PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2336, 18 December 1914, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

From the earlier accounts which came through of the German naval attack upon the east coast of England it might have been supposed that the'aftair was a mere light cruiser • raid, but later messages show that the German squadron consisted of five battle-cruisers and at least thrco armoured cruisers. Two battle-cruisers, and at least two armoured cruisers engaged the batteries at West Hartlepool. Simultaneously a battle-cruiser and an armoured cruiser bombarded Scarborough, and two battle-cruisers bombarded Whitby. Considering the force which the Germans brought to bear, the results of their raid were email. Particulars of the British casualties show that, in the various towns, a score oij two of people were killed (most of them civilians) and a somewhat larger number injured. In addition damage was inflicted upon buildings and the gasworks at West- Hartlepool were set bri fire. For these results a German fleet crossed the North Sea, and, sad to\ relate, got back again without being brought to the general engagement for which the British Navy has been eagerly waiting during more than four months of war. * * * »

Details supplied make it fairly easy to grasp the leading features of the raid. The point of departure would probably be the Elbe, since Heligoland is not a very safe base except for sniaU craft flotillas with their mother ships and attendant cruisers. ' The North Sea was [crossed under cover of darkness, and the long night of the northern winter gave the enemy time to make tho passage and practically reach their objective before dawn. The thought of the great ships steaming at high speed and unlighted across a sea strewn with mines is decidedly impressive. Since they made the crossing unharmed, the position of the British mine-fields was presumably known to tho Germans, but even so the passage must have made no slight demands upon seamanship. Contrasted with the enterprise of their daring dash across the North Sea, the activities of the German squadron upon tho Yorkshire coast marked .an inglorious descent. Arriving in the 'early morning, they scattered along the forty miles 01 coast-line from Scarborough to West Hartlepool. At the latter place, the only .one at which they encountered resistance from shore batteries, they remained just thirty-five minutes, and during that time destroyed some buildings, set the town gasworks on fire, an.d killed and wounded a number of civilians. The batteries sustained no damage, but? inflicted a certain amount on the attacking ships. The bombardment of the undefended towns further south once again emphasises Germany's utter disregard of the laws of war, which have been framed by international agreement. The appearance of a British patrolling squadron was tho signal for a hurried retreat on the part of tho German ships, and, aidod by a covering mist, they departed at Bpced. presumably for the nlace from which they had come. ■ 1 « * * *

The only disturbing feature of the position is that tho hostile warships were apparently able to cross the North Sea- unmolested and unharmed. Leaving ' tho mine-fields out ofiaccount, it might have been expected that their passage would bo contested by British submarines and other patrolling warships loiig before they came within striking distance of the English 'coast. Taking all the circumstances into account, however, the immunity which they enjoyed is not difficult to understand. Tho observation of the London Times that the- possibility of such raids, especially on the east coast, has been widely recognised, is nnl; trumped HP to Jtwefc tho occasion, but is a, simple statement of.

fact. Naval experts have stated since the inception of the war that the period of winter fogs and storms would necessarily open the way to a certain amount of German activity in tho North Sea, and the experience of the raid on_ the Yorkshire, .coast shows that their opinion was well grounded. But thoro has also to bo the fact that_ the main fighting_ ships of the British Fleet, in maintaining their blockado of the North Sea, necessarily have to leayo open to a raiding attack a portion of tho. East Coast of Britain. They cannot he everywhere, and they have to stay where they are likely to render most effective service.

As to mine-fields, at the beginning of November the Admiralty issued a- formal notification closing the North Sea. This action was taken partly in oonsequenco of the Germans having indulged in indiscriminate mine-laying in tho open sea on the main trade route from America to Liverpool, via the North of Ireland. These mines were undoubtedly laid by ships flying neutral 'flags. In these circumstances the Admiralty declared the whole of the North Sea a military area,_ and warned the shipping of all nations that vessels would be' exposed to the gravest danger from the mines which it had been found necessary to lay, and from warships searching for suspicious craft, unless they complied with Admiralty directions. It is precisely here, of course, that one of the weaknesses of the position lies. The Admiralty issues sailing directions to neutral ships traversing the danger zones in the North Sea. and no doubt tho Germans, with their highly-developed system of enpionage, cave found means to profit to the full by the information supplied in this' way. This would porhaps account for their raiding squadron crossing the North Sea unharmed by tho mines. In addition, they might have another source of information, and that is from their spies on neutral ships watching tha movements of British trawlers and mine-sweep-ers. The naval . correspondent of the London Times pointed out this danger at the time of an earlier visit by German cruisers, which plainly knew the passages through the mine-fields. Subsequently steps were taken by tho Admiralty to minimise this risk. * # * » While the Germans have at last broken for a brief space out of the bondage imposed by the British blockade, it cannot bo said that they have earned much kudos by their raid. As a stroke of war it was a puny effort. The men who man their battle-cruisers may perhaps be encouraged by the discovery that it is possible for them to tako the sea for a few hours without being blown out of tho water, but the effect will bo somewhat spoiled by their hurried scuttle back to port. If it was hoped that the demonstration would strike terror into the hearts_ of the people who inhabit the English seacoast towns it is plain that the hope has been sadly disappointed. The reports are emphatic in etating that no panic has resulted from the raid, and probably its only important effect will be to provoke anger and notably stimulate the progress of rftcruiting in Lord Kitchener's ■ new army. It is possible also that tho Germans may have hoped, by attracting pursuit, to disturb tho lines of tho British blockade, and enable some of their ships to. escape into tho high seas, but here again it is apparent that tho German stroke was too feeble to achieve, any such important result. They left for home in too much of a hurry .to seriously disturb or alter the disposition of the British Fleet.

