PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2384, 13 February 1915, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Reports from the Western theatre to-day show that the Allies are pursuing with unbroken success, though slowly, an advance against one of the strongest sections of the German position in Northern France. That is to say, the entrenched and fortified line, extending from the fortress of Lille to Arras, which covers the German main line of communication— the line of the Meuse. La Bassee, the objective of the Allies in the operations reported on to-day, is twelve miles south-west of Lille and 18 miles north of Arras; It lies nine miles west of a line connexting Lille and Arras, and is therefore an advanced point in the Gbrman front. The Allies have recently been advancing east along the canal which runs west from Bethune to La Bassee, and in this advance are within a mile and a half of the latter place. The main development reported today is the capture of Violaines, two miles north of La Bassee. The description of this gaiji as important cannot relate to the magnitude of the engagement which culminated in the occupation of Violaines, for it is mentioned that two British' fieldpieces played an important part in breaking down the German defence. It may therefore be-'assumed that the capture of Violaines is regarded as an important step towards the reduction of La Bassee and the weakening of the German line which would follow that event.

Meantime tho British forces at Violaines must bein a vera exposed position at the point of an, acute angle thrown forward in advance of their main line. The lines forming tho angle run between Violaines and Festubert, three' miles duo .west, where fighting is still going on, and between Violaines and a point on the La Bassee-Bcthuno canal, about a mile and a half west-south-west of La Bassee. Posted thus at the point of an angle, the troops in Violaines will be exposed to Gorman attacks from both*sides, but on the other hand the importance of the place no doubt consists in part of its affording' a dominating position from which artillery can play with effect on La Bassee.

Doubtless the advance against La Bassee is characteristic of much that is going on at present along the Wester,i front. Now that the opposing armies facc each other " on a practically continuous line, there is little prospect of any such dramatic development as the outflanking movement, wbkb. turned und broke .tli® Gam&n r Ai.

most points the Allies, for months past have had to content themselves with seeking to gain possession of advanced and vantage points threatening the strong German defences. It is desperately toilsome warfaro, and slow in producing developments, but available evidence suggests that tho Allies have nearly everywhere taken the upper hand in it, on the approach to La Bassec and clsewhero. « * * ' * * For instance, it is mentioned today that the French have captured a hill at Notre Dame de Lorette, dominating a region hotly contested for soveral weeks past. The place named is not shown on available maps, but the details given go to show that the engagements continually going on along the Western line, though they involve no immediate change in the main position of either army, may have a far-reaching effect on future operations. * * *. *

A continuation of violent fighting is reported- in the _ Argonne, apparently without decisive result one way or 'the other, though both tho Germans and the Allies ■ are stated to have lost heavily. The defensive works of Marie Therese, where the French repulsed the attacks of ■ a Gorman brigade, are apparently situated in or near the Bois de Bolante, the wood about 14 miles west of Verdun, which lately has been the scene of almost ceaseless conflict. * * * *

Chanqbs in the Eastern theatre have lately been almost kaleidoscopic. Yesterday the Russians were reported to be advancing into East Prussia, from the southern frontier, on a forty-mile front. To-day the news is tha,t they are falling back towards their own frontier from the line of the Masurian Lakes. The actual limits of the front upon which the Germans are advancing in very great force are not clearly indicated, for the Masurian Lakes occupy a wide belt of territory along a great part of both the east and, southern frontiers of East Prussia.. If the Russians are being foroed back all along the outer border of the lake region, which extends for a distance of about a hundred and fifty miles, the Germans must be finding employment for a considerable portion of the new army of a million men which Genebal von Hindenbebg was recently reported to be organising. This, however, is improbable.' It is more likely that the Germans have concentrated troops in a comparatively limited front, for the Masurian Lakes constitute a strong chain of natural defences, capable of being easily held at most places, and so afford exceptional facilities for such a concentration, * * * *

As yet the fighting is apparently still proceeding well inside the German frontier, for Lyck, one of the places upon which the Germans are [said to be advancing, is about 13 miles_ west of tho East Prussian frontier at its south-eastern extremity. The news so far received seems to indicate that the Russian invasion has met with a check, but the extent is not clear. The penetration of the Masurian Lakes region would in any caso be attended by extreme difficulty, and the recentlyreported movements of the' invading armies have suggested an intention on the part of tno Russian Comman-der-in-Chief of working round these defences in north and south instead of attempting to force them all along the line. It would be quite in keeping with the strategy practised by the Russians in this campaign that they should be'oontent to hold their enemy on the frontier opposite the Masurian Lakes, while other secof their forces push into East Prussia in north and south. * * *. *

The possibility of the German advance through, the Masurian Lakes country developing into a new offensive into Poland, striking at Warsaw from the north, has to be reckoned with, but the Russians are not likely to be unprepared for such a move, which was made once before earlier in the campaign. It is only reasonable to suppose that their armies are now massed on the East Prussian* frontier, in much greater force than when they made an unsuccessful dash into that territory early in the war, and they should be able to present as stubborn a barrier to the German forces in that quarter as they have for many weeks past along the rivers in Central Poland, west of Warsaw. One of tho best

features of the position from the Russian point of view is that the Germans cannot well concentrate

their strength on the long East Prussian frontier without weakening thoir armies in Central Poland. The retreat of these armies would open another long section of the German frontier to attack, and this would involve further < concentrations in defence. Meantime much depends upon the ability of the Russians to hold the Germans on or near the East Prussian frontier. '* * * * >

I The very plain warning conveyed by the United States to Germany that any attacks on vessels flying tho American flag, until it has been definitely ascertained that the flag is fictitious, may lead to serious complications is a refreshing departure from tho timid and temporising pol r icy pursued by tho Wilson Administration since the war began. The United States was of course bound to issue the warning for the alternative would have been to expose its mercantile marine to piratical outrage. Incidentally this development goes a long way towards justifying Great Britain's resort to .a stratagem for which ample precedent exists. It is unlikely that Germaliy will venture to flout the American warning, and it follows that very serious limitations will bo imposed upon her policy r of submarine piracy, which depends for its success upon tho possibility of attacking ships without warning and without troubling to institute inquiries.

Little new light is cast upon -the critical situation in the Balkans and

Rumania's position, in view of tho possibility of a concerted Austro-Bul-garian attack, can only be regarded as precarious. With a lorift lino of frontier to defond in south, north, and west, the Rumanian Army of half a million men would be hard put to it to hold its own against such an onslaught. Bulgaria alono could put as many, or nearly as many, men in the field. It is stated that Austria contemplates establishing a contact with the Bulgarians by a sudden advance on Kalafat, a fortified town on the Danube, about 55 miles from the Hungarian frontier. A Bulgarian fortress, Vidin, stands on the opposite side of the river. Rumania's best hope, in tho event of being simultaneously attacked by Austria and Bulgaria, would lie in a resumption of the Russian offensive in Bukowina which would immediately relieve the presta fronts*" • J

[ An abscncc of news from Egypt 'indicates that all is quiet in that quarter. Taking a contrary view to the military correspondent of the Times, who regards an attack in the Suez Canal by tlse Ottoman main army of invasion as probable, the Rome Tribuna considers that a further attack is not likely to be attempted. The opinion is based upon reports that the Turks have exhausted their supplies.