PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2644, 15 December 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The complaints made to-day concerning lack of winter equipment for; the troops at Gallipoli call for the immediate attention of the Government. It is true that winter conditions appear to have set in unexpectedly early, but it is difficult fco find an excuse for the failure mentioned, since tho necessity of providing against a winter campaign at Gallipoli has been obvious. The New Zealand ofiicial correspondent (Mr, Boss) states that, the New Zealanders and Australians, though fairly warmly clad, have not yet received all their wet-weather clothing, while the Australian correspondent (UAraiN Bean) dealt with the subject (in a message published yesterday,) in more particular detail and indicated that the position is even worse than Mr. Ross has stated. According to Captain Bean the Anzacs have been caught unprepared by the descent of winter. They are still _ without sheepskins, and,' he adds significantly, warm hand and foot gear will be 'acceptable. ' A Reuter correspondent, who tells much the oame story as .Captain Bean, emphasises the difficulties of supply at Gallipoli, and states that everything possible/is being done to cope with the unusual circumstances-, but this does not satisfactorily account for a _ failure in administration, which is likely to tell heavily against at least the comfort of the soldiers who a,re putting up so brave a battle for the Empire in Gallipoli. An official casualty list, published to-day, shows that two Wellington soldiers are in hospital suffering from frost-bito. This is the sort of trouble which is to be minimised'by proper attention to and the peoplo of New Zealand will want to know why it is that their soldiers have, entered upon a winter campaign in Gallipoli inadequately provided, **, * «

The Minister of Defence stated yesterday that the Imperial Government had undertaken to supply shcepskini for the troops, and also water-tight trench boots. Apparently, therefore, the Imperial Government is to blame, but the matter cannot be left at that. New Zealand, through its Government, has undertaken to m-ake adequate provision for its troops in the field, and when any part of the responsibility involved is delegated it is the business of the New Zealand Government to see that the duty so delegated is carried out in a proper manner. A discussion as to whether the Imperial or New Zealand Government is responsible for supply failures at Gallipoli would be a vfasto of breath and time. If the point is to be Settled at all it can be settled later on. The thing first essential is that any defects of equipment at Gallipoli should be made good with the least possible delay. Though the Reuter message mentioned, and that from, Mr. Boss, are dated as late as December 3, it is possible that some of the shortages reported have by this timo been made good. It is the duty of the New Zealand Government to find out immediately whether this is so, and in any case to take all measures possible for the speedy equipment of the troops against the rigours of their winter campaign. * * *

The point is made by the Defence Minister, in a statement published to-day, that the New Zealand Government cannot vary the arrangement mado with the Imperial Government in regard to winter equipment, and he adds tha,t ho believes the Imperial Government will do all that is necessary. It had not done so, however, up to the time when tho messages commented upon were dispatched, and it is Mr. Allen's plain duty to at once make himself fully acquainted with the_ facts and do anything that is possible to speed up the necessary supplies. » * * *

This question of winter equipment apart, the news from Galhpoli tivdp.y is so RSitiafivutiury as lp sum* &eat that tips

licists in Great Britain who have been so ready to set a brand of failure upon the campaign may yet have cause to regret their precipitancy. It is not disputed that there havo been serious mistakes and errors of judgment in the past conduct of the direct attack upon the Dardanelles, but this does not necessarily mean that the enterprise which has witnessed such splendid heroism on the part of the troops engaged is doomed to total ancl dismal failure. The picture painted in the detailed dispatches available to-day encourages a belief that the Allied Array on Gallipoli is perfectly capable of maintaining its hardwon foothold, until developments on the mainland make a renewal of the offensive possible with, reasonable prospects of advantage. The Allied troops aro feeling the discomforts inseparable from a winter campaign in a climate like that of Gallipoli, but the Turks, as accounts go, are suffering even more severely under these conditions. The eight and ten-inch howitzers with which the Australian positions at Lone Pine were bombarded . are presumably an important detail in war supplies received from Germany, but there is a definite assurance tkit though the Turks are thus strengthened they have failed to make any impression upon the Allied positions, or indeed to launch any very determined attack. On the contrary it is stated by the New Zealand correspondent that at Anzac attempts have been made to draw out the enemy in more vigorous attacks than he has yet developed. With improving prospects on the mainland these are indications pointing to a reasonably hopeful outlook. .

