PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2395, 26 February 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Reports to-day concerning the Western theatre are' mainly " a natural continuation of those which have come to hand during the last few days, and disclo.se no startlingly new development. The Allies are still slowly forging ahead towards the eastern end of the Aisne front, and seem to have been uniformly successful in local actions fought at other points. Heavy artillery fighting continues all along the line, and the superiority of the Allies' guns has once again been-demonstrated in the region of the Meuse (south of Verdun), where several German batteries were silenced. One message to-day records the destruction by its own explosion of a German gun of the heaviest type, which was being used in the neighbourhood of Thann, in Alsace, and it is stated that the more recent guns turned out by. the great Krupp works are of very . inferior quality.

An admission by the Germans themselves "that further hindrances have arisen to the invasion of Russia" furnishes the best possible- reply to _ the exaggerated rejoicings in which they have been indulging over the success of the East Prussian offensive. Additional details as they are supplied confirm the impression that the German advance has lost its driving force, and that all through the portion of Poland adjacent to East Prussia the Russians are now facing their enemies on at least equal terms. The retreat has ended, and the "hindrances to tbo invasion of Russia," of which the German official messages speak, are Russian armies solidly established on the defensive line from which they recehtly_ worked forward into East Prussia.

While it lasted the retreat was evidently a costly one from the Russian standpoint. Accounts are given to-day of the practical annihilation of a whole Russian army corpssomething like 35,000 men—but it was annihilated only after'"a, prolonged and gallant rearguard action which will live in the annals of war. Even when surrounded it marched and fought for many miles, and in its death-struggle took heavy toll of the enemy. In addition it no doubt relieved'the pressure upon>other sections of the Russian force, enabling them to reach positions in which they could junction with reinforcements and turn upon the advancing Germans. Experience in many wars has beefi that armies composed of material such as the Russian Tenth Army Corps appears to have shown itself to be have no need to mourn a passing defeat.

i From the tolerably full accounts now available it appears that most of the Russian fortresses which extend through Poland in a long chain opposite the East Prussian frontier, at distances from it of from 18 to 50 miles, were well to the east of the zone entered by the German offensive. The only mentioned as figuring in the fighting is Osowieo, which stands nearest of all to the German frontier. It is 18 miles distant from the south-eastern extremity of East Prussia, and its part was apparently confined to turning its guns upon some, advanced German detachments. On a lino extending'about fiftyi miles north-east of Osowiec, and as many south-west, stubborn fighting is proceeding, which no doubt furnishes the foundation for. German confessions about hindrances. Further to the south and west 'the' Russians seem 'as yet to have done little towards regaining' the wide belt of Polish territory between the southern frontier of East Prussia and the Vistula. * * * *

• German submarines are adding slowly to their toll of victims. Two British ships, both of them of comparatively small size as ships go nowadays, are reported to-day to have been sunk or damaged, and in one case some lives appear to have been lost. At this rate the Germans might continue their, submarine piracy for a very-long time without striking any disabling blow at British trade. The ' Admiralty apparently has been abletodo a good deal to hamper and limit the activities of the enemy submarines. Mention has been made in recent messages' of steps taken to completely close the Irish Sea at night, and no doubt similar measures have been adopted in the Channel. Th? fact at any rate is manifest that comparatively few ships have as yet been, destroyed, and that most of them have been of small size and probably slow speed. A message describing the exploits of the German submarine U2l complains that the seas have been swept of British shipping, -leaving the submarines without targets, but this German assertion is definitely contradicted by reports that sea traffic is going on as usual. The truth seems to be that it is not a stoppage of- sea traffic, but a proper regulation and protection of sea traffic that is imposing such narrow limits upon the destructive career of the submarine raiders. # » * # The torpedoing of the British steamer Harpalion (reported in a late message) marks the biggest achievement to date of the submarine commerce-raiders, for she was a ship of 5867 tons, completed in 1910. Bound from London to the United States, she was torpedoed in tho Channel off Beachy Head, and three. Chinese members of her crew wero killed. * * * * Tin: reported action of the United States Government in forwarding informal proposals to Great Britain and Germany suggesting an understanding regarding foodstuffs intended for German civilians, and the Gorman submarine warfare against British shipping, no doubt represents the' nearest approach to success that the, German policy .of..