It. is possible to discount to some extent the brave words of the London Times, which declares that theGermans might as well tHrow pebbles at the Book of Gibraltar na engage in such a raid, and yet hold that the affair had very little strategical importance.' The Germans no doubt enjoy a certain rather risky freedom of movement within certain limitations in the North Sea, but they are none the less on that account .bottled up in a blockade which they can effectively challenge only at the cost- of a fleet engagement. The British Admiralty finds it expedient to station its battlesquadron at a considerable distance from the German naval strongholds, and this no doubt confers a Gmited freedom of movement upon the German ships within the sea-areas comprehended by the blockade. They can utilise this freedom, however; only at the risk of being intercepted' and cut off from their base, and while on the present occasion they seem to have got clean away_, it by no means follows' that equal immunity would attach to future attempts of a similar kind. Even on this occasion the Germans may possibly have had to reckon with British submarines and destroyers ■ before getting back to their base.

The unofficial message fromßlyth (a port thirty miles north of Hartlepool) stating that the German raiding vessels nave been sunk is just what everyone would like to believe lias happened. In the absence of official confirmation, however, it must be received with reserve. Later details regarding the bombardment show that it was in tho main a brutally destructive attack upon defenceless towns, in which men, women, and children were killed, and Wise." «lemolished. Such a bombardment is but one more instance of Germany's ruthless violation of international law, and adds one moro to the long list of crimes ; by which she is earning the execration of the whole civilised world. » * # * The Allies are steadily _ working their way forward in Belgium. Ac .the northern end of the lino, where it touches the coast, the land forces have been again assisted by a fleet bombardment directed on this occasion at Wcstcnde, a few miles northeast of Nieuport. Thus aided, the Belgians have- advanced along the coast from the Lonibartaede-St. George's line, and occupied ground on tho left bank of the Yser. Operations further south, are also going on prosperously. The gallant stand recently made by British troops at Ypres has not been in vain, for from this point the Allies are now reported as advancing in a south-east-erly direction. Taking those facts in conjunction with the movement towards Eoulers, reported yesterday, it is dear that the Allies are pressing forward slowly, but irresistibly, all along the line in West Belgium. * * « *

Veky little no>vs has como to hand from the Eastern field ol operations, but a Russian report afhrms that the Amfcrians who recently inflicted a minor defeat upon _ the Russian, forces iii the Carpathians have already been checked. Throughout Poland tnattorn Appgas to uave

velopments wore last noted, but therehas Deen some hard fighting on tho left bank of the Vistula. The Russians admit that at one point they had to rotiro slightly, out claim that elsewhere they held their ground.

Muoh prominence- is given in the messages which we publish to-day to reports of growing discontent in Austria, against the overbearing tyranny of Germany. It is alleged that the Neue Freie Press, tho semiofficial journal published in Vienna, admits defeat, but urges the nation not to despair, while another Austrian newspaper asks its readers to believe that the Germans are betraying the interests of Austria in order to protect the road to Berlin. On top of this it is reported that the Servian successes, especially the recapture of Belgrade, caused consternation in Vienna end Budapest, and that discontent against Germany is increasing. There can be little question that this discontent is based on substantial grounds. In South Poland and elsewhere Germany has coolly shouldered the heaviest burdens of war on to its already overburdened ally, vhieh has received no corresponding benefit in return. it appears that Germany actually proposes that Rumania should be placated by a transfer of Austrian territory. This is a striking example of the spirit in which she has at all times treated her unfortunate ally.

* ■# . * * Already Austria has cause to bitterly rue the compact with Germany, and there is every indication that the Dual Monarchy is very far from being at the end of its troubles. Menaced already by Russia and by the reinvigorated power of Servia, it may quite possibly be called upon presently to cope in addition with other Balkan nations, and even with Italy. Such a combination of misfortunes present and prospective would severely try the fortitude even of a strong and united nation. Upon the motley array of nationali-

ties grouped under the sway of the aged Austrian Empeeor tho effect of this terrible pressure can only bo disastrous. For Außtria-Hungary, fls for Turkey, no otnor fate is in prospect than defeat, complete and crushing, and probable dismemberment.