• * » « ! More evidence' is afforded to-day that the Allies are obtaining a hold upon events in the Near East which it will take a very powerful effort by the enemy to . weaken. The Anglo-French Army in the Balkans is continuing its retreat 'upon Salonika, but apparently '.under much les3 severe pressure by the enemy than it has recently experienced. One reason assigned is that the Bulgarians, who are still unaided in the pursuit, arc. hot provided with the heavy guns which would enable them to cope with the powerful artillery equipment of the Allies. Another reason will be found in the stirring story of a British counterstroke near Doiran (close to the Greek frontier) which crumpled up the Bulgarian pursuit and effectively cleared the skirts of the retreating army. Although most of the later reports in hand are unofficial follow naturally upon yesterday's official report of a successful withdrawal, and it is pretty safe to set down the German allegation that nearly; two English divisions were annihilated as an invention intended to cover up an actual stats of affairs very much less satisfac tory to the enemy. .From the particulars given of the shattering British counter-attack near Doiran it seems more likely that the heavy loss mentioned was suffered by the Bulgarians.

The ciuestion now about to be decided is whether the Bulgars will elect to pursue the Allies across the Greek frontier, or will halt their pursuit at that point. Apparently the Allies are prepared for either eventuality, and most of the information in hand implies that they are assured of their standing in Greece. Some vague rumours are still afloat about unsettled differences between Greece and the Allies, but there is _ a definite statement that the territory between the northern frontier and Salonika is being left free to the Allies' movements. The disposition of Greek troops involved is interesting. An army, it' is stated, has been withdrawn from Langaza to Seres, that is to sa.y, from a position 10 miles north of Salonika to one about 40 mile-a further north-east, on the SalonikaConstantinople railway. If the Bulgarian, Army advances into Greece it will advance into a pocket, with Greek armies on either side ana the, Allies at the inner end. Possibly, though so much cannot be taken for granted, the Bulgars may shrink from entering Greece under these conditions as the wolf shrinks from a suspected trap. * * X *

A report,.said to be of German origin, that the Serbian Array is being transported from Montenegrin and Albanian ports to Salonika, must await the teat of events. The retreat upon Salonika : suggests that the Allies meditate a holding campaign in the Balkans for a time, and while these oonditions prevail the withdrawal of the Sorbs from Montenegro and Albania.. would Ik equivalent to giving the enemv access to the Adriatic Coast of Albania and possibly of Montenegro as well. The Serbs are not likely to be withdrawn in ■ this way until such an .Allied offensive is in prospect as 'would . effectually divert the enemy from attempting to extend his foothold in the Adriatic.

On the Western front the Allies report no sensational event, though Sir John French's statemerfE that heavy howitzers are bombarding the gowerful German positions near La assee interestingly supplements accounts of steadily * increasing pressure on the enemy line, It may be assumed that the guns singled out for mention in this way arc of more than ordinary power. Far behind their lines the Allies Have suffered a rather serious misfortune. They are developing thenproduction of munitions on such a scale that the destruction of the Belgian powder factory at Havre, by an agency not yet announced, may bo regarded a,s a detail misfortune,, but it is a somewhat important detail.

That tship, of fate, the Goeben, seems to have as many Jives, as a cat. According to a Bucharest message there has been another naval engagement in "the Black Sea in which Russian ships torpedoed and damaged the Goeben, and sank two gunboats and a submarine. One of the gunboats named, N the Malatea, does not figure in any available list, while her consort the Burak Eeis is stated by the Navy Annual to have been scuttled, to avoid'capture, in an' action fought in the Black Sea in April last. Some doubt is thus cast upon the Bucharest telegram, but the Burak Beis may have been named in mistake: Turkey has a score or more of small gunboats which are not set out in detail in the standard British lists.

| At the meeting of the Karori Borough Council last evening a letter from the Director of Education (Dr. W. J. Anderson) was readj in which it was stated that "in view of the present circumstances and "the necessity for curtailing expenditure it lias been decided that tlio usual subsidy to public libraries will not bo paid tliis year." The Town Clerk stated that this meant that | about) £f) would Hat ba available for pwgkaq of k/pkg,