war, sat down and wrote somo verses of his own, better calculated to brace tho moral fibre. Here are two lines: Good-bye. self-indulgence, Farewell, tho 6oft arm-chair. But the "moral fibre" 6ong did not wean Tommy Atkins from "Tippemry," or "Hello, Who's Your Lady Friend I'i ha also become

popular. One of the latest Army songs contains these lines: Send for the boys of the girls' brigade To set old England free; Send for my mother and my sister end my brother, But for gojdness sake don't send me. Something has been dona to satisfy the critics who think that our soldiers should sing something about bayonets, gunß, and bullets. : One of the latest Army ditties runs: We're tho hoys to stop the bullets, Whew—when—whizz. In an interesting lecture. Sir Quili.er Oouoh told his audience that the English private now at the front "played with patriotism" with cheerful irony, "because he was at home with that holy spirit, so much at homo that ho might be called at any -hour of the day or night to die 'for it. Precisoly because he lived in that intimacy he was shy of revealing it, and from shy turned to scornful when the glib uninitiate would vulgarise the mystery he had not plumbed." • * * *' * Tommy Atkins'b other limitation is his inability to know when ho is a hero. He often does .great things as part of the day's work, and is quite-surprised to find himself famous. In a letter to his wife, Private Dobson, who has been recommended for the Victoria Gross, stated that he never thought this honour would come his way. "I only ,took my chance and did my duty to save my comrades. It was really nothing, but I shall never forget the praise I received from our officers and my comrades, and from the brigadier-general." A nurse, writing to her friends, states that the Tommies "are so very fine and brave, and they, never complain about anything. They are always smiling, and seeing the bright side of things even when wounded. . . . The officers, too, are just as fine. It really does one good to meet so many fine brave fellows. One forgets the sadness in the- midst of so much greatnesß." All this goes to show that there are worse things than war. It is true that war is a terrible thftig. It has a very dark side, but it also brings out some of man's finest qualities. It gives opportunities for the development o£ t the "splendid passions" of mankindsuch as courage, self-sacrifice, chivalry, obedience, endurance, and recklessness of one's own life for the sake of one's country.