PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2768, 11 May 1916, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

In spite of the terrific struggle proceeding at Verdun the centre of attention has suddenly been transferred from West to East. The prospoets of a German offensive on the Russian front, wc are told, are now the dominating interest of the military situation. There is sound reason for this. The German failure at Verdun may be an influence, but it is not the chief cause for the renewed activity disclosed on the Eastern front. The stubborn stand made by the Tsau's troops in the Dvinsk and

Riga region towards the close of last year, assisted later by the snows of winter, checked the great German onslaught which was to sweep through to Pctrograd, and since that' time the Russians have had the best of such fighting as the winter conditions have rendered possible. This has been the case also in Galicia, where the Austro-Gcrman lines were driven back oyer a considerable area. But during the months which have passed the Germans have been feverishly at work preparing for a renewal of the great drive when the summer months came, and summer has arrived. Dozens of light lines oi railway have been constructed by von Hindenbueg in the Dvinsk and Riga region, and so openly has the work of preparation been carried out that it has been regarded in some rjuarters as_ merely- covering an intention to strike at some other point of the Russian line, probably in Galicia.

There are reasons which favour a big move in tho south. For one thing, Rumania. The attitude of Rumania is a menace to German plans, and assuming, as is probable, that she is merely waiting on events to join with the Entente Powers, a heavy blow to Russia along the Rumanian border would be a wholesome deterrent from the German point of view. But a German success would not be allowed to stop there, if the Kaisek_ could help it. There is a more ambitious game for him to play—that is,, to strike at the Russian Black Sea Fket's base. Such a blow would, incidentally, cut off (supplies from the south and east for the Southern Russian armies, while the hampering of the Russian Fleet would revolutionise the situation in Asia Minor,_ relieve Turkey and Bulgaria of serious embarrassment, and weaken still further the position of Rumania. It is a big and an ambitious plan—too big and too ambitious to be likely to come to anything. But have not Germany's plans throughout been framed on a colossal scale 1

The conditions generally, however, would seem to favour an attack on the northern section of the Russian line, where, as already stated, tremendous preparations have beon afoot for months past. The theory generally held is that Germany will attempt to again crush the Russian defence with an overwhelming weight of artillery fire. In the last great struggle along the Eastern front the Russians wore forced to yield over a great stretch of territory because of tho shortage of munitions. The Tsar's soldiers fought with -splendid courage and tenacity, and only gave ground because of the failure of their supplies. The question which concerns the Allies most deeply today is whether that shortage has been now sufficiently met. Russia has tho men; has she the guns-and the materials of war 1 Sufficient has been disclosed to indicate that a tremendous effort has been made to meet the needs _of the situation in this respect. Guns and munitions have been poured in from Britain, from America, and from Japan, and in addition an enormous increase in production has taken place within the boundaries of Russia. That Russia is much better prepared than last year to meet the Germans is an accepted fact, but can she meet them on anything like equal terms in the matter of guns and munitions 1 The answer to that question will only bo given when the issue is-put to the test, and on it will mainly depend the duration of the war. Given tho guns and munitions tho Russiau forces are in a position not only to hold the enemy; but to take 'the offensive. If the shortage still exists, then her generals will have to fight on the defensive, and possibly will be forced still further back, and the development, of the great crushing movement foreshadowed by the Allies will lie further delayed. Tho latest official word wo have had from Britain on the subject of Russian supplies was from Mr, Li.oyd George last' week, when ho stated that tho immediate needs had been met, but that still more munitions were needed. This must be regarded in the circumstances as satisfactory, especially in view of the' semi-official message on similar linns from Russia to-day. Germany no doubt hoped to strike before Russia was quite ready. There is good ground for tho belief that she has delayed too long to derive this initial advantage.

"While this forthcoming great German offensive in the East (for it is certain to eventuate ere'long) may reasonably give some ground for concern to the Allies, it must not bo overlooked that in addition to tho improvement of the position of Russia in the matter of munitions, there is a material change in «tho situation on the Western front p as compared with tho state of affairs when tho Russians were forced to fall back last year. Then the AngloFrench forces were not in a position to relieve to any extent the pressure on their Eastern Ally by increasing 1»1ic pressure on the German lines iii the _ yicst. Now . General Jort'RE's position has been so strengthened that should necessity arise he can afford to strike a tremendous blow or blows at chosen points on tho German line that will keep the German General Staff fully occupied and correspondingly relieve the pressure on the Russian front. The outlook therefore is far more 'cheerful than it was when tho Germans began their big Eastern offensive last year, and events may he awaited with some confidence.

In the meantime the fight still rages around Verdun, and our Anzacs further north have had their baptism of fire on the fields of France. ' Already they have had experience of that horror of modern warfare, the bombardment by heavy artillery, and already they have met the Hun in haiuMo-hand conflict. The message tells us that they acquitted themselves well under the new . conditions, which was as wo all expected. It will be noted that the name Anzac is now officially recognised as designating the Australian and New Zealand forces in France. ' There may be sentimental grounds of objection to this, for Anzac is a name so closely associated with the heroic deeds of the. men of Gallipoli that it might seem out of place to give it a wider application. On. the other hand, it is a name to inspire; a title to be worn with pride by every Australian and New Zealand soldier—something to live up to, something to die for in a blaze of glory. It has _ meant much in the months passed, il, will mean more in the years to come.

At latest advices an intense bombardment of the French lines 'at Douamont and Vaux, and also at Chatillon, a few miles to the south, is recorded. .There has been some activity also at Apremont, a score of miles away to the north-east, and again awav to the south-west, in the Vosgcs. T*hc item of chief importance recorded, howcr, is the state-

ment that although the German artillery attacks at Verdun have been more powerful than ever the enemy infantry are no longer able to hold the ground thus cleared. This is significant. It indicates the declining ■morale of the German troops under the terrible ordeal to which they have been submitted. They went bravely enough to slaughter, but the time has apparently come when, dispirited by their fearful losses and the seeming hopelessness of the task set thorn; they fail to respond with the same courage and tenacity which characterised their earlier efforts. Fresh troops have been poured in to replace the shattered and decimated regiments, but news of the Great Failure has no doubt spread along the German lines. Small wonder is it if the. men, knowing the reckless prodigality with which their leaders have sacrificed their comrades for weeks past in this great assault, have little heart to face French bayonets as a sequel to French shrapnel and machine-gun fire. A "semi-official" message to-* day states that the situation on both banks of the Mouse in the Verdun region is now the same as before the last renewal of the formidable German offensive. It is indeed a dispiriting story from the German point of view.

Me. Balfour has afforded us a brief glimpse to-day of the might of the British Fleet. The First Lord of the Admiralty has adopted his customary course of publishing a communication to a correspondent possibly as a reply to comment on the failure to intercept the recent raiding German vessels whioh bombarded the English coast, murdered four civilians, and bolted for the Kiel Canal. Me. Balfque states that the Main Fleet has been so strengthened that tho Admiralty has been able to detail an important section to keep its eye on possible raiders along the more southerly coasts of Britain; and presumably capable of giving such visitors a severe handling. It is a reassuring piece of news if such were needed, not only on account of the security it may promise the unprotected coastal towns which the. raiders prefer to single out for their exploits, but because of the indication it gives of the increased strength of the High Seas Fleet itself.