PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2727, 23 March 1916, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Fighting continues at Verdun, but the situation remains much as it was reported yesterday. That is to say tho enemy is still attacking on the Avocourt-MeJancourt front, six or seven miles west of tho Mcuse, but his operations in this region have not reached anything like the scale of his assaults at an earlier stage of the battle. Part of a wood lias been occupied by the Germans, but, as reports stand at trie moment, their eilorts to make further progress have completely failed. Thc Fiench front in this area has net 'been subjected to any such strain as thc positions further east, towards the Mcuse and on the eastern side of that river, and it is therefore likely that the slight measure of progress' achieved by cho cnomy is of no particular importance.

As to the outlook it is said that all the Paris newspapers hold that France has broken Germany's offensive at Verdun, while the Tines military correspondent says that the lull at Verdun must nob be accepted as indicative that the Germans .have abandoned the .thrust. Concentration and movement of troops, he says, show that further assaults are contemplated. This looks like a conflict of testimony, but it is not necessarily so in reality. Thc claim made by the French newsnapers is evidently cast in general terms, and may be warranted even if Germany, as the Tunes correspondent states, contemplates further assaults. In Germany's circumstances thc fact that an offensive- lias been broken and has lost it's initial- driving power is not necessarily a reason for giving it up as a bad job. Broken or not, the offensive is still being pressed, though in much less than its former strength and power, in the above-named area "west of the Mcuse. This being .so, to suppose that the Germans do not contemplate further assaults, in the Verdun region or elsewhere on the Western front, would be to suppose that they are throwing away men and material with .ut having any object in view. To this extent the prediction of the Times correspondent wears an air of probability. But neither he nor any other correspondent can be in possession of the information as to the concentration and movement of troops that is necessary to enable him to deduce whether ■the enemy .will strike his next definite blow against Verdun or against some other section of the Allied front.

Meantime the Russians have gained some ground both in the Baltic Provinces and in Galicia. In the first-mentioned area they report the capture of two villages and another enemy position. Brief as the official report is, it differs materially from a German eommuniqup which admits only the loss of a small salient south of Lake Narotch (about 70 miles cast of Vilna) and claims that elsewhere the Russian attacks were repulsed with heavy loss. There has been some- talk lately of a German offensive in the Baltic Provinces, but for the time at least matters are evidently all the other way. The Kussians hold the initiative (as even the enemy reports show), and though they are not attempting a big advance, are evidently inclined to a policy of active enterprise.

In Galicia the Russians have captured Austrian bridge-head fortifications at Uscieczko, on ; the Dniester. The battlcfront in this region runs generally north and south, across the river, but evidently the Austrian organisation, as governed by local peculiarities of topography, made the Uscieczko bridge-head a position of importance. This is inI dicatcd in any case in the ornate accounts of the- battle given by the Austrians. They stress the point that the bridge-head was defended | for six months, and generally describe -a battle in which Austrian 'losses must have- been very severe. The Russian artillery stopped the way of retreat across the river, but it is claimed that the garrison afterwards cut its way through the Russian line. It is somewhat unlikely that the Austrian force escaped in this fashion, if it is true, as stated, that the Russians had. an eightfold superiority of- force. But for the possibility that the enemy is exaggerating the Russian numbers in order to minimise his defeat, an interesting indication would thus be supplied of the strength with which the Russians are developing their gradual southern offensive. The fact is in any case established that the Austrians have been dislodged from a position to which they attached considerable importance. Uscieczko is in an area in which much heavy fighting is likely to be witnessed in the not distant future. It stands about 40 miles north-north-west of Czernowitz, the capital of Bukowina. Czernowitz is of great strategic importance as a railway junction, and is covered by a powerful range of Anstro-German field fortifications opposite the Rumanian and Bessarabian frontiers. The capture of Uscieczko may be regarded as a step' towards turning these positions in .the north.

A statement by the Paris Figaro that the Allied forces at Salonika arc preparing for action, and that the military chiefs and representatives of the Allies arc going to decide Germany's fate, is open to criticism as being somewhat bombastic in tone; but serves to emphasise the probability that we are on the eve of great events. That tho Figaro, is not merely giving rein to its imagination may be gathered from the announcement that Geneual Cadorna is on a visit to Paris. No doubt a War Council is being held in the French capital, and it may he taken for grunted that such a conference at tho present time will be devoted ■

to consideration of the concerted, measures against the enemy in all theatres, which the opening weather will soon make possible. The development of the Allied, plans will not necessarily involve simultaneous assault upon the enemy on all fronts as soon as better weather affords practicable conditions for heavy transport, but the Germans cannot hope much longer for comparative stagnation in other theatres whilethey concentrate upon a Western o&uisivc. Indeed, it is very possible that the Eastern theatre may from this time forward witness a steadily rising tide of conflict which in itseff will absorb no small part of the enemy's resources. At the same time CrKNEKAL, Cadorna is quoted as stating that when the weather improve., the Italians will advance in a manner satisfactory to everyone—a comprehensive term, which may yet be assumed tr, exclude tho enemy. Nothing is more likely, as circumstances stand, than that a move is in prospect from Salonika,

_ The statement attributed to tho Italian Commander-in-Chief is the most definite indication yet afforded that the policy of wearing clown the enemy is-presently to be abandoned tor more active measures. It is quite certain that the Italians will not embark upon sneh an advance as ho forecasts without being powerfully supported by concerted action -u other theatres, so that he may be said to be predicting not merely an Air r „ off< r" £iv <v >* a general Allied offensive of the widest scope. Further particulars of the financial embarrassments of the Greek Government are given by the Dailii >dad correspondent at Athens. He states definitely that a request has been made to London for a loan so that it is clear the Allies are now withholding the financial assistance they have hitherto rendered to Greece. Proof that the Allies were assisting Greece in this manner was afforded m the middle of January. At that time a French official rejoinder was made to 'King Constwtine's protest against the operations of the Allies at Salonika, and their action in blowing up the Demirhissar Bridge. One passage in tho rreuch statement ran: "The King declares he cannot demobilise. He fails to add that the Allies continue, at his request, to advance monej to Greece for its mobilisation." Tho subsequent passage is also interesting: "He (tho King) is afraid Salonika will be no longer Greek if the Allies are driven from it. Then who does he want to persuade the Allies to go? And why dots'he not take his place beside thcml" It seems hardly open to doubt that the Allies are now taking measures to compel King Constantike to either demobilise or "take his place beside them."

Extracts from an article by Colonel Repington on the. subject of recruiting have apparently suffered to some extent in cabling. He is made tosay that there are seventy United Kingdom divisions, at home and abroad which are 'much under strength, and that in order to complete them 1,400,000 recruits are needed. _ This number is as nearly as possible the full strength of seventy divisions, so that it would suf ficc not merely to complete but to create them. If the statement bad been that 1,-100,00) recruits are needed as reinforcements it would have been intelligible, but it relates to completing divisions ■ which are below strength. .For the rest, Colokkl Reptngton declares that the estimates under the Derby scheme are illusory, and that the whole fabric of Great Britain's military power is threatened, and recommends the Government to abolish the lists of certified occupations, and pass an Act imposing general military service for the duration of the war upon all men of military age.. This looks like basing extreme proposals upon a more pessimistic estimate of the position than the facts warrant.