The Dominion. TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1915. NINE MONTHS OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2452, 4 May 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1915. NINE MONTHS OF WAR

The first nine months of the war" will be completed to-da.y, and the end of tho titanic struggle is not yet in sight. It is quite useless to speculate as to the probable length of the struggle, nor is it wise, to place much _ reliance on the peace rumours which get into circulation from time to time, though they may be regarded as an indication that Germany recognises that her bold stroke for world dominion has failed and that she is struggling desperately to avoid the alternative of downfall. In any case, the Allies have declined to give serious attention to any of the proposals' for a settlement which have so far been brought under their notice. They are resolved to fight right on until victory Jias been achieved. Ever since the German offensive was so decisively checked by the defeat of the Kaiser's forces at the Marne, tho progress of events has been very unsatisfactory, from the German' point of view. The hopes of repeating the triumphal march of 1870 have been shattered, and the plan of campaign with whioh the Germans entered upon the war has undoubtedly failed. . The French Premier recently referred #to the great difference in tbe condition of France at the present time as compared with 1870-71. The first three months- of the FrancoPrussian War saw tho_ French armies at Sedan and Metz prisoners of war, while' another French forco was closely invested in Paris. The declaration of war wa-s delivered in Berlin on July 19, 18.70, and the siege of Paris commenced on September ID. Disaster followed upon disaster as far as the French were concerned, the climax of misfortune being reached. On January 28, 1871, when the capitulation of Paris took place. The German troops entered Paris on March 1. On the present occasion things have happened very differently. At the beginning o-f last September the Germans were preparing for a_ dramatic triumph to celebrate the victory at Sedan;, but just about that time the fortune of war began- to change, and shortly afterwards the onrush of the Germanic: torrent was blocked by the British and French armies in the vicinity of the River Marne. The Germans were hurled back from Paris, aSd later on their desperata efforts to carry out the Kaiser's orders to capture Calais at all costs were frustrated largely through the pluck and enduranco of Sir John French's army.

Germany is finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the tremendous pressure on her two fronts. She appears to have almost reached the limit of her enormous man power. Her losses have been colossal.. The blows of the Russian hosts, combined with the unceasing attacks of the British, French, and Belgian forces, are slowly but surely wearing down her powers of resistance, and the strangling grip of the British Navy is being maintained with girim determination. The German submarine "blockade" of the British coasts has been conducted with the utmost "frightfulness." Germany has shocked the moral sense of the civilised world by her_ carefullyplanned campaign of piracy and murder on the seas, and plunder, outrage, and poison on land. It looks like the desperation of impotent rage at the realisation that ultimate defeat can only be delayed, but cannot he averted. • The. latest phase of the war has been signalised by the appearance of the soldiers-of the s Overseas Dominions in the fighting lines in France and Belgium and at the Dardanelles. The magnificent bravery and dash of the Canadians have won the admiration of the world. Their deeds will form the subject of one of. the most inspiring chapters in British military history. The Australians and New Zealanders have also had some sharp encounters with the etemy. The forcing of the Dardanelles, in .which they are playing a gallant part, is a task of 1 tremendous difficulty and far-reach-ing importance., It is stated that the New Zealand and Australian troops have been given the ■ post of honour in the land operations in this , theatre of war. They are engaged in a. keen struggle against adversaries'who cannot be despised, for the Turks make bravo soldiers. When the Hon. James Allen states in his message to General Godley that he has read with quickening pulse the news of the magnificent doings of the 'New Zealanders he gives expression to the feelings of the whole community, and equally does he express the sentiments of tho people when he asks the Commander of the Forces to remind the troops that our hearts' and thoughts aro with them. We do not vet know tho full particulars of the "brilliant and memorable achievement of the Australian and New Zealand troops,"" but we know enough to satisfy lis that they have their full share of the fighting spirit of the British race, and we can now wait with some patience for the complete story of their encounters with Turks and Germans on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

Looking back over the nine months of conflict which have now passed,' the Allies have reason to bo satisfied with the results so far achieved. The enemy is not. yet beaten, but the strain on his resources has been enormous, whereas the Juilailr- Powers, especially Russia and the British Empire, have still vast reserves to draw upon. Time is.certainly on the side of the Allies. France was practically beaten before the first three months of the mv tfj"o wiifc! ovpr, but to-day, VtvMKi recently cle-

dared, her armies are intact. Gcr-. many failed to gain her first objective—Paris. Again she failed in her attempt to capture Calais, and the same tiling is happening; at Nancy and Verdun. Austria is in desperate plight, and is now threatened with a fresh adversary in Italy, which though it has not yet joined in tho struggle is reported to lie on the verge of doing so. The situation on the whole is greatly in favour of the Allies, but it would be foolish to blind ourselves to the fact that our enemies are still capable of maintaining the struggle, and that every effort must be put forth by all parts of tho Empire if our arms are to be crowned with that full measure of success which the justice of our cause and the futuro welfare of tho na'ion demands'.