The Dominion FRIDAY, JUNE 16 1916. A SURVEY OF THE WAR SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2798, 16 June 1916, Page 4

The Dominion FRIDAY, JUNE 16 1916. A SURVEY OF THE WAR SITUATION

■ A comprehensive glance at the war, situation as it exists at the present moment provides abundant ■justification for tho optimistic ton© of Mb. Asquith's latest survey of the prospects of the Allies/ There is certainly much to' inspire confidence in the outlook. We must be prepared for further desperate fighting, but the trend of events is now unmistakably in our favour, and a calm consideration of the available military and economic facts leads surely to the conclusion that. the finish—whether it comes soon or late—will be -a decisive victory for us and our Allies. Britain still remains Mistress of the Seas. After waiting for nearly two years for a favourable opportunity of challenging Britain's sea power, the German Meet sailed out. That part of ■it''which sailed back did so battered and beaten. Our - losses ..were heavy, but the enemy's losses were heavier, and our margin of naval supremacy is -now greater than it was before the engagement. From the naval point of view there be no shacfow of doubt _ that the Allies have had overwhelmingly the. best of the struggle from the beginning of the war, and the position to-day on the oceans of the world i" infinitely , better than at any previous stage. Instead of releasing its grip, our Navy has strengthened it. The blockade is being maintained with more severity than ever. The most impressive feature of the war situation at the present moment is the tremendous blow which Russia is dealing to Austria. The sudden and irresistible swoop of the Tsar's armies has astonished the World. It has changed the whole aspect of the war. It may be the prelude to big happenings on all fronts. .Austria cannot withdraw troops, from the Italian front to throw against the Eussians, for the Italians are renewing their attack with increased vigour, and the Germans are so fully occupied in France and Belgium, and in the Baltic, Provinces, that they appear to be unable to go to tho rescue of the hard-pressed Austrians. General Brusiloff is said to have expressed the hope that his success may be sufficiently overwhelming to smash down Austria's power of resistance. However that may be, Austria is staggering under the attack, and it is quite certain that the prospects of the Eussians are far more favourable on this occasion than when their previous onslaught was - hurled back by th« combined efforts of-the Austrian and German armies. Tho staying power of Austria has been one of the surprises of the war, but still more surprising is the magnificent recovery. of Russia. Can a weaker Austria withstand this second gigantic encounter with a stronger Eussia 1 The is eagerly awaiting tho' answer to this question, and there seems little doubt what that answer will be.' Prussia's recent victories against Austria and Turkey may prove' to be the opening jf tho final stage of the struggle. In the face of stupendous difficulties the Russians have smashed their way into Asia Minor. Turkey is reeling under tho attack, and cannot expect further help from Germany. The Turks have been showing unmistakable signs of war-weariness, but the.y will probably have to fight 011 until they can light no longer, or at any rate until they see that their position is absolutely hopeless. The_ situation in the Balkans has also improved from tho point of

view of the Allies. The uncertain attitude of Greece has greatly hampered their military operations. Her vacillating conduct since the beginning of the war has created the impression that she is playing a double game. For what purpose did she mobilise her army 1 This question has never yet been satisfactorily answered. When tho Allied forces began _ to assemblo at Salonika, tho existence of the Greek army, ready to strike, became a source of dangfer. Tho Allies insisted that it must be demobilised. This lias now been done, and as a consequence. the position of the Allied armies has been materially improved. On the Western frontthe desperate struggle around Verdun has been the outstanding feature of _ tho war'for some months. Any gains in territory tho Germans may nave made are small indeed when compared with their enormous losses in men. Taken as a whole, tho outlook for tho Allies in this theatre-of war may be regarded as satisfactory. The'v are more ready for the great trial of strength that (must' eventually come than they have been at any previous time since the outbreak of hostilities, and relatively their position is stronger tlian it has ever been. The naval and military situation, viewed as a whole, is undoubtedly much more favourable to us than to our enemies, and it is plain to all the world that tho economic resources of the Allies far exceed those of tho Central Powers. There are indications that the dangerous expedients to which Germany lias been compelled to'resort in order to finance the war are shaking confidence within and without the country. Tho latest loan probably will prove "n even_ greater failure from the point of view of public support than the previous attempt to gather in the remnants of the savings of the people. .Mit. Asquitii found much in the general situation to inspire him with confidence in the final outcome, and never in this war was there greater visible reason for such confidence on.tho part of tho Allies.