PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2413, 19 March 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

0 ; Much of to-day's news of the operations on both the Eastern and Western fronts relates to events previously recorded. Fresh advances, however, have been made in France and Belgium, the most notable of these bei,ng in the vicinity of Perthes —that is, about midway between Reims and- Verdun—about the centre of tho Allies lines in France. Hero tho steady progress which has been recorded for some time past has now culminated in the French capturing an important ridge which dominates a large area of country. Desperate attempts made by tho Germans to retain this vantage point have been repulsed with heavy loss. The reported successes of the Allies against strongly-entrenched German positions would seem' to suggest that the German forces in the West have been weakened by the transfer of troops to the Ea-st, or that the Allies have been considerably reinforced. Fbom the East news is scarce, but such as there is must bo regarded as satisfactory. The Russian offensive in North Poland is maintained, while_ in Galicia progress though slow is in tho right direction, V * * # * The appeal made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the Labo\ir Conference is one which should stir the workers of Britain and age them to put forth their best efforts on behalf of their fellowworkers in the fighting lines of the bloodstained fields of Europe. It was essential, Me. Lloyd George stated, that the output of munitions of war from British factories should bo increased, not only because it was nccessary to ensure success, but in order to save the lives of our soldiers. This no doubt is the simple truth. The men who are risking their lives for tho protection of those who stay at home should at reast be placed in the most advantageous position possible to carry on the campaign instead of being handicapped by domestic quarrels amongst those they are fighting f or. Mb. Lloyd George's statement that the expenditure on war materials has exceeded the anticipations of all the belligerents will occasion little surprise, _ The tremendous artillery duels which have been fought for weeks and weeks on end could never have been anticipated in any attempt to forecast the possible course of events at the outbreak of the war, and the probabilities point to still heavier bombardments as the war progresses. . The recent fighting at Neuve Cbapelle, the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated, was accompanied by tho most tremendous concentration of artillery witnessed in any part during the war, and the fact that it paved the way to a very marked success is certain to encourage further efforts"-of this nature. It is only by deluging an entrenchcd enemy with long-range shellfiro and shrapnel that the way can be opened to an advanoe of infantry faced with the dangers of modern rifle and machine-giiif fire, and so it is in the present war artillery has plavcd so large and costly a part. Thri Germans are handicapped or are likely to be in the manufacture of munitions of war by a shortage of copper, duo to the blockade of German ports. Britain _ has no <-uch handicap, but is suffering because of internal industrial _ disputes which must make her enemies rejoice. _ The heart-to-heart talk over tho position which is taking place at the Labour Conference will,, it is hoped and expected, smooth away these troubles and accelerate the output so as to give Britain the full advantage of the situation crcated by her Navy maintaining the command of the sea. * .. * * An evidence that the Government of Britain are facing the task ahead with a full appreciation of its magnitude is to be found in the news today of the call to women to register for agricultural and clerical work. The purpose is to wherever' possible release men for service at the front by substituting women worEers. In France and in Germany this has already .been done to a considerable extent. Women have readily como forward to take tho place of the men as tram conductors, postal carriers, and in various other occupations, and the women of England are not likely to lag behind their sisters in Franco should necessity arise. * * * * Submarines continue to levy toll on British shipping, two more small steamers having just been added to the total of vessels destroyed by underwater craft. Though the. losses suffered in this way are far smaller than Germany must have : hoped for, they cannot be lightly brushed aside. It is well to bear in mind, however, that the enemy's merchant shipping has also suffered very heavily since the war started, not through the sinking of vessels, but. by capture. In roply to a question in the House of Commons in February last, Mn. Churchill stated that at that time there were 36 vessels in Britain captured from the enemy of a total tonnago of 56,766 tons ; and also 73 enemy vessels detained in English ports of a total tonnage of 93,354 tons. The Minister added that the steamers included in the above were all being used either by the Admiralty or in the ordinary shipping trade. There is some consolation 'n this for the loss of our merchant shipping at the hands of enemy submarines. Germany has made few if any captures of British merchant vessels, but a number which were in German ports at the outbreak of hostilities have been detained there. * * * A height spot in to-day's news is the declaration by M. Venizelos, the ex-Premier of Greeze, that at a favourable moment Greece will be found actively supporting the Allies. Although M. Venizelos recently relinquished office on account of his disagreement with the King of Greece, who favours a neutral attitude, there is not the least doubt that he is the most powerful influence in Grecian affairs to-day. He has behind him three-fourths at least of the members of the Grecian Parliament, and he is a popular idol— the strong man who has done more for Greece than any liviug mau. Apparently the new Government which has succeeded, that of J[. Venizelos- is in harmony with tho ideas of the ex-Premier. The King of Grecce, it may be recalled, mar-

ried a Prussian Princess, whose sympathies naturally lie with Germany, and this no doubt accounts largely for the attitude of the King.