PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2731, 28 March 1916, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

.Only brief accounts are in hand at time of writing of a British seaplane raid on Saturday upon airShip sheds on the coast of SchlcswigHolstcin, but enough is told to show that it was an enterprise worthy of the best traditions of the Navy. The bare story is that a squadron of light cruisers and destroyers, under Commodore Tyiuvhitt, hero of not a few similar, enterprises since the Battle of Heligoland, approached the German coast, and so brought the seaplanes near to their objective. The official report quotes the Danish iPress.aa indicating that "the opora-

tions in the enemy's waters achieved their object"; but a destroyer is in danger, and may be lost, and three seaplanes are missing. Admiration of tho enterprise and daring manifested in a raid of this character will be intensified by the fact, incidentally disclosed, that it was made in stormy weather. This may have facilitated a surprise descent on tho enemy's coast to some extent, but obviously it entailed also added dangers both to the light naval craft engaged and to the seaplanes. Whether in foul-weather or fair, the odds in naval operations on' tho Schleswig coast are almost necessarily in favour of the enemy. He is certainly very greatly favoured by local, circumstances. '

The airship sheds which were tho objective of tho British air attackarc located on the mainland of Schleswig-Holstein, about VO miles north of the estuary of the Elbe, which is entered by the Kiel Canal. North from the_ Elbe the whole Schleswig coast is fringed by sands and islands, tho North Frisian chaini and others. No doubt these afford safe cover for an assemblage of light-draught naval-craft at various points' on the Schleswig coast, so that an attacking squadron of 'limited strength .would necessarily jbe in some danger of being attacked |in overwhelming force. Fortunately Ino such turn of fortune overtook 'the British raiding squadron, and jit seems to have suffered more from, 'and as a result of, the weather than 'from the enemy. Bad weather may have accounted even for the non-re-turn of three of the seaplanes; it is mentioned as the factor likely ~to prevent the safe return of the destroyer Medusa to her base, and very probably stormy conditions were the immediate cause of the collision with a consort, in which she was injured. The Medusa' does not appear in available lists, which would imply that she is a late addition to the British flotillas. The Laverock, with which she collided, is a destroyer of 965 tons, with a designed speed of 29 knots 'an hour, built in 19"l3. Though the_ Medusa herself is in danger, no misgivings are felt for the safety of her crew. Against the probable loss of the Medusa, there is to bo set the sinking by the British squadron- of two German armed patrol vessels.

Though the outline of the story has yet to be filled in, the raid gives point to the statement by Dr. Macnamara, Financial Secretary, to the Admiralty, that the Government intends to use its''air resources to the utmost in offensive as well as defensive operations. The descent bn Schleswig follows closely upon .an attack by a powerful Allied air squadron on Zeebrugge, so that the, Allies seem to be fairly embarked upon a vigorous air offensive supplementary to the operations which are in constant progress on the main battle-front. It is almost universally agreed that the policy of destroying Zeppelins and other enemy aircraft in their hangars pays better than any purely defensive tactics, and as a practical step in such a policy thc-Schleswig raid is no doubt entitled to a place of importance. The likelihood must also be recognised that the object of such an incursion in the locality selected was not only to attack airships in their sheds. At all events it was in addition a useful reconnaissance in the enemy's territorial waters. v

Danish reports just_ received supplement the brief official account of the raid, but, though interesting, they are scrappy, and give no connected account of events. They indicate that both sides were represented-by strong forces of light naval craft, these being,sighted in groups along the coast south from the Danish province of Jutland, towards the Elbe. A 'British squadron of twenty destroyers is said to have been sighted off the Jutland coast, and a German squadron of five cruisers and twenty torpedoers is. mentioned as having appeared in the same locality. Tho effect of the Danish reports is to suggest that the purely naval operations were in themselves of much, greater importance than the air raid which is given chief prominence in the official message. But at time of writing general'statements about a great naval engagement off tho coast at noon on Saturday, and a violent cannonade heard in the' North Sea at night, are not amplified in any way.

