PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2402, 6 March 1915, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

When the Anglo-French Fleet began its bombardment of the Dardanelles very few people • regarded the movement as anything more serious than a well-deserved punitive measure directed against the Turks. To-day it promises to prove one of the vital factors of the great struggle in Europe. The success met with by the Allied fleet in the daring effort .to force the passage of the Dardanelles has commanded the attention of the Balkan States and the Powers of Southern Europe as nothing else in the pre Lent war has yet done, and it has' no doubt compelled a hasty revision of ideas in more than one direction. It appears to be generally taken for granted that Turkey must fall, and if Turkey_ falls, what next?_ What is the position of Rumania, Bulgaria, Greece, even Italy, if the Turkish Empire in Europe crumbles to the dust, ana f;he control of the Dardanelles passes into other hands? The possibilities for all the countries named are very great, but if they are to participate in all the benefits which might accrue from the downfall of Turkey, they must share in the task of demolition. In Italy, Greece, and Itumania signs are not wanting that they are alive to the possibilities of the situation. Bulgaria is less oertain, yet her position unless she joins with the Allies is full of peril. She has seen the helplessness of Turkey looking to Germany or Austria for any substantial aid; she has witnessed the increasing strength and aggressiveness of the Allies; she should realise that to become the catspaw of .Germany is to court extinction as a nation. In the circumstances, even though she may not join with the Allies, Bulgaria is hardly likely to actively support the Austro-German effort. The success which has attended the attack on the Dardanelles already has proved to be a great moral factor with certain of the 1 neutral naj tions—it looks like being the turning 'point with some of them. *** ■ *

! So far as can be gathered from the messages to hand, ■ the attack on the Turkish forts both from the Dardanelles and from the northern sea' front of the Peninsula of Gallipoli is proceeding more actively than ever. It is reported that the total of guns demolished by the Allied Fleet now amounts to 40, and thg Bulair [Forts, which are situated on the narrow neck of land just beyond the far end of the Dardanelles, have been wrecked by bombardment from the Gulf of Saros._ Moreover, tho warships are extending their area of operations, tho Sapphire. having proceeded down the eastern coast of Asia Minor into tho Gulf ; of Adramyti, and bombarded several points. Demonstrations of this nature should assist to discredit the lies with which the Turkish leaden) appear to be feeding the hopes of the people.

Solid fighting continues in Poland and Galicia, and the Russians continue to hold the advantage. So far as can bo gathered there is little ch'ange in the position. The retreating Germans in the north are fighting stubbornly, while in the south in Galicia,, the Austrian? continue to attack along the line of the . Carpathians without making any impression and at heavy expense. There is still no movement in Central Poland.

From France also the news generally is good. The Germans had a small success near Notre Dame Lorotte, where tha advance French

trench was captured, but this has been much more than compensated for by successes of the Allies in other directions. There are signs of renewed activity among the sand dunes in Northern Belgium, but nothing of any importance has so far transpired. * * * * An unnamed Austrian general.is ■reported to have stated that Austria cannot carry on the war beyond next May he.cause of the shortage of food and war material. There is also a message which tells of an "appalling scarcity" of cereals in Hungary,' and the closing down of 140 restaurants owing to the scarcity of bread. It is not advisable to take this sort of stuff too seriously. That it has become necessary to economise in the matter of foodstuffs in both Germany and Aust'ro-Hungary may be taken for granted, awl the situation should b'econie more strained as time passes; but the spectacle depicted by the messages referred to is no doubt overdrawn. Lord Selbqbne, it will be noted,.is complaining that the' British Press is dwelling over-much on the successes and prospects of the Allies, and too'little on the difficulties and perils a.head. The effect on the nation has been that it has not sufficiently realised the tremendous nature of the struggle and the dangers which confront the Empire. Perhaps he is right. |At any ' rate- there is a good deal to be said in support of his view. It pust 4bp evident that the sense o'f individual responsibility to 'do one's ptmost to assist in the struggle has pot been brought home to a great many people. There are not. only deliberate shirkers, but many who are holding back through ignorance, or .even, as in the case of the recent strikes in England, actually hampering the efforts of Britain and her AJlies. How far this condition of things may be due to the over-em-phasis given to favourable phases, of the struggle it is impossible' to say;' but it is fairly clear that a good many people need waking up to the responsibilities which the war involves.'

The fact that a section of the Slav population of Austria-Hungary has been 'plotting to bring about a settlement with Russia on a nationality I basis is one of the natural outcomes of the racial divisions of the Dual Monarchy. The great disintegrating force is the principle of nationality, and permanent peace is impossible until a rearrangement has been efI feeted in _ accordance with the national instincts of the various I races which form the unhappy family oyer whom the Austrian Emperor lat present holds sway. There is anatural bond of sympathy between Eussia, the great Slav Power, and the Slavonic elements in the population of Austria-Hungary, who would probably welcome an opportunity of throwing off the Austrian yoke.. It is stated that the Austrians now realise that defeat is inevitable and that they are. going to lose Galicia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, and that it is quite possible that Hungary will separate. The 29,000,000 Slavs in Austria-Hungary have created a problem which can only be solved by the, break-up of the Empire and a general regrouping of its ill-mixed population. This regrouping will be one of the principal duties of the representatives of tne Powers, who will in due time" be called upon to arrange the peace settlement.