PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2354, 9 January 1915, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

■It appears that after all the battleship Formidable was torpedoed by a German submarine. At any rate it is the definite opinion of the Admiralty that the warship mot her fate in this way. Assuming that the opinion is correct, the Formidable is tho last of eight British ships, most of them old cruisers and scouts, which have succumbed to German under-water attack. These losses have, of course, been accompanied by a deplorably heavy death-roll, but they have done practically nothing to reduce the effective strength of the British Fleet, and since that is the main "purpose of the policy of waspattack to which the Germans are at present restricted in their naval operations, it must be adjudged, bo far as things have gone, a total failure* » » * # Late news from the Eastern theatre suggests that interest, centres at the moment rather in the Russian attempt to cut the German communications by an advance from the Lower, Vistula than in the German advance on Warsaw, which it was '•recently stated would be vigorously renewed. Of such a renewal the messages give no hint, but the Russians mention a minor engagement on the left (southern) bank of the Lower Vistula, in whioh the Germans tried, apparently without success, to make headway by siego methods of sapping and mining, and by using steel shields as cover. It is stated that there is no change in other parts of .the line, so that the Germans are seemingly not yet prepared for another effort to force the passage of the rivers west of Warsaw..

It now seems clear that the Russian invasion of Hungary is not yet an accomplished fact. To-day's messages make no mention of any Russian troops having actually penetrated the Carpathians, and it is unlikely that a development so important would be overlooked. On the other hand, it is reported that the Russians are preparing to burst into Transylvania, so that the offensive in Bukbwina, at the eastern end of Galicia and immediately north of Transylvania, is apparently within measurable distance of its objective. Yesterday we had an unconvincing report that there was no disaffection in Hungary, and that sincere loyalty to Austria prevailed. To-day we have very different news. Budapest (the capital of Hungary), we are told, is in a state of consternation, ana, still more significant, "the politicians are straining every nerve to prevent Hungary becoming an independent State." There can be little doubt that these messages picture the aotual state of. affairs.

People who are inclined to be dissatisfied, with the slow progress of tho Allied armies in the West will find food for reflection, and some comfort as well, in the survoy of the situation furnished to-day by "EyeWitness," a correspondent of the highest standing. So far from being dissatisfied with the "process of attrition" upon which tho Allied troops have been concentrated_ for months past, he finds in the situation matter for congratulation. The enemy's role, he points out, is essentially a defensive one, and to him the "process of attrition" which the Allies are steadily carrying out is an important factor in tho body of effort which eventually, will bring tho war to an end.

The importance of the Russian victory over tho Turks at Sarikaraysh, in Trans-Oaucasia, is evidenced in the fact that it has bcon made the subject of congratulatory messages from General Joffre and Sir John French to the Russian Oommander-in-Ohiof. No further details arc to hand regarding the operations in Trans-Caucasia, but doubtless tho Russians aro engaged in an attempt to envelop tho Turkish forces which penetrated tho territory of • Kars, north-cast of Sarikamysh, and the latter in attempts to escapo across the frontier. It is not unlikely that the recent Russian victory has paved the way for an invasion of Asia Minor. Sarikamysh is only about 15 miles from the frontier, and 70 miles north-cast of Erzerum, and if the Russians have sufficient force available there should ho nothing to hinder an advance across the frontier, with Erzerum as an objective •

It is now so fully recognised that Germany is a nation unscrupulous to tlio point of criminality that tho revelations in the Russian "OrangeBook," of the intrigues which Jed to Turkey becoming involved in tho war, will add little to the stock of knowledge on the subject. It has been known for some time past that Enveh Bey and other Young lurk leaders were completely under German dominance, and the disclosure ol the fact, that they received formal instructions from Germany to institute aggression against Russia and invade Egypt will oauea uo au> . priax.

It ia possiblo, however, that these offeial rovclations may stimulate tho revolt which is rising in Turkey against German tyranny. SiiEiuif Pasha, a former Turkish Minister, declares that when the significance of tho defeat at Sarikamysn is Tcalisod in Turkey it will lead to a revolution. Tho prediction gains sapport from numerous reports which havo come through of disaffection in tho Turkish population and revolts by the nativo soldiery against their Gorman officers. Some of these reports may have been overdrawn, but ■accumulating evidence suggests that they have a foundation in fact. It would, indeed, bo an astonishing thing if tho Turkish population and Army were placidly content with the hopeless position into which they I have been lod by Gorman duplicity. *** N *

It is possiblo to agree very heartily with the statement of the Marquis oe Obeave in the House of Lords that_ there has never been a war in which tho supremacy of tho British Navy has been so completely established. The Navy has opened tho seas of tho world to the commerce of Britain, and her Allies, and closed them to tho ships of their enemies; it has-enclosed the German battle fleet in a net of steel through which it can hardly hope to break. These are achievements of such magnitude that the imagination almost fails- to grasp their weighty significance. It would be unreasonable to find fault with the Navy because German warships contrived on one occasion to dasn across the North Sea and shell the English coast. Under tho conditions of modern naval warfare it is no longer possiblo to draw a tight blockade round the enemy's ports, as was done in the dayß of wooden ships, but the blockade is none the less effective on that account. As the Marquis of Crewe has pointed out, it would be a suicidal policy, also, to concentrate ships at any point on the English coast. In tnese days of submarines such a policy would amount to setting up the ships as targets for an attack against which they oould take no sufficient measures of defence. Keeping the great fighting ships out of harm's way until the enemy is prepared to come out and give battle necessarily opens the way to some extent to German raids upon the English coast, but even here there is comfort in the reflection that the Germans are not likely to attempt such an enterprise often without being intercepted and brought to battle. *». « * The tribute paid by the Mabquis of Crewe to the gallant captain of the Formidable will be echoed throughout the Empire. Knowing that his ship had been torpedoed by a submarine, this brave officer signalled' to bis consorts to keep away, lest they should meet with a similar fate. It was his duty to do so, for on this occasion the advantage lay with fee submarine, but only a hero is "capable of discharging such a duty.

" A correspondent, whose letter ,we publish to-day, thinks that New Zealand is not sending enough men to the front, and makes a suggestion whioh' deserves attention. It is that the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition should tour the country in company and address public meetings urging the need of supplementing what New Zealand has already done on behalf of the 1 Empire. While it leaves some details open for consideration, the suggestion is well worthy of attention. Nothing but good could result from the spectacle of the leading politicians of the country (the work need not be confined to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition) sinking their political differences and labouring unitedly to arouse the nation to a full sense of its duty. An example of similar cooperation has already been given in Great Britain and other parts of the Empire, and it is not New Zealand's way to kg behind'in any loyal activity. It may be urged that New Zealand, as Ministers have stated,is already doing'all that the Imperial authorities have asked it to do, and that sufficient men to make up the periodical quotas are coming forward, without ■ waiting for any very urgent- appeal, but no doubt every addition to the New Zealand forces at the front represents a welcome accession of strength which will help to bring the war earlier _to an end. Apart from the recruiting of men,_ the war imposes many responsibilities upon New Zealand, as upon other parts of the Empire, which might very well be emphasised by our leading public men. It is a time for sacrifice and endeavour, and the more fully the fact is realised the more readily will the nation rise to its duties and responsibilities.