Only five seaplanes are mentioned in the Danish reports as flying over Schleswig. Their objective was Tondern, a town about nine miles in from the mainland coast, and about 23 miles from the outer coast of the North Frisian island of Sylt.

Just what weight an Athens semiofficial message carries is uncertain, and it is therefore at the moment to apply any conclusive test to the very interesting report that the Germans 'have begun a strong offensive in the Doiran region, on the Greek frontier, east of the Vardar railway; and-that "the' Greek, tiovernment is hurriedly withdrawing its civilians from the fighting area. The message states that tho French are successfully resisting the German onslaught, but in another passage quotes the Greek Finance Minister as declaring that Ghevgeli, on the frontier, is about,to be invaded by the Central Powers'. All this must await confirmation, but if the news is authentic, -the prospect raised is not one to cause any serious anxiety. There was a tjmo when a' powerful effort by the Germans and their vassals to oust the Allies from Salonika was awaited with I'ery keen anxiety, but such an attempt by the enemy at this stage would probably bo welcomed .by the Allies as a piece, of unlooked-for good fortune. If the Greek report is worth, anything,'the mention of Germans as the attacking force, and the absence of any mention of Bulgarians or Austrians, is noteworthy. If the Germans found themselves under tho.necessity of devoting their own troops to an.attack upon Salonika, tho contention that the Allied force established at that port is wasted would be very completely upset. '

_ What has been said from the Allied side about the strength of the Verdun defences receives confirmation to-day from an. unexpected quarter. The German newspaper Vossischc Zeitung describes the Verdun position as a hell which nothing can storm. It pays a tribute also to French valour and organisation, remarking that, except in the matter of 17-inch howitzers, the French arc no weaker than their opponents. It is not easy to account for these bouquets from the enemy except on the assumption that he lias to find some reason for failure, or is again meditating separate peace projects. If the remarks of the Vosmche Zeiluni/ could be regarded as made without' guile, they would amount to a confession very damaging to German prospects.

A great stir of fighting antl bombardment is reported on the Western front, but at time of' Writing no definite event of any great importance. The Germans have not renewed their attacks on the Yerclnn front west of .the Mouse, though bombardment in this quarter is described as intense.

Reports in hand disclose no material change in the Baltic Provinces, though desperate fighting continues. Another German assault has been defeated on the Dwina front; the Russians, have made some headway west of Dyinsk; and further scuth heavy fighting continues, apparently on fairly even terms.

A question that must arise in all minds now.that fuller details are available of the action.in which the German Greif and the British Alcantara were sunk concerns the wisdom of using such a ship as the Alcantara in patrol work. Of the manner in which the commander and crew of the Alcantara- acquitted, themselves in actual contact with the enemy there can be no two opinions. It was a magnificent exhibition of courage and devotion to duty by men who were facing death. The history of the Navy presents few finer pictures than that- of the Alcantara,, in her last moments above water, destroying her treacherous enemy. The fact remains that a powerfully 'armed liner of more than 15,000 tons, not fast as warships go, was hardly the class of ship which should have been employed in unmasking'such a seawasp as the Greif turned out to be. A light cruiser or destroyer might have evaded the Greif's torpedoes, and disposed of her in less costly fashion. ' # * '"» * One of the most important aspects of late developments in the German submarine campaign is the extent to which they affect the United States. The position of America in reference to the murder of American citizens in the' packet steamer Sussex and the liner Englishman seems to be determined by President Wilson's assertion of the right of Americans to travel in any ships they please. This assertion, endorsed by an overwhelming vote both in the Senate and the House of Representatives, consti. ttites America's latest public declaration of policy where submarines are concerned. The efforts made to induce'the Allies to abstain from arming their ships for defence in-con-sideration of the enemy submarines observing international law were of earlier date, and cannot bo regarded as affecting the existing position._ A message, published yesterday, which stated that the Entente Powers had separately declined to agree to the American proposals, was evidently belated. A confident belief obtained in America that the Central Powers would readily accept the proposals This, in itself, goes to suggest that the submarine methods Germany has now adopted are dicta-ted by sheer desperation.