PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2508, 8 July 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

There are more suggestions than definite facts in the war news available at time of. writing, but in tho aggregate it points to rapidly mounting tension, particularly in tho Western theatre, and to a radical departure from features that have been normal for some time past. German attacks on the Western lino have, been fairly frequent during the last couple of weeks, but as presented they have appeared in tho main as little bettor than fitful flashes in comparison with the steady overbearing pressure of tho Allied offensive in Northern France and elsewhere. A very different state of affairs is indicafod_ to-day. The French' reports describing late fighting in Northern Franco tell of no material .German success, but show none the less clearly on that account that enemy attacks tin this area, are being developed on a very big scale.' .' it is impossible to .read the reports of the lighting round about Souchez (north of Arras) as meaning anything else than that the French are now thrown ba-ck upon the defensive in this region, where lately their offensive developed its fullest power and fury. Under these conditions—the Germans expending themselves in attack and the French content to defend their recently won positions—fighting has been of the most desperate description, much of it hand-to-hand and the combatants betaking themselves to extemporised' weapons when their bayonets were broken and their cartridges expended. 'Some other German attacks aro reported, but the interest of the news as it stands is that the Germans are attacking with fury, weight, and desperation where lately they were doing little more than defend,_ and that the general expectation is that their assaults will bo magnified in the immediate future.

Outside, the news, of battle there are various predictions and surmises as to tho nature and scope of the intended German effort in the West, The story about aluminium boats, in which German soldiers are to invade England under cover of long-range guns shelling Dovci'j may -be set aside, but that the Germans meditate another great attempt to pierce the Allied line and get to Calais is well within the bounds of possibility. Unofiicial reports to this effect have Secured the unusual attention of being transmitted in a message from the High Commissioner. He states that unofficial- reports from the Continent indicate that great German forces are being transferred from the Eastern to the Western front, "suggesting a further attack in-the direction of Calais." As a whole, tlie news opens up" very wide fields of speculation,..but it' is worth noting at the moment that practically tho whole of it points in one direction, and indicates that the next big development of the war will be an' effort by the Germans to burst tho bonds in which they are now enclosed on tho Western line. *• . . If there is to be i another attempt on Calais, another Battle of Flanders is in prospect,, and the fact possibly explains why the British Army still holds a comparatively limited length of the Western . front. For the time being, however, a state almost of: calm is reported on the Flanders front. Sir John French's' latest' report speaks only of small engagements east and north of Ypres in which the Germans were decisively defeated and lost some ground. * * * * , As yit there is no positive indication of the withdrawal of German forces from the Eastern theatre, which may be expected to precede the predicted offensive stroke in the West. The Russians claim a victory in the area east of the Vistula, resulting in a loss to the enemy of two thousand killed and as many prisoners, but recent fighting is described as being of the most desporate character—certainly _ not ■_ an indication of any slackening in ithe German invasion of Southern Poland. There is no news at the moment of events in other par.ts of the Eastern theatre, but a withdrawal of troops from almost any section of the line would be risky. If'the Germans are really moving troops fr<sm East'to West it is reasonable to expect that the offensive" in Southern Poland and Galicia will be affected. So far, taking the Russian report at its face value, the Germans are" not shown to be at any greater- disadvantage than would be accounted, for by bad communications. .*» * »

The Ausfcrians report the decisive repulse of a great Italian assault upon the Isonzo front, of whioh re- ; ports from Home make no mention 'at time of writing. They toll mainly of successful, .though slow, progress on the northern mountain frontier. It is probable that the Austrians have exaggerated the importance, of the battle on the Isonzo. It becomes clearer every day that Italy's first aim must be to make her northern frontier securo and that the operations alonjj the Isonzo are by comparison of secondary importance..

