PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2780, 26 May 1916, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Periodically German reports of the fighting on the Western front have been officially branded by the French as deliberate misrepresentations or gross exaggerations of actual happenings. We have something of this nature in the news today. The German reports of recent fighting* on tho Western front do not squaro with those of our Allies, and the reason given is that it is necessary to keep the German public buoyed up with the belief that their armies are still making progress in their attacks at Verdun. It may be regarded as a good sign when tho onemy is forced to misrepresent mattors in this way. It is a sign of internal ' weakness, and it goes deeper than the message from Paris to-day represents. It is not merely the German people who have to bo hoodwinked, but Germany's Allies as well. A few days ago we had a cablegram giving particulars of au interview supplied to a Hungarian newspaper by General von Moltke, informing the people of the AustroHungarian Empiro of the great reserves of man-power possessed by Germany. Why should it be necessary for the ex-Chief of Staff of the German Army to assuro Austro: Hungary that Germany had amplo reserves of men? The answer is to be found in the frequent reports in neutral papers of the growing warweariness of the Austrians and their waning confidence in tho final outcome of the struggle: To-day again we are told that Ferdinand of Bui,curia is urgently appealing to tho Kaiser for German or Austrian troops to strengthen his forces, which are not strong enough to withstand an Allied offensive from Salonika. How can his Royal brother-in-arms bo expectcd to cramp his efforts against Verdun just at the moment when, according to the veracious German reports, they are sweeping forward' on tho way to victory 1

But whatever the motive ma.v bo behind these German misrepresentations of events on the Western front, wo can afford to view them with unconccrn in the light of the actual Happenings. There is nothing in the reports to hand to cast doubt on the fact that the French, though hard pressed, have hold their own at all important points on their line and inflicted more terrible losses than over on the enemy. The story of General Nivelle's achievement against Fort Douaumont is told in further detail to-day. The attack was admirably planned and timed, and brilliantly exccutcd. ■ It is one of the finest, evidences afforded us of the skill of the French commanders in this region, the efficiency of their aerial service, and tho splendid spirit of the men. The story loses nothing from the fact that the Germans _ have since, by hurling two divisions of troops at the position, and at enormous sacrifice, regained portion of tho ground. The French won their success by an admirably-planned coup, which caught tho enemy unawares, and in consequence gained their end with comparatively small losses. The Germans, on tho other hand, were forced in their effort .to regain the lost ground to rely on the sheor weight of numbers, and as a result suffered terrible losses. This sort of give and tako is very profitable to the Allies. It is the policy of attrition at its best.

Leaving tho Verdun region, where desnerate fighting still continues,

and where, according to latest reports, the French have regained some lost trcnches near the village of Cumieres (to the cast of Movt Hommo), and also repulsed an attack at Cailette Wood, near Douaumont, tho position at other points is of interest. A German message, relating to tho British front, tells of a British attack at Givenchy, southwest of La Bassee, wherein our troops wero repulsed with heavy losses. This looks like another German distortion. The British Com-mander-in-Chief makes 110 mention of any such failure. He tells of hand-to-hand fighting when the British pushed forward at the Vimy vidge, and he records heavy bombardments at various points, but no mention of this alleged repulse at Givenchy. It is not tho custom of our generals to cover up happenings of an unpleasant nature, ancl the Givenchy affair on examination will probably be found to bear a different complexion to that presented in the German-made story. At the same time, there is some justification for the complaint made by tho H'estminstcr Gazette as to the meagreness bf the British official reports. The only thing that can be said for them is that whether the news they convey be good, bad, or indifferent, they aro always the same. The heavy bombardments along the British front daily recorded suggest the probability of important mo'ves in prospect, but they are slow in developing.

It grows clearer with each successive 'day's nows that our Allies in the Trentino are steadily yielding to the pressure of the Austrian offensive and falling back into their own territory. Whereas it was previously claimed that the Austrian offensive had onlydriven the Italians from their outlying positions, it is now practically admitted that they are gradually withdrawing at practically all points on tliis sector of their front.. Still they are fighting stubbornly, and thus enabling the fullest preparations to bo made for strengthening the Italian defensive positions along the frontier. One thing seems quite clear, and that is- that for the timo being our Allies are at a material disadvantage in this region, and it is likely that for some time to come they will be compelled to act on the defensive there. It is the more noteworthy that in face of this development the celebrations of .the anniversary of Italy entering on tho war should have been so enthusiastically celebrated throughout the country. It but serves to emphasise the spirit with which Italy, in common with' the rest of the Allies, is facing this struggle ahead. What a contrast it presents to the miserable peace talk in the House of Commons by Messhs. Ponsonby and Hamsay Mac Donald recorded to-day. The whole world wants peace, but not the sort of peace these whimperers would bring us.

There has been further debate in the Homo Parliament on the subject of the British air servicc. It has served oue useful purpose. It has led to an authoritative statement as to the new organisation which is now to control the servicc, and it has disclosed the fact that there is a divergence of opinion as botween the naval and military branches which prevents the immediate setting up of a, separate department under a Minister to deal solely with aerial matters. The record of the aerial scrvicc is of itself a testimony to its efficiency, but it is satisfactory to know that it is'on the way to. being placed on an even better footing.

Greek opinion has been stirred to antagonism against the Austro-Gcr-mans owing to submarines sinking three Greek vessels. -The indignation of the Greeks is not unnatural.' They had some reason to expect that Germany would spare their vessels in consideration of tho Greek Government's betrayal of Serbia, or at any rate as a matter of policy concerning the future. They have been disappointed. If we search for a rcasorf for this act of piracy, it may perhaps be found in the signs of a drawing together of the Greeks and the Allies. These signs certainly are not very definite, but small things sometimes lead the way to great, and the return of M. Venizelos to tho Greek Parliament may appear to the Germans to foreshadow coming events prejudicial to their interests. Tho greatest concern of tho - Greeks is that Britain, by reason of her command of the sea, can if she chooses close all Greek ports and so ruin and_ practically starve the country. Their anxiety on this account has no doubt had a salutary influence at times during tho war. Knowing this, what moro natural than thai Germany should give Greece a hint that she, too, can interfere with oversea trade, and strike at the trading interests of her enemies. So she conveys_ a gentle hint to the Greeks by sinking three of their vessels. Will the Greeks tamely endure this outrage 1 That remains to be seen. A lesser act has been the deciding factor in plunging many nations into war.