PROGRESS OP THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2775, 19 May 1916, Page 4

PROGRESS OP THE WAR

In view of the criticism of the British air service, originated by the Northcmffe Press and a group of political scaremongers, the information now supplied by Mr. 'Pennant in the House of Commons is particularly gratifying. The success of the Zeppelin raiders, in .I'caching England and dropping bombs and murdering civilians naturally aroused the public to a keen interest on the subject of aerial defence. _ The wild talk of some of the politicians and also the writings in some of the newspapers had led the public to believe that shouldZeppelins ever reach England they would \be quickly disposed of by our own airmen. Most of those who spoko or wrote in this strain had little if any knowledge of. the technical difficulties which handicap attacks by.aeroplanes on airships, particularly at night, and when tho Zeppelins pursued their evil way practically unscathed so far as the efforts of our aircraft were concerned, the public naturally felt that something was very wrong with our air service. Thus from over-conii-dence there is a decided'tendency to plunge to the other extreme, a tendency which was assisted by the scarenrongering Press and a section of thelittle nand of fault-finding politicians which has constituted itself tho Opposition in the House of Commons. It was on this wave of public feeling that Mr. Pemdekton Billing, tho ex-airman, won : his seat in the House of Commons.

That there has been and is still room for improvement in olir air servico may be taken for granted. Tho men in the service,. the pilots, and the observers, have a wonderful record to point to; but it is doubtful whether those who have controlled the administrative side of the service have done equally well; and it is especially doubtful whether the Government has been sufficiently liboral in the provision of funds to meet the full needs of a service which has become an increasingly .important factor in tho war. Even if these things are conceded, however, on the known facts the British air service has done wonderful ■ work, and on the evidence available it is plain that the scaremongers have grossly exaggerated _ such shortcomings as may nave existed. The figures quoted in the House of Commons by Mr. Tennant illuminating. He states that out of 479 air fights along the British front only 03 took place on the British side of tSe line. The fact that practically all the air ,fighting took place over, or beyond, the ! German lines goes to show most conclusively that our air service along the fighting lines has dominated the situation. Our airmen, as wo have ibeen constantly told, are continually flying over the.' German lines, gathering information for the military commanders, or bombing the enemy's lines of communication; while the German airmen can seldom venture to trespass on tho British siijo of ! the line. ■On the 63 occasions on which their attempt? to do so were challenged and air fights took place 13 German machines were brought down, and no British. This not only speaks volumes for the skill and daring of our men, but it says i a good deal for tie quality of the machines as well.

r One thing is very clear, and that is that our air service at the front lias been carrying out the work expected of it with quite remarkable success; and that it dominates the enemy air service there. A significant incident is recorded in connection with tho discussion of the air service question in the House of Commons. Mr. Billing, the archagitator, was counted out. This does not mean that members counted him out under the methods of the prize-ring,, but'they left the Chamber in such numbers that there was- not a quorum left, and the sitting in consequcnce was abruptly brought to a close, and Mr. Billing's eloquence cut off. . It is one of the most unhappy experiences a politician can suffer—a harsh, but emphatic declaration by his fellowmembers of their contempt or boredom. . v * ' * ' # # Accumulating /evidence is forthcoming to-day of unusual activity on practically all fronts. Two inevitable signs of a pending offensive are the artillery bombardments and aerial activity. We have both today on the Western front, Verdun is still the chicf centre of these movements. It has been very noticeable of late that the French air servico has been busily engaged in bombing expeditions at various points where railways and rbads radiate in tho direction of the Verdun region. Several of these raids have been recorded during the past few days, all directed at points along which German troops and supplies would pass on their way to the German lines forming the chicf centres of attack .around Verdun. The purpose of the expeditions is, of course, to endeavour to dislocate the enemy's railway service at critical points, and delay the bringing up of reserves and supplies, and thus hamper his operations, whether of an offensive or a defensive nature. It must be assumed, therefore, that the sudden activity of the French air servico in this quarter just now is the outcome of some special movement by the enemy or the forerunner vf an offensive by the French forces. The probability is that there is something more afoot than the everyday task of harassing the enemy in every possible way. It may mean a further great German offensive against Verdun, or it may bo that tho French are specially anxious to hamper the movement of the enemy troops to some other sus-

pectod point of. attack. We inust wait and watch developments. Some-thing-is afoot.

• « » A sudden, violent outburst of fighting _ is recorded on the'' Trentino section of the Italian front. Austrian accounts speak of great successes and many prisoners; Italian accounts tell of Austrian repulses and heavy losses, but admit the abandoning of certain advanced positions in the vicinity of llovereto, to _ the east of the northernmost point of Lake Garda—that is to say, in the Trentino. It will bo recalled that the main'fighting in the Italian campaign has taken place about the north-eastern frontier of Italy, along the Isonzo lliver. This region apparently is not concerned with the latest Austrian offensive. It is the forces which advanced from the centre of Northern Italy into the Trentino that have beer subjected to the heavy attacks do. recorded. The Italians here as ekcwhere along their north and northeastern frontier, have been faccd with iremendous natural difficulties. They iiavo been forced to fight their way almost foot by foot over great mountain ranges, and through rocky passes, entailing enormous labour and severe hardships in tho transport of guns, and high courage and endurance on the part of the troops, quite ajiartfrom the ordeal of the actual fighting. The forward movement had progressed various distances into Austrian territory, llovereto, where the advanced positions have just been abandoned, being about ten or a.dozen miles on the Austrian side of the frontier. Owing to winter conditions preventing any great activity, we have heard little of operations here for some time 'past, and no doubt -matters have been practically stationary. Now the Austrians have made_ a swoop which seems likely for the time beting at least to keep our Allies fully occupied on the defensive.

If as" reported 300,000 Austrian troops are engaged in this offensive ; the struggle is likely to assume important dimensions, and may have serious consequences. The line of ■attack is the shortest road to the network of railways converging on Venice. It is indeed a far cry from Rovercto and the Valley of the Sugano to Venice; but should the Austrians be in a position and have the men to spare to make a thrust in this direction it may divert the energies of General Cadorna from the Isqnzo front. The new Italian front is, however, still well across the Austrian frontier, and there is no reason at present to believe that our Allies have suffered anything in the way of a serious reverse in the Trentino. Their advance Has been checked for the time being, and they have given and suffered losses in what appears to have been heavy and sustained fighting. That is how tho' matter stands. Italy can better stand tho strain of this campaign than can Austria, whose efforts are spread over so many fronts, i « « 1 * «

, In other theatre's events are progressing satisfactorily, -particularly in Asia Minor. Tho most threaten-' ing movement there was against the Russian centre near Erzinghan, where the Turks, strongly reinforced, wero reported to have driven in the Russian outposts. To-day's report shows that despite the bringing up ol Turkish reserves the position continues satisfactory from the Russian point of view. It will be noted that some stress is laid on tho fact that the Russian Loft Wing moving on Bagdad is meeting with little serious opposition.

Just as we go to Press news comes to hand of a great Russian success, including the capture of N 37,000 Turkish troops. This is indeed a heavy blow to the enemy. Probably this success was attained in the move towards the Tigris in the direction of Mosul.