PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2774, 18 May 1916, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The development of the Russian campaign in Asia Minor is beginning to have an effect further afield; that is to say, in the Balkans. Today's messages speak of the dispatch of further Austro-German and Turkish troops through Constantinople, and mention is also made of Bulgarian troops being sent to assist the Turks in their efforts to stem the Russian advance. It is satisfactory to know that although the Russian advance is hindered and handicapped by 'difficulties of transport over a great extent of 'mountain country, and bv bad roads after tho moun* tains are crossed, the Turks themselves arc not very much better off. Such railways as exist are mainly narrow-gauge lines, not capable of carrying heavy traffic, and crippled also by lack of rolling stock and t\>o shortage, of coal. Even then the railheads of the completed sections of the lines stop far short of the field of, operations, and road and river transport have to be relied on to carry troops and supplies to- the various fronts. The Russian forces are in three main groups/ and stretch from Trebizond on tho Black Sea right across Armenia, down into the southernmost portion, or left wing, being at latest advices in the vicinity of Khanikin. Tho distant from point to point aa the crow flies is about COO miles, of about h?ilf as long " again as tho Allies' Western front, stretching through Belgium and France. Of course, the Russians have not got this line packed with troops, as ia the case on the Western front, but some idea may be gained of the extent of the operations in Asia Minor from the figures given of the range of country our Allies are operating over.

The news from this quarter continues encouraging, more particularly in view of the embarrassment likely to bo occasioned the Turks by the .Russian centre reaching tho headquarters of the Tigris. This haa not yet been done, but the latest information to hand suggests that this achievement is not far off. It means if accomplished a seriqus interferon cowith the Turkish lines of communication, more especially the dis- , patch of supplies south to Bagdad by river transport, which is tho best means available. The silence concerning thc_ movements of the British force in Mesopotamia under General Lake is open ta different interpretations. It may lie that he is not yet in'a position to continuo his advance northward towards Bag--did, or he may already be on tho move. It may be noted, however, that there is a statement to the effect that the Turks who were besieging General Townshend's force at Kut-cl-Amara have how been moved to the north.to strengthen the forces gathering to resist the Russian advance on Bagdad from the northcast. Wc'must assume that the British and Russian forces, are co-oper-ating in the operations in Mesopotamia, and General. Lake cannot remain inactive with the / Russians drawing in on the ancient city which is the goal of their ambitions, and incidentally the centre of what is likely to prove the most stubborn struggle of tig campaign. Remarkable as has been tho success of the Russian operations in Asia Minor 'up to the present, wo must recognise that tho great trial of strength lies ahead, and that our Allies are faced with a formidable task. - All the assistance that can be afforded ■by the British.force in Mesopotamia will bo needed. At latest advices, Gener/il Lake was some 120 miles south of Bagdad, while the Russian left wing has readied a point a slightly less distance to the northeast of the city. » * * • Fighting has been active on all fronts. The Germans have resumed their efforts in the East, both in the north and in Galicia. The attack in Galicia seems to have been quickly disposed of, but further north, near Lake Miadzol, they gained a temporary hold on some Russian front lino trcnches, only to he ejected by the Russian counterattack/, There is nothing in these to suggest that the anticipated big offensive has yet commenced. In the West the British front has been subjected to further attacks, two of which were repulsed entirely, while a third was disposed of after the enemy had gained our first-line trenches at a point south of Hebutcrne. The British have not been idle. The Lancashire Fusiliers succeeded in gaining tho enemy's forward line of trenches at Vimy ridge, inflicting considerable casualties; while opposite Ouchy a British patrol not only raided the enemy's first line, but penetrated towards the second, where bombs were exchanged. French official messages also report enemy activities, qjiiefly artillery fire along familiar positions in the Argonne and at points around Verdun. There are hints in other messages of marked signs of unrest along the German lines, suggestive of big happenings in the near future. The impression appears to prevail amongst the enemy that the Allies are ready to strike in force, and will do so. There will probably bo developments elsewhere first. * e m ® Very little has been heard of late of either the Italian campaign or the Belgians. The lattcrj it would seem, have now made a move and recaptured some of their territory. The importance or otherwise of this operation, however, .is not indicated. The Italians, however, have been engaged largely in preparatory work. At the Paris Conference in March last, attended by all the representatives of the Allies, 'special attention was given to Italy, and it is stated that a better understanding was arrived at as to Italy's, share in the war and after. Full uso could not be made of Italy's fighting strength owing to differences arising out of Balkan policy, and more especially to tho claims of Serbia. It is understood that Italy, while whole-heartedly on tho side of tho Allies, holds certain views in regard to the Balkans—more especially as to possible changes along tho shores of the Adriatic —which have induced her to adopt a policy restricting in certain particulars the use to which hor military forces may

