PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2860, 26 August 1916, Page 8

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The lines upon which the offensive on the Somme front is developing are very clearly, indicated in some of the cablegrams' to-day, and it is shown. that the Allies are succeeding splendidly in .their essential aim of cutting