PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2441, 21 April 1915, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

No development of magnitude in either of the main theatres is reported to-day, but the news in general emphasises features that of late have tended to become normal—notably, in the Western theatre, continued progress by tho Allies at points of importance and tho shattering of furious counter-attacks by which the Germans have sought to recover lost ground. In Flanders two local victories, each involving a slight advance, have been gained by British troops, and the French in the Yosges have captured additional positions in the valley of the River Feeht, on the line of advance to Colmar. In the Carpathians the state of affairs appears to be broadly unchanged. The Russians are Btill pressing the attack on the Uszok Pass, and fending off an Austro-German attempt to i pierce and turn their line further east. One message declares that Marshal' von llindenburg, the general whose successful strategy in the Eastern front has been so often acclaimed, has fallen out of favour with the German General Staff, and is retained in his command only at the insistence of the Kaiser. This story should probably be taken with a grain of salt, though the German War Lords must undoubtedly be greatly chagrined_ at the necessity of continuing an active campaign in the Eastern theatre, where they had hoped to gain a breathing space, pending a concentration of strength for a big effort on the opposite front.

The Germans arc apparently'dctcrmined to prove that, their capacity for perpetrating atrocities is unlimited. A stow told to-dav of the I'lortl af oil* tif llwir tiiilimnrlnes will add new inlaw, even to tiwii' akwik.

infamous reputation. Having torpedoed a trawler, this so-called warship drove off, by torpedo and gunfire, another trawler which attempted to_ rescue the crew of the stricken ship, and so compelled her to leave thom to drown. A more hideous murder was never committed by the foulest pirate who ever sailed the sefis, yet, according to an Admiraltystatement, this is the second atrocity of its kind that the Germans have committed within a week.

Reports of a military collision on the Austro-Italian frontier are not confirmed to-day, but otherwise all messages received point definitely to war, so definitely indeed that it seems wonderful that- the event should be any longer delayed. Today a Home report states that the family and staff of the Austrian Ambassador have left for Vienna, and that the Italian Embassy is preparing to leave Vienna. This suggests that relations between the two countries have all but reached the breaking-point, but another message states that Italy is biding her time in the hope that her military preparations on the northern frontier may provoke Austria into presenting an ultimatum. If Italv really had any such hope she would hardly be likely to declare it publicly. In any case, Austria, engrossed as she is with the Russians, is unlikely to take the initiative in foroing a war with Italy, but if she did she would probably strike without troubling to issue an ultimatum or formal declaration of any kind. As the frontiers are now arranged, the advantage of position is with Austria, holding a strong mountain line, and in the circumstances Italy will_ adopt a somewhat perilous policy if sho waits to be attacked, which is practically what would be involved in waiting for an Austrian ultimatum.

Bulgaria is being watched these days with hardly less interest than Italy, and some interesting additions are made to-day to the cloud of rumours and predictions that she contemplates a transfer of ; allegianco from tho Germanic Alliance, with which she was formerly hand and glove, to the Entente. One point emphasised in to-day's message on the subject is certainly worth noting. There can bo no doubt that Germany has attempted bv underhand methods to'embroil Bulgaria with her Balkan neighbours, Servia and Greece, and it is equally clear that these machinations, having had a reasonable time to mature, have so far definitely failed. The Macedonian disturbances, engineered by German and Turkish agents in the hope of setting the Balkan nations by the ears, seem in fact to have died away into obscurity. So far as Bulgaria is concerned, this is an encouraging sign that she is determined not to be dragged in the wake of Turkey. _ Probably Italian intervention, which now seems certain, will be in Bulgaria's case the final factor in bringing her to a decision conformable to the aims and policy of the Entente.

Little as Zeppelins have so far accomplished in their successive raids on England, it is quite evident that the possibility of an aerial attack on a much bigger scale than has yet been attempted is still seriously regarded in the Mother Country. It is not to bo denied that ample evidence in support of such a belief oxists. The experience of the war has dono_ a good deal to lower the reputation of the giant airships, but it remains true that under conditions favouring their activities they are a very potent force to be reckoned with. As fighting craft, they have gained little distinction, and stand in a position of marked inferiority to the small and handy aeroplane, but as agents of the indiscriminate destruction in which German ■ "lcultur". appears to find complete and satisfactory expression, they have earned an almost unchallenged distinction. There is no reason to suppose that. Zeppelins will in future be any more successful than they have been hitherto in striking an effective blow at any point of military importance in Great Britain, but it is exceedingly probable that tho minor raids on the East-Coast of England will be followed sooner or later by a bombardment of London by the biggest squadron of airships that the Germans can assemble for the purpose.

That they contemplate such a raid is proclaimed by the Germans themselves, and the manner in which tho threat is received in England shows that it is regarded as no mere boast. The well-informed aeronautical correspondent of the London Times is one of those who considers that a Zeppelin attack in force is probable, and the construction and concealment of new airship hangars in Belgium are interpreted by the Daily Express as indicative of a German purpose of suddenly launching a great fleet from Germany and Belgium for a spectacular raid on England to encourage the German people and troops.

