PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2826, 18 July 1916, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

At the moment of writing not very much is added to the story of tho Battle of the Sonime, but any hour may bring news of another big development. Highly successful as it lias boon, the latest British advance is obviously intended to lead up to action on an even greater scale. As yet, a comparatively narrow foothold has been won in the enemy's ground, where it has been most deeply penetrated by the British troops, but the latter are now in touch with positions to tho north and south against which their attack, if pressed wth its past success, will tell with increasingly damaging effect to 'the enemy. \Yhile the .British have been doing ycohian servieo in tho common causc on the section of battle-front north of the river, the French have a slight temporary reverse on their front south of the waterway.Already, however, the damage has to a great extent been made good. i By a surprise attack, and therefore probably, at no very heavy cost, tho Germans recaptured the village of Biaches. which stands' on the south bank of the Sommc 'three-quarters of a mile, west of Peronne, and La Maisonette, a farm crowning a hill one mile south •of Biaches. One official report states that both positions have been retaken, but another claims only that they have been retaken in part. In any case, the check is not likely to be serious, for in this locality the French' have a decided advantage of position 9ver the Germans,' who are fighting in a confincd space enclosed by an angle of the river.

There is still . a disappointing lack of detail news about the ' progress of the great battle which is being fought opposite Kovel, in Southern. Russia,, ,but apart from some .very vague and doubtful claims made by the enemy, available news is good. Writing from 'the Kovel front, Mn. , Stanley Washburn treats tho battle as one in which 'the strength of the Germans is being rapidly worn down, and which may be expected to fulminate in the collapse of their' defence. Whethor or not they have brought .lip the seven army corps! mentioned in Tecent reports, tU<: Germans, on Mr. Washburn's shewing,' are in sore straits for men onfront, while, the Russians have ample reserves to draw upon. "From his observations it would'?eern that tho enemy is at least as strong as tho Russians, perhaps' stronger, in the factor of artillery, on j his' particular front, but desperately, handicapped by lack of ' numbers. 'If theso are in fact the'conditions that obtain, this battle will apply a practical and final test to the " : riea that the Germans are capable of making good deficiencies in numadcal strength by increasing reliance upon artillery and machine-guns.

E.ven if they have massed a superior force of artillery opposite Kovel, this ' docs not necessarily mean that tho Austro-Germans are •still better provided»with artillery than tip Russians throughout the Eastern theatre as"-.a whole. Indeed, most positive evidence to the corfbrary has been afforded during tho last few weeks.. But on the Kovel front, largely as a result of possessing Kovel, tho Germans have a considerable 'advantage over the Russians in tho matter of communications, and may profit by it to effect a maximum artillery concentration. However, the latest detail news indicates that the Russians retain an extended foothold on tho west bank of the Stochod,'.which is ,tho last natural obstacle of serious importance on the road to ICovcl. They are operating on a long and comparatively straight front, which will enable them to use their numbers with effect, and there is no reason to doubt that I,ho battle will end in their breaking-through the defensive line which the Germans have thus far maintained.

One interesting detail supplied by Mi;. Washburn is that of 42,000 prisoners captured by the Russians ou the Ivovcljfront more than half are. Germans. The comparison would have real V value only if the respective numbers of Germans and Austrians engaged on tho ICovel front were known,.but the figures at least suggest that the Gorman soldier is not exactly entitled to be set"Njn a pedestal as compared with his Austrian iSomrade. It is true that the 'disasters which have lately overtaken the Austrians in Galicia and Bukowina are not to' be paralleled on an equal scale in German experience, but fighting under the same conditions, Germans troops might not havo done much better. It is now well known that in the earlier .stages of the war the ' Germans .frequently sacriiieed their allies in the most bare-faced fashion. Austrian troops were employed in covering retreats and in. other dangerous servicc, in which they natually lost heavily in prisoners and casualties. They jiave suffered both in reputation and in moro positive fashion under German domination, and the truth seems to be that the contrast "between tho Austrians .and the Germans has been deliberately intensit, fied by the latter for their own ends.. Certainly tho Austrians havo appeared to better advantage in the 'Italian campaign than in any campaign' in which they have fought as the allies of Gormany.