The story of the landing at the Dardanelles has-been told and well told'more than once, but never better than in the dispatch from Sir lan of which the concluding instalment is published today. As a picturesque narrativo it is hardly _ oxcelled even by the brilliant articles penned by Mr. Ashmead Bartlett, -. and, naturally enough, as a compact yet comprehensive presentation of facts it stands alone. Some critics have contended that a comparatively small military, force could have. aohieved v the' conquest of the Narrows had it been landed coincidently with the earlier naval bombardment" of the forts, but such ideas little support >from the circumstances as they are set .forth by Sir lan Hamilton. . At all events though he reconnoitred the Gallipoli Peninsula in the third week in March ho felt it necessary to delay the invasion until nearly six weeks later in order to bring an adequate force to bear. Time was thus doubtless given to the Turks in which to complete and perfect their'preparations, but it is fairly evident that even with tho Turkish preparations less advanced and a smaller body of troops garrisoning the-Pen-insula, no weak invading army could have accomplished much against the foriuidablo natural obstacles which have still to be overcome by the French and-British troops. * - * * * In b. moderate estimate, the land : eawfiiup lit Dtti'xkugllcs must

! now bo. regarded as well advanced. The Allies on their southern line arc rather less than' half-way to their objective of Kilid Bahr, but the victories of the last week hold out a promise that . th>3 remaining distance may be covered in much less time than it has taken to conquer the area now occupied. Achi Baba, the main Turkish stronghold on the present line, is gravely threatened. This vantage point once gained the principal obstacle to tho further progress of the Allies will bo the Kilid Bahr plateau, mentioned in General Hamilton's dispatch. It extends about half-way across the Peninsula, Kilid Bahr lying under its eastern edge. Tho plateau was recently 'described by Captain Bean as having steep sides and a level top. Both the top and the surrounding area are strongly entrenched. Tho plateau is about *700 feet high, being practically on a level with the summit of Achi Baba, from which it is separated by a river valley. Another stream intersects tho plateau .and enters the Dardanelles south of the southernmost Kilid Bahr forts. The Turks thus have a position of great strength in rear of Achi Baba, and covering the Kilid Bahr, but, liko Achi Baba, it fa a barrier covering only a portion of the breadth of the Peninsula.

Prosperously as the land campaign is developing, it would be a little premature to assume that future operations at the Dardanelles will bo all plain sailing. The subjugation of the Narrows forts appears to be only a matter' of time, but when that has been accomplished the Allied Fleet will be faced by a task of which the difficulties and dangers have not perhaps been fully disclosed in past operations—at all events a new factor has appeared within the last, few, weeks against which it will be no easy matter to provide. 'Definite ' information is lacking as to the number of German submarines at the Dardanelles.' German official reports have spoken of only one, but reports from- other sources have stated that as many as four submarines are lying at' tho Golden Horn. Since cne boat has made the passage it is. quite likely that otKers have done the same, and it must be admitted that the addition of submarines to the Dardanelles defences constitutes a very serious menace to the .Allied Fleet in its prospective _ effort, to force the length of the strait beyond the Narrows. In any case there are minefields and shore guns and' howitzers protecting the passage, but submarines, if they are- present in the number reported, will constitute the greatest danger of all. In contending with these craft in the o'pen sea, surface warships are very greatly dependent upon speed and freedom of movement. In a narrow strait, swept by swift currents, and protected already by shore guns and minefields, submarines will constitute a deadly peril. The resources of the Fleet may be equal to overcoming it, but if they are not-the alternative will be to rely almost wholly on land operations to force the Dardanelles. If this point is reached, Russian cooperation by a landing on the Black Sea coast, which in any case would be helpful, may become absolutely necessary ■t9 the success of the campaign within a reasonable period. This, however, is lookirig at the darkest side of the picture. As things are now moving, it is not at all impossible that the Turkish resistance may break down, owing to lack of supplies and other causes, before the last defensive possibilities of the Dardanelles have been tested. Moreover, there"~is always the chance of on© or more of the Balkan States joining in on the side of tho Entente.