■ That London will be the point of attack if ten or twenty Zeppelins cross the narrow seas to make a combined raid on England is hardly open to doubt. The whole object of tne enterprise would be to inflict a maximum amount of damage in order to cheer the drooping spirits of the German nation, and with such an objcct in view London offers unrivalled' attractions. From the outset, the possibility of such an attack has been accepted by the British authorities, but while every possible provision, has no doubt been made in the way of defence, it must be admitted that it will be no easy matter to defeat the object of the raiders—to inflict indiscriminate damage. If they attempted any deliberate attack upon a military objective the problems of defence would be vastly simplified, for in that case they would necessarily present an excellent target to anti-aircraft artillery, and to counter-attacks by aeroplanes. Judging by their previous performances, however, the German airship raiders if they visit London are likely to content themselves with flying swiftly over the city at a great altitude, during tho hours of darkness, dropping their enormous bombs at random. An attack of this kind would not bo easy to cope with. Searchlights and antiaircraft guns would he called into play by tne defenders, but flying swiftly at a great height Zeppelins would present a very difficult target. Aeroplanes as well as Zeppelins can fly at night, but British aeroplanes iu such circumstances could scarcely get within striking distance of the raiders before llioy had achcved their-object by dropping bombs. It is indeed much more likely that the Zeppelins would be overtaken and destroyed tliau that iheif liombdi'dtucul would bo prevented

This, however is the darkest side of the picture.. The British authorities have made preparations f<?r the defence of London against air attack, and the Zeppelins may find themselves in difficulties. Many elever brains have been engaged upon the_ problem of guarding against aerial bombardment, and some ingenious schemes have been devised. One device, which is said to have been adopted by both the British and French Governments, consists of mining the air. Hydrogen balloons, each bearing a highly explosive inflammable bomb, are elevated to various heights up to a maximum of over 10,000 feet, and moored by fine wires of high tensile. strength. Each bomb is surrounded with a ring of hair triggers, and the slightest touch would cause an explosion which would ignite the gas of a dirigible. Mining the air by no means exhausts possibilities in tho way of providing against airship attack, and.it is quite probable that the British authorities may have perfected measures of defence concorning which they are maintaining strict sccrecy. It is not' to be denied that airships attacking London in fovea ave likely to inflict a great deal of indiscriminate damage, but on the other hand it is unlikely that raiders so engaged would enjoy the immunity which has attended their furtive bombardment of minor towns on the East Coast and elsewhere.

There is always the possibility that the airships may discover the whereabouts of_ the British Fleet and make it their objective. Attacks made on British warships by German airships during the Cuxhaven raid, and'on the occasion of the sinking of the Bhtchcr, proved quite futile.

Definite up to a point, the statement extracted from the First Lord ok the Admiralty in reference to the rumours of a naval action in the North Sea leaves things pretty much as they were.-. Mr. Churchill has said tliat the Allies did not sustain any loss in a naval action in the North Sea, but tbe Admiralty was able to make the same satisfactory announcement.after the recent important action in which Sik David Beatty's squadron sank the Blucher and severely battered several of the best battle-cruisers in the German Navy. _ What the public wants to know is whether an action has been fought, and upon that point, unless the cable message is less clear than his announcement was, Mr. Church-ill-has whetted curiosity instead of satisfying it.

Whether or not a naval action has been fought in the North Sea Mr. Churchill's artistically guarded statement makes it vary likely that events have occurred there in the immediate past. As to the form these events have taken possibilities seem somewhat limited. That the German Fleet has made a battle sortie is unbelievable, for a bold move of this kind, precipitating a general action, would inevitably Eav? been promptly reported. A theory advanced in some roqent cablegrams that a number of German cruisers attempted to penetrate the blockade cordon with a view to commerce raiding, is equally untenable, beoause such an enterprise, if successfuli would only result in throwing away so many ships. Lacking depots and supply snips the intending raiders would quickly' be hunted down. On the whole, it seems probable that any attempt the Germans have made relates to the sea area within the blockade line. In this area, taking the risk of being intercepted, German warships are more or less free to strike at the English coast, as they have done once or twice in a feeble fashion, or at such trade as is going across the North Sea. At best, such a stroke would be of temporary importance, but it has to be remembered that the activities open to the German Fleet are strictly limited, and that it is not in a condition to pick and choose. Meantime, it is pretty certain that whatever the naval activities in the North Sea may have amounted to, no great gain has resulted to either side.

When the friendships of individuals, ov of, nations, become strained, an interval of recrimination usually precedes the final rupture. A Hungarian statesman, in this morning's war news, goes the length of referring to his Huu allies as "Brutes!"