PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2350, 5 January 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

A late message from the Western front' reports bad weather and an unchanged situation, but earlier accounts tell of fighting in which the Allies have done some effective "nibbling" at tho German fortified lines. In Belgium, where they have lately been advancing i at St, Georges, near tho coast, and in the region of Zonnebeke, east of Yprcs, they are able to report' that they have maintained all positions won on the thirty-mile front from the sea to the Lys. They have also made some slight advances in the Aisne region.

* * # * The magnitude and enormous strain of this vast, but almost stationary, battle in Belgium and France are vividly suggested in the statement of the military correspondent of the London Times (an authority of high standing) on the subject of the Gel-man losses. He declares that Prussia and the other German States have lost in the aggregate not less than a million and a half men in the Eastern and Western campaigns, Probably considerably more than half of- these German toldiers have fallen in tho Western fighting, anid the fact that one belligerent aloiie has suffered' such a terrible reduction of strength brings home the fact that although its nature does not- permit of any rapid movement of. armies, the fighting in Belgium and France is none the less an unexampled - test of national strength and enduranoe.. Although tho contending battle-lines, are almost at a deadlock meantime, the battle goes on unendingly, and the absence_ of great movements only emphasises the grim fact that it is such a battle as the world has never previously witnessed. As the' Times correspondent remarks, the Allies are not .wasting their time in Flanders arid Poland. They are wearing down the Germans, and provided men are forthcoming to maintain the pressure, the Allies are working out the defeat of the Germans - just as surely as if they were marching on Berlin.

V*» » * ' A hopeful view of the future is taken by a French officer, General Duchesne,-who declares that next Spring will 'certainly witness a general offensive, which will forever drive the barbarians far away from Paris. Apparently, the predictions which were ventured by some correspondents a little while ago about a vigorous advance by the Allies in the immediate future, either in France or Belgium, were an incorrect interpretation of General J off re's intehtions. _The present indications aro that things, will go on much as at present for some time to come. * * * * Italy comes into prominence today ih Wore ways than one. It is suggested in the first place that she may follow America's lead in protesting against the restrictions On neutral trading imposed by -the war. The matter,., however, has not yet gone very far. Irritation, presumably in Italian commercial oircles, is reported to be rapidly growing, and the newspapers have taken up the question, demanding that "amises bo terminated," but the agitation I docs not seem to have yet received any official endorsement from the Italian Government. * * * * On top of this news comes a, somewhat startling announcement which may • give Italy much more serious cause for thought than any detail connected with neutral trading. A German army corps, it is reported, has been'instructed to occupy the Riva territory. This district is in the Austrian Tyrol, at tho northern end of Lake di Garda, and the town of Riva is on the Italian border,only 65 miles away from Venice. The explanation offered by tho Germans is that Austrian soldiers on the frontier are deserting, and escaping in hundreds over the "passes of the Alps. _ It is added that the explanation is considered'(by whom it is not stated) insufficient to account for the actj,on : taken. What: ever view Austria may adopt', this German stroke should do a good deal to bring matters to a head in Italy. If tho report is true, she is clearly menaced. It' would almost appear that as a sequel to the uttor failure of Prince von Bulow's mission to Italy, Germany contemplates direct intimidation. True, Germany has enemies enough on her hands, but if the Kaiser and his advisers have come to the conclusion that Italy intends to take the field against them eventua-lly ; it would be strictly in accordance with their usual policy to endeavour to get in the first blow. It is quite possible, therefore, that a highly critical situation has already arisen. It would be a positively suicidal policy on Italy's part to calmly watch the spectacle Of a Gernian army gathering on her very frontier awaiting the opportunity to strike,

* * •* * Sevrral messages to-day comment upon the Russian invasion of Hungary as if it were an accomplished fact, but, the official Russian report shows that operations have not yet been carried to the point of actual invasion, _ though that is imminent. The panic in the Hungarian frontier provinces and the flight of their inhabitants towards the interior must be set down not to actual invasion but to anticipation of invasion. The position as set forth in the official report is that the Russians 11.91 d tile strategic railways connecting Bukowina (at the extreme cast of Galieia, on the borders of Hungary), Western Galieia and Hungary, 'and are within one hundred miles of the latter country, towards which the way lies through easy passes in (he Carpathians. Thousands of panic-stricken inhabitants of Bukowina and Transylvania, the eastern province of Hungary, ark reporter) to have sought refuse Lr Rumania

. Though Hungary is not yet actually invaded, its position is grave enough. Apparently the Russians arc now in possession, of practically the whole of Galicia, except the rapidly-diminishing territory'.in the west through which the Aust'rians are retreating, and the fortress of Przemysl, in Central Galicia, which still holds out, though its defenders are powerless to interfere with the general progress of the . campaign. Austrian, as well as .Russian, reports show that tho Austriiws have everywhere been pushed back into the Carpathian passes. The in.vasian of Hungary is therefore certainly at hand. Suggestions of disallection in Hungary itself add Another complication to a troubled situation. *#. * » • t The tone of tho Austrian Press theje days is positively dirge-liko, and certainly not without good reason. _ To.-day We have one paper declaring that the war is a- terribly severe fight against overwhelming forces; and that the 'New Year will cost Austria still greater sacrifices, while another remarks mournfully that when the war began the iaun shone with an assurance of glorious victory. but the sun shone no longer, while the mountain of losses was rising higher. If these utterances _ represent the spirit of the Austrian peoplo, then they are indeed despondent. if 3 # Few details a-re given to-day of the fighting in Poland, and along the LoWer Vistula, but according to a Peti'ograd report the battle of the four rivers (the Vistula, . Bzura, Pilica, and Nida) is regarded by experts as practically over. The Germans are continuing their-at-tacks at some points, but weakly,' and only in order to gain time. The Russians thus claim a victory over thcGermansall along the line from the Lower Vistula to the borders of Galicia, Proofs of the Validity of the claim will be a German retreat in Poland and continuation of the progress which the Russians are now making in the south towards Cracow, and Silesia.

At the moment the wild talk from some minority _ sections of the American public which greeted the appearance of the Note on neutral trading seems to have died down, and the view which ( regards the Not© as merely opening up a courteous and friendly correspondence between the two Governments appears to dominate the situation. The Tines correspohdeht at Washington stresses the point that sensationalism in connection with the Note has received a temporary quietuß, and adds that the conviction is everywhere expressed that England will approach the subject with friendliness. and poise, and that a compromise will be reached. This is no doubt a very desirablo state of affairs, but at the same time events are supplying Britain with an accumulating, body of evidence which furnishes a tolerably complete reply to America's general complaints. Disclosures in Italy of an organised attempt by the enemy countries to obtain supplies through neutral . channels have been followed by specific exposures of the 6ame sort of thing. Thus at Copenhagen the vigilance of the Danish authorities has'frustrated an attempt to smuggle an American shipment of copper and brass through Denmark to Germany. In this instance, and doubtless in others, the contraband goods escaped detection by the sear searchers, and but for the honest and alert action of a neutral PoWer would have reached their destination. _ This being so, the American assertion that the search at sea is unduly strict is rather unconvincing. '

» * * * Comfortless as it is to contemplate'the loss of such a ship as the Formidable, there is ground for pride in the mannor in which the crew of the unlucky warship faced their fate. Tho story told to-day adds another noble chapter to the heroic history of the Navy. RoUsed as nianjj of them wei'e'from sleep, to find their ship mortally stricken and the possibility of launching ' boats all but removed owing to the heavy weather, tho crew of the Formidable obeyed orders, it is recorded, as if they had been on manoeuvres. For many of them ,no other fate was open than to await the final plunge, and thov did so calmly. The men who took to the available boats had a, terrible battle for life. Most of the boats launched were more or less damaged. It is related that the crew of one broken pinnace, drifting helplessly; and with all -the oars smashed in the boat away from the ship, yet found the heart to sing "It's a Long Way to Tipperary. No more gallant defiance to fate could well be imagined than was offered by these sailors, exposed half-clad to all the rigours- of a winter gale a,nd to the imminent peril of drowning, and from all the details of the sorrowful but gallant story they seem to have been typical "Formidables." * * * * 'Giuseppe Gaeibaldi, the famous Italian patriot and liberator, was always an enthusiastic friend of England, and a recent cablegram announced that his son Bruno Garibaldi had died fighting for Britain and her Allies .against Germany's ruthless attack on freedom and national rights. When Garibaldi the elder visited England some sixty years ago he was presented with a sword of honour by tho peoplo of Tyneside, and on his departure he wrote a letter to Joseph Coven, who took a leading part in the matter. J In this letter Garibaldi said:—

"England 16 a great and powerful nation, independent of auxiliary and foremost in human progress—enemy to despotism, the only safe refuge of the exile, friend of the oppressed; but if ever England, your native country, should bo so circumstanced as to require the help of an Ally, cursed be that Italian who would not step forward in her defence. Your Government has given the autocrat a check and the Austrians a -lesson. The despots of Europe are against you ia consequence. Should England at any time in a just cause need my arm, I am ready to unsheath in her defence the noble and splendid sword received at your hands." Garibaldi never had an opportunity to fight for England, but in the present war his son has sacrificed his life in helping the "friend of the oppressed" to uphold the cause of liberty and justice. -What will Italy do? ' * * ' * * In the absence of official confirmation, the reported Turkish advance on Suez does not seem worthy of credence. The Turks are stated to bo under German officers and to be provided with artillery and pon-1 toous in sections, but the story docs not on that account wear any greater appearance of probability. Apart from the fact that Turkey is fully engaged in the Caucasus and elsewhere, and by 110 means iu a position to approach Ihc desperate enterprise of an attack on Egypt, all previous accounts from Syria have pictured tbe, Turkish troops as being numerically weak ■ and unfit

for action of any kind except revolt against their officers, as exemplified in the reported murder of Djeaial Pasha in Jerusalem, Tho story of the advance in Egypt is probably a sheer invention, but if thero should bo any truth in it the Turks will certainly meet with a very warm reception, in which tho Australian and Now Zealand Army Corps would doubtless play its part. * » !:• * ■

The cause of enemy aliens has been championed by Mr. o'Sullivan, an Australian Labour secretary, in a- fashion which is singularly inappropriate 'at tho present time. Denouncing the action of certain organisations in refusing to Work with enemy subjects, he apparently' has_ the support of his executive in stigmatising this action as a breach of the spirit of unionism which_ might properly be termed organised inhumanity in' the guiso of psoudo-patriotism. It is possible that in some cases f6i'eigners have been: hardly dealt with by. their former fellow-workers, but such incidents certainly afford no warrant for the foolish . diatribe in' which Mr. O'Sullivan has indulged. To suggest as ho.does that a man's nationality should havo nothing to do with his standing in tho community even in time of war is sheer nonsense._ Numerous incidents at Home, and in other parts of the Empire (the outrage committed by a party of Turks at Broken Hill is a lato example) have made it painfully clear that, in tho public interest, enemy subjects must be carefully watched and controlled. It will bo time enough for Labour leaders to air cosmopolitan principles when the War is ovel\. Meantime it is their duty- to recognise that every enemy subject should be regarded with suspicion, and that it is better that some' of these people should suffer hardship than that.the public should be lulled into indifference which may cost the lives of many of their own countrymen.