PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2360, 16 January 1915, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The_ region north and north-east of Soissons still monopolises attention so far as the Western fighting is concerned. To-day the Allies admit that the destruction of bridges by floods compelled them to retire to the southern bank of the Aisne at one point, but elsewhere their attack to he proceeding prosperously. J. he Germans engaged in the region of Soissons are under the command of General von Kluck, and have recently been heavily reinforced, which 1 1 sl 'SS es ts that the' pressure . French attack is making itself felt. * * * * The point at which the Fronch recrossed the Aisne was probably in the neighbourhood of Vailly, which hes nine miles north-east of Soissons. Their northward advance a few miles to the west of Vailly appears to be still unchecked. It is mentioned that the recent French attacks apparently menaced the railway junction- at i 2?' £ om w!lich lines run to La-oti and Le Fere. Laon, about ten miles north-east of Anizy, is a mlich moro important railway junction. Anizy is situated on the heights of Vregny, some ten miles north-east of Soissons and six miles north of the Aisne at Vailly. •#'**** The Germans somewhat bombastically claim that they gained a brilliant success in the presence of the Kaiser, jind captured 14 French officers, 1300_ men, and a. number of guns. Their official story speaks' of the capture of trenches and the clearance of an elevated plain, but from ,the_ French account it appears that their losses were sustained in connection with the retirement across the river, enforced, not by the Germans, but by the_ flood, which destrojpd the French bridges. Most of the prisoners captured, according to the French, were wounded men whom it was impossible to remove and the guns abandoned in the retreat were first rendered useless. Finally it is stated that the German success is purely local, and cannot influence the operations as a whole.

Against their minor defeat on the Aisne, the French are able to place the wrecking of a number' of German trenches at Fouquescourt, north of Roye. It is mentioned also that north of Soissons the German attack has been checked. This strengthens the supposition that the retirement across the river was made some miles north-east: * * * * A million Russians, according to the Lohdon Times, have recently reinforced the troops at the front. Assuming this to bo correct, and there is no reason to doubt it, tho prospects of tho Geimans successfully continuing their offensive in Central Poland must be considered rather poor. Their last advance from Thorn and Breslau, though made in cqncentrated force, failed absolutely to, penetrate to its objective, and if tho

Russians are really increasing their strength on the scale reported, they should be within measurable distance of being able to take the initiative all along the line t > instead of being restricted in Central Poland to defending the rivers west of Warsaw. Howe/or, it has been their patient, and on the whole profitable, policy, so far, to play a waiting-game, and it is possible that even with their greatly increased strength they may prefer to meet the shock of General Hindenberq's reinforced army along the line of the Bzura and Rawka Rivers, where .the German offensive was last decisively stemmed. * * # *' News is_ still lacking of tho Russian invasion of Hungary, and nothing more definite is told of the operations in Western Galicia than that an Austrian bombardment of the Russian positions was silenced, but at the northern, end of their lino

the Russians appear to be pressing steadily forward towards the East Prussian frontier. To-day it is stated that they have driven the Germans out of Sierpe, which lies twenty miles north of the Lower Vistula, 24 miles from tho East Prussian frontier, and 36 miles southwest of Mlawa. The repulse of a Gorman attack on tho southern bank of the Lower Vistula is also reported. Details are lacking which would enable any definite opinion to be formed of the nature of these operations south of the Vistula. About a fortnight ago it was mentioned that the Russians contemplated crossing the Vistula at Ploclc, in _ order to threaten tho Thorn-Lowicz railway, which feeds the German Central armies. To-day's brief message, indicates that the crossing has been accomplished, but there is nothing to show whether the Russians are still close to tho river 6r have made any progress towards the railway, which lies about twenty miles south. * * * * Great importance attaches to the efforts which Rumania is reported to be making'to arrive at a friendly understanding with Bulgaria. That Rumania is-bent upon war becomes increasingly clear, but in order that, she may take tho field with good prospects of success it is practically essential that she should obtain from Bulgaria an undertaking to keep her southern frontier Inviolate. To

this end she is reported to ho offering to restore, in whole or part, the territory which was transferred from Bulgaria to Rumania in the settlement which followed the second Balkan war. This territory, lying south of the old Rumanian frontier and extending on the east to the Black Sea, is about_so miles by 100 miles iu extent. With the prospect of territorial gains in Transylvania, Rumania, can well afford to be generous where her recently acquired south-eastern territory is concerned. * * * * The benefits that would follow upon an understanding with Bulgaria are obvious. The Rumanian western frontier, where her tory meets that of Servia, and the north-eastern junction with Russia., may be regarded as already secure. Grunted equal security 6n the south, where. lwr territory, marches with

that of Bulgaria, Rumania would be able to mass the whole of her strength cm the northern frontier adjoining Transylvania. The invasion of Hungary on this frontier by half a million fresh troops would of course hasten the downfall of Austria. It is thus greatly in the interests of the Entente Powers, as well as in tile interests of Rumania, that an understanding should be effected between that country and Bulgaria. As to Bulgaria, assuming the report nicnfcjo llec i to be correct, she is offered in any case some redress for the grievance which she has nourished since the Balkan war settlement, and could doubtless still further improve her position by throwing in her lot with the Entente and making war on iurkey. * * * * , The supposition that the Turkish invasion of Persia is not a formal military operation, but springs rather from the undirected zeal of irregular troops, gains support from the fact that a great mountain barrier, impassable to an army, guards a great part of the Russian frontier north of Persia. At some points there are breaks in the barrier,-but much of the country both north and south of _ the Russian frontier consists of high mountains and plateaus which will oppose great difficulties to the advance of the Turks if they ever get so far' - I

It will be noticed that General Godley, in his letter to the Minister of Defence (from which some excerpts are published to-day), takes it for granted that the New Zealand Expeditionary Force will eventually proceed to the front in Europe. His mention of a possible "brush with the' Turks or Bedouins" implies that he attaches very little importance to the alleged intention of the Turks to attempt an invasion of Egypt. . * '* . * * A Vienna newspaper is reported, to have announced that the .Queen of Holland, the Gband Duke of Luxembukg, the President of Switzerland, and the President of the United States are working for peace. These, peace rumours, which gain currency from time to time, must not be taken too seriously. The Allies have declared over and over again that they will fight on untU Prussian militarism has been decisively crushed. They will consent to nothing in the way of a patched-up settlement which will merely give Germany breathingtime and enable her to renew the struggle at. a more convenient time. It is somewhat significant that this latest peace rumour comes from Vienna. Possibly the wish is father to the thought. The Austrians have had more than enough of fighting, and would probably be very glad to make terms if a suitable opportunity offered. But, as. a. French economist says, "Peace when it comes must be such that men may not be forced to wonder whether the German Emperor wants peace or war." It can only come as the result of the decisive defeat of Germany and her allies.