PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2339, 22 December 1914, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

A period of intense activity on the part of the Allies in Belgium seems .to have been followed by a comparative lull, and only minor movements are reported in the news published to-day. One message explains very clearly the nature.of the fighting in Flanders, and makes it easy to understand why tho forward progress of the Allies is often so slow. The Germans, it is pointed out, hold a practically continuous line of elaborately constructed defensive works, which restrict the advancing force to the sapping and mining methods which used to be associated chiefly with siege operations. On the coast, the land forces of the Allies have been greatly assisted by the fleet bombardment of tile enemy's positions, and tho result is seen in the comparatively rapid advance to Middclkcrko, halfway bo tween Nicuport and Ostend, but further inland the enemy has to be dug out almost yard by yard. The operations in Belgium practically amoiint to a continuous siege, but the Germans are nevertheless being pressed back. Even the fortified lines which the Germans have constructed south from Antwerp, and on the Mtiusc, can scarcely oppose much greater hindrances to the advance of the Allies than the mazy lilies of Willi vhiflh 1.1'0.V Ufa h#» covering the face of the country.' ,

Details of some of the recent engagements in Northern France and Belgium furnish a striking testimony to the valour and endurance of the Allied troops. After German entanglements near Arras had been mined and blown up there was a desperate hand-to-hand encounter, which resulted in seven lines of tronches being captured from the enemy. It is mentioned that in resisting counter-attacks the troops fought waist-deep in flooded trenches. In the recent operations in West Flanders less determination was shown bytho Germans. Along the Yser, many prisoners, suffering from hunger, surrendered without resistance. It is an old maxim of war that soldiers cannot fight on an empty stomach. At St. George's, near the Belgian coast, the enemy appear to have made a brave though -unsuccessful stand against the French cavalry. Anglo-Belgian forces are now working northward from Dixmude, at which place a body of Flemings did something, by a gallant charge and capture of the bridge-head, to avenge the wrongs inflicted on their nation.

Even by their own accounts, matters in Galicia do not seem to be going tod well with the Austrians. They claim that they are holding their line, but mention that strong Russian forces are appearing. The most interesting item, and it is disappointingly brief, is that a great battle is developing in the Lupkaw Pass. This is a gateway of the Carpathians, twenty-four miles south-east of the Dukla Pass, through which the Austro-German forces were recently reported to be pouring into the northern plains. The MezoLaporcz Pass, mentioned recently as the objective of a Russian advance, is midway between the other two. There is nothing in the latest report inconsistent ivith the idea that the Russians have simply moved back their line to obtain comfortable manoeuvring room. A battle in the Lupkaw Pass might, of course, involve a new development of the outflanking movement which the AustroGermans were recently reported to have in contemplation, but since these forces have recently been massing in Galicia to co-operate with the German Eastern Army in defending Silesia, it is more likely that the Russians have found a weak spot, and are intent on penetrating the mountains and taking their enemies in the rear, on the inside of that natural barrier.. With the almost unlimited forces which Russia has at command such an enterprise would be by no means impossible without in any .way seriously weakening the army which is facing the AusfcroGermans in Galicia. * * # # So far as the conflict with Servia is concerned the tide of war seems •to have turned against Austria in a fashion that promises to become permanent. Following upon the disastrous defeat of the Austrians, and their expulsion from Servian territory, the Serbs and Montenegrins are now reported to be pursuing a vigorous offensive along the whole front in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A telegram received by the Austrian Embassy at Rome states that the Austrian Army in Servia was for days without food and without ammunition. Ten thousand troops, it is stated, died of hunger. This pitiful story is all the mora striking in view of the complaints recently made in Vienna about the onerous tasks imposed on Austria by her ally. _ It seems quite clear that the Austrian debacle in Servia is explained, in part at least, by the fact that Germany has compelled her ally to concentrate almost the whole of her resources in Galicia and in defending the frontier of Silesia.

Keen gratification will be felt by all Now Zealanders, and' especially by those who have friends and relatives in the Expeditionary Force, at the references to it which are contained in cablegrams from Cairo. It will be seen that the New Zealanders figured prominently in the impressive ceremonials which have heralded the accession of the new ruler of Egypt, and that they wore greatly admired. Praise is given not only to the physique and bearing of the men, but to the fine oondition of' their horses, and it is even stated that English Regular cavalry could make no better showing. That the New Zealand troops should be able to make so great an impression in Egypt 'is very much to their . own credit and to that of the Government and country which sent them forth so well equipped, for the people who have found them worthy of admiration are accustomed, to the sight of some of the finest troops in the world. At the present time there are serving in Egypt along with the New Zealanders and Australians, a number of British Regular troops and Territorials, and representatives also of that splendid Indian 'Army which in point of training, horsemanship, . and all-round efficiency stands second to none in the world. That Now Zealanders should acquit themselves so well in such good company gives just cause for pride and satisfaction.

There . is something admirably conclusive about the words in which Mr. Winston Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty) has summed up the recent German cruiser raid. It is certainly a striking thing that the Germans should have risked practically the whole of their fast cruiser force, including the great ships vital to their fleet, for the sake of killing a few hundred English people, irrespective of sex or age. No better proof could bo desired of the extent to which the Germans have lost their judgment as well as the scruples which should influence a nation even in the conduct of war. As Mr. Churchill says, their bate is measured by their fear, and for the German Fleet, the stigma of "The Babykillers of Scarborough" will cling to its officers and men while sailors sail the sea. Henceforth we will take pride in the British Navy because its record is clean as well as warlike. It has remained for the Germans to bring this additional virtue into the forefront by contrast with their own infamy. « * * * The fact, mentioned in a cablegram to-day, that Germany has called to the colours all physically fit men between the ages of 17 and 4o emphasises the magnitude of the.task which still lies ahead of the Allied Armies, and will do something to explain the slow progress that tlioy have made up to the present time. The position, of course, has some features that arc distinctly favour 2 able to the Allies. Having called up practically the whole of her available reserves of men, Germany has still failed to stem the advance of her enemies; but on the other hand sho is able to offer by sheer force, rif numbers such a tlftad weight of reSiftahse as qiijtlH in t.imfe osbaust even armies greatly, auptsnoi' in qu&l-

lty if they lacked the numbers which alone will enable them to inflict a complete and crushing defeat. Bringing overy available man into the field, Germany suffers disadvantages which to some extent neutralise tho advantage of numbers. A large proportion of her soldiers aro only half trained, and as a result her losses in Belgium and elsewhoro have been far heavier than they would have been had tho whole of her troops been brought to a high pitch o£ military efficiency.

The military correspondent of the London Morning Post expressed the opinion some time ago that Germany's action in bringing enormous masses of imperfectly trained men into tho fighting line in Belgium had resulted chiefly in useless slaughter. It' would, as he pointed out, be foolish to copy her policy in this matter by bringing half-trained troops to the front, Dut it is none the less neccssary that the Allied forces should be as rapidly as possible reinforced with trained and efficient soldiers. Defective as it is in part, numbers as well as quality are required to overcome the German Army, and it is quite evident that the Allied_ forces will have to be largely reinforced bofore they can hope to drive home their attack. These facts, of course, impose a clear_ obligation upon the British Empire, and it is on that account all the more gratifying that recent reports from the Old Country tell of a largely increased volume of recruiting.