. The advance westward of Kemmern which the Russians report today no doubt has its placo in the series of operations along the northern and-central'fronts which have •taken effect thus far chicfly in keeping the onemy engaged ana limiting his withdrawal- of troops to reintorce his armies' on the southern -rront. A move in the liemmern locality should servo purposes of chis kind admirably. Kemmcrn standi near the southern shove of the Gulf of Riga, twenty miles west of the Moving west from Kcmmorn tho Russians arc therefore threatening the flank of tho German forces established on the Dwina line and opposite Riga. It is a movement tho enemy must bestir himself to. chcek'; by bringing up reinforcements and otherwise, and that no doubt is wha't is •immediately intended. ' '

Following up their success in Armenia, tho llussians have now captured Bitiburt, a town and military depot of considerable importance situated about 60 miles northwest of Erzerum. Apart from tho intrinsic importance of the place, thfe .capture of Baibuvt should materially clear tho way for an advance upon the still v more important depot of Erzingali. , ' it * * • *'

Some observations on' tho subject of peace terms made by the Morning Post's correspondent at Petrograd arc in some respects rather surprising. There is a strong feeling iu influential quarters in Rushe says, that when Austria again issues *feelers -for -a ' separato pcaoo they should be welcomed by tho Allies;/ also that the time has. come when tho Allies should agree oil a basis for future peace terms. If it m'cans no moro than that the Allies should come to an understanding amongst themselves as to tho terras on tvhich they are prepared to conclude peace, no possible exception can be. taken to tnis last; suggestion. It is only a'easonable to suppose, however, ,that such ar\, understanding was formulated long ago. On the other hand a suggestion that tho Allies should publicly announce the terms on which they are prepared to conclude peace would be open to very grave objection. To do so would practically be to make advances to the enemy,, and it is for the enemy,' and not for the Allies, to make advances'at this or a later stage of the war. Indeed, it may bo it is for tho enemy to sue for terms and for the Allies to grant them.

-British critics who have blamed "Mr. Asquith far restricting himself to generalities in speaking of pcaco terms have ignored this aspect of the matter, but it is plain enough" to anyone who looks at the facts 'that tho Allies could not at this stago announce their terms 'of r £cacg without in some degree sacrificing tho position of advantage they have now gained in tlib. war. The idea that such an announcement is an j urgent necessity _is not only mistaken, but mischievous. To offer Germany terms of pcace now would be fo treat with a robber still in possession of his spoil. • It is true that the crushing defeat of the Central Empires promises to bo only a matter -of,_ time, hut this has too very practical bearing on peace so long as tho peoplo of the two Empires are content to stand in tho relation of obedient slaves to tho political and military autocrats who have piloted them into their'present situation. Peace talk will bo 'of no practical importance until either the Central Empires have been-brought much nearer to decisive defeat or the people of Germany and the Dual Monarchy, havo passed from sporadic rioting to some more effective protest against , tho madness of their, rulers. Possibly the riots recently reported are premonitory symptoms of a great internal upheaval in the, Germanic Empires, but if such a development is under, way, the announcement of terms by the Allies would be as likely to retard it as to stimulate it. The announcement would, of course, be interpreted .by the War Lords as a sign, of weakness.

It is interesting to hear that tho possibility of a separate peace with Austria is seriously regarded in Russia. This implies a- belie! that Austria is nearing the . end of her. powers of resistance, for sho is unlikely to obtain peace on any easier terms than those of practically unconditional surrender. Granting peace to Austria and continuing tho wan against Germany, the Allies would necessarily reserve to themselves an extended right ,of access to Austrian territory and Austrian railways, and it would be an essential condition also that a trado blockade line should be established on the Austro-German • frontiers. Whether such a separation as this, would involve is a practical possibility—account being taken of the extent to which Austria is dominated by her neighbour—is a moot point. But in any case the essential fact for the time being Is that any peaCc talk capable of developing into something more than talk must come from tho enemy, and that in a spirit of submission. The Allies aro at present employed much more profitably and to better effect than in talking about • peace with an enemy not yet overcome. '