piracy has made or is likely fco make. Obviously that policy has from the first been largely dictated by a hope that neutral nations would by- its means be bullied and dragooned into representations to Britain and her allies calculated to limit their command of the sea, and so reduce the pressure bearing on Germany. In these circumstances it is plain that the United States Government has weakly and with had judgment in making representations aiming at an understanding where no understanding is possible. The German submarine campaign is not warfare b'ut piracy, and therefore should not be mentioned in the diplomatic representations of reputable nations except in a spirit of definite hostility. As to the blockade on German trade, the attitude of the hvtcntc Powers is no doubt correctly stated by the Paris Journal, which says that they have decided to treat all German property, under any flag, and all cargoes destined for Germany, as liable to seizure. Apart from their ordinary rights .as belligerents, the Allies have a further justification for this policy in the criminal practices to which Germany has descended on land and sea, and any neutral nation—even one as great as the United States—which seeks to soften the rigour of the restrictions imposed on Germany is simply wasting time. While an understanding comprehending concessions to Germany is beyond the pale of practical possibilities, Britain ahd_ her allies have shown as great anxiety to recognise and safeguard neutral rights and interests as Germany has shown to inflict every possible outrage upon neutral countries. In the light of these facts the action of the United States Government appears all the more ill-advised and futile. The position in a nutshell is that while America has every right to raise her voice on behalf of neutral interests, she has do more right to intervene, even informally, in the matter of, restrictions imposed on German trade than she has to intervene between Britain and Germany in the matter of the submarine piracy to which the. latter country stands committed.

No clear light has yet been thrown upon the policy of the United States where the protection of its own shipping is concerned. A maintenance of the firm attitude promised a' day or two ago is suggested in a report that the American reply to the German Note on the so-called submarine blockade has produced something like a deadlock, but there are indications of weakness in the position afrtributcd_ to President Wilson over the sinking of "the_American steamer. Evelyn by a_ German mine. Mr. Wilson,_ it is stated, regards the destruction' of the ship as an accident, and while his Cabinet is waiting for details' is inclined to entertain suggestions that the captain of the Evelyn did not "allow for a safe course." In face'of what is known about Germany's indiscriminate mine-laying in defiance of international law, President Wilson's attitude is, to say the least, decidedly complaisant towards that country. To-day it is reported that another American steamer has been sunk by a mine off the German coast. People will be tempted to wonder how many of these "accidents" America prepared to tolerate "before taking the measures incumbent on every selfrespecting nation when its citizens are attacked and their property destroyed,, on. land or sea.

No better guidance will be found in weighing the wisdom or unwisdom of America's milk-and-water attitude than by observing the commentsNupon neutrals aid neutrality which apparently take up a good deal of space in German newspaners. People who conduct.these journals must surely sit up 'at night thinking out unpleasant things to say about neutrals and new threats to hurl at their unoffending heads. To-day samples are given' of a vitriolic effusion in which the Cologne Gazette pours abuse upon neutrals in connection with the arms traffic, and promises them that though they pay be out. of reach now, they will in future be made the objects of an undying German vendetta Hatred and malice worthy of the wild-cat so obviously dominate the sentiments of the people who at present control the destinies of the German Empire that the well-intended efforts of neutral nations like America to patch up arrangements with them as if they were reasonable, civilised beings are ludicrously beside the point. » * * * A late message . states that ' the American Note to Great Britain and Germany (hitherto spoken of as informal proposals) suggests an aban- | donment of the German submarine blockade in return for relaxation of restrictions on the supply of foodstuffs for German civilians. Even in America, the prospect of these proposals accomplishing anything is not regarded hopefully, especially in .view of the point made and emphasised by Sir Edward Ghey, that it is impossible, in the conduct of the blockade, to distinguish between supplies intended for German civilians and for military consumption.