be put. It is, of course, eminently dcsirabje that the forces of any of the Allies shall be used at the point at which they will be of most use to the common cause. So it is that we have British, Belgian, French, and llussian troops operating on the Western front; and British and French and Serbian troops -at Salonika. Whether Italy actually- declined to send troops away from her own frontiers has not been disclosed, but some difference would seem to have existed. One result of the Paris Conference is said to ha\c been a better understanding ancl a closer co-operation all round, and more especially as regards Italy. This does not mean that there was at any stage any vitally important difference to be settled, but it is satisfactory to know that a closer co-ordination of effort may be looked for on all fronts. . * t * 4 The failure of any of those who have been condemning the administration of the British Flying Corps to seize the opportunity afforded by the Government to make good their case may bo regarded as a reassuring sign of their disinclination to leave the field of' generalities and to come down to solid facts. Mr. Pemberton Billing, the ex-member of the Aerial Corps, who resigned his position in the forces to gain'a place m Parliament with the avowed object of waking up the Government to the needs of an adequate air service, explains that he was not invited to givo evidence, and that in any case the conditions of the proposed inquiry did not satisfy him. The inquiry was no doubt set up mainly with the object of giving Me. Billing the chance ho has so frequently demanded. Speaking at a public mooting in London on March 27, ho said: "I went to the House of Commons because that is the only place in England where the Defence of the Realm Act does not handcuff your hands and sew up your lips. No power on earth is going to prevent me from saying what I know to be true in the interests of my country." I'et when the opportunity is offered, Me. Billing does not seize it.

In the House of Commons, Mr. Billing made a very serious charge. He stated that some of ibo pilots of our aeroplanes used at the front had been murdered by being sent out in machines unfit for the purpose. At the meeting above referred to, ho made this explanation of his charge: In a sense, when 1 said tlwt some of our pilots had been murdered rather than killed, I meant it, and I propose to provo it. To take a bright young man, keen and anxious to serve the country, anil willing to die for it if any useful purpose can be served, to. give him a piece of rotten material, to order bim up in the air in a rainstorm in a machine that can only climb-300ft. a minute, and get along at perhaps 75 miles an hour, to fly over the enemy's country with three hours' petrol and a very meagre chance of being able to weather back to our lines; to fly with an engine that is inefficient, to put Kim on a "dud" machine when we have the finest machines in this country—to send a young man like that to his death, to meet a machine which is fully equipped with machine-guns, which can climb at tliree times his speed, and fly at twice his speed; to send him out to tako photographs knowing no skill of his will ever make up for the inefficiency of his machine—how should I describe the people in high authority who allow this to go on? (Cries of "Murder.") There is no doubt this does go on, and I am going to prove it. . , . I left no stone unturned betweon my maiden speech in tiio House of Commons and my first attack on the Government. I sought out all ; these people in authority and I told them more than I told the House. I told them I was prepared to prove to the hilt every statement I had made both by oral and documentary evidence, and I was received most politely. ■ That did not satisfy ine, and it will never sa.tif.fy me. This country must bo supreme in the air.

And so Mr. Billing started on his campaign to arouse the' country; and when th 6 Government gives him his Committee of Inquiry to investi-gato-his and anyone else's charges he finds reasons for failing to attend and produce his proofs. Mr. Billing is an experienced airman, who has secn_ a good deal of active service. His speeches, however, convey the impression that he seeks effect by misstatement of facts. He has been boomed by the SNorthcliffe Press in order to hit at the Government, and it seems to have gone to his head.