PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2405, 10 March 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

THe promise of big happenings in Central Poland seems unlikely to be realised. The German offensive along the Pilica Kiver is reported to-dav to have been checked', 'while the Bussians have met with further successes in Northern Poland and in Galicia. In France and Belgium there has been little of moment to record. The Allies, judging from letters from the front published in the London papers, have been systematically "breaking in" all the men sent to the front. The_ practice is when a new force reacEes the field to gradually work them forward to tne firing-line. The officers and non-commissioned officers are given a turn in the advanced trenches with the more seasoned troops to gain experience before being called on to carry the responsibility of command in the firingline: and the new men are always sandwiched in with older troops. This gives them confidence, and in a very little time they become seasoned, and so the process goes on. Tff& result is that the raw troops are quietly familiarised with active hostilities under conditions which avoid the weakening of tho Allies' line at any givon point. There is also the very important consideration that practically the whole of the troops at the- front have undergone the steadying influence of being under fire. The system of trench warfare now being practised in France and Belgium lends itself especially well to breaking in of new troops. #* *»■> There appears to be a very general impression in military circles at Home that Germany's next great move will be in the West— jyobablx in Northern France,

Despite reports to the _ contrary, it is claimed that the pick of the German forces are still engaged in the Western theatre of war. German opinion of the Russian Army is a lpw one, and although this may have been revised somewhat since the war started the great bulk of tho best of the Kaiser's troops are fronting the Allies in France and Belgium. The military correspondent of the London Times, discussing tho situation in February, expressed the opinion, for which he gave reasons, that Germany would feel the necessity of endeavouring to strike a great blow before the Allies' reinforcements reached the field early in the Spring. This course,,it was suggested, would be forced upon the Kaiser's commanders not only by the desirableness of striking before the reinforcements arrived to strengthen the Allied Army, but because of the urgent need of impressing those neutral nations which arc considered to be on the verge of entering into the war on the side of the Allies. A great , German victory followed by the overrunning of France might well, doter those nations which have hesitated so long to join with the Allies. This idea is supported by the fact that for some time past the best of the German troops in France and Belgium have been taken from the trenches and placed in the rear in order to rest them, while heavy batches of partially-trainqd troops have been hurried forward to fill gaps and to bring the forces in the West up to their full original strength. March was mentioned as the most likely time for this big offensive movement, and we are now in the month of March. It is perhapß significant that the Germans and tneir newspapers of late have been again deolaring their intention to move forward on .Calais, and this . time they assure us they will not be stopped. This remains to be seen, but it may be taken for granted that the Allied commanders * have not overlooked tho possibilities of an early German offensive on a grand scale.

A hint is given this morning iri a message received by His Excellency the Governor of important developments arising out of the attack on the Dardanelles. That attack, by the way, continues to progress favourably as does also the bombardment of the military positions and forts' around the Gulf of Smyrna. It is also worthy of note that the Russian Black Sea Fleet' has also joined in the general attack on Asia Minor, and has been bombarding ports along the northern coaßt of that part of Turkey to the east of the Bosphorus. The message received by Lord Liverpool stated that France ie_ flow establishing a military base in Northern Africa. This is presumed to mean that land operations on a large scale are to bo directed against Turkey, in which case the New Zealand and Australian troops in. Egypt may be expected to participate. * * *■ * The Allies success, in the Dardanelles we are told to-day on the authority of the Daily Mail'.s Sofia correspondent, has elated both Bulgarians and Rumanians. This may not mean very much, for tfie Bulgarians and Rumanians hate the Turks with some thoroughness, but it is'of special interest because or the; very,, grave doubt jvhich exists respecting 'the "sentiments of Bulgaria towards the war. No oit6 seems to be at all confident as to whether, the. sympathies of the Bulgarians lie with the Allies or wrth the Außtro-German combination, and probably the fact is that she has little concern for either. Her interests are wrapped_ up in the doings of the_ adjoining Balkan States,' and their attitude is more likely to influence" her line of action than anything the principal combatants may advanoo. Rumania's position appears to bo clearer. She favours the Allies, but apparently fears to take the plunge into the struggle until their success is more assured or until a definite agreement is arrived- at with Bulgaria, whose attitude she views with suspicion It would greatly simplify matters if Rumania and Bulgaria could arrive at a mutual-un-derstanding. They then in - all probability would be found amongst the'belligerents on the side of the Allies, and would materially embarrass 'the Austrians as well as being able to render useful assistance against the Turks. It would' be unwige, however, to attach, too much importance to tho Daily Mail correspondent's message.

No one will be inclined to question the_ justice of the attitude of the British authorities towards the officers and crew of the German .submarine ÜB. This submarine has been operating in the English Channel, and is probably responsible for the piratical sinking of one or more of the merchant ships which h&ve been torpedoed there. The fact that the crew of this boat has been acting under the orders of the German Admiralty does not absolvo them from _ the crime of piracy, and it is only right that they should be treated differently to honest belligereDtß. Tho U8 would seem to have been hunted to her end by a flotilla of destroyers which presumably gave her no chance to replenish her supplies, and finally succeeded in hitting her when" she was forced to come to the surface for fresh air. No doubt she would dive and dodge, but the speed destroyers could scatter and dash about' at thrice the speed of the submarine, and her only chance of escape wouldbe to keep below the surface until night came. , Possibly she could not do this, and the destroyers may have been aided by calm, weather, and probably they were also assisted by sea-planes, from which a submarine can be seen at considerable depth beneath tho water. * * # * The signs of Jabour' unrest in Britain are disquieting. There is further trouble on the Clyde, the postal employees want increased pay, and the situation generally indicates unpleasant possibilities. It is impossible to judge at this distance the merits of the claimß made on behalf of Labour, but it is not to tho credit of the nation that such troubles should arise at such a time as the present. The occasion plainly demands drastic aotion on tha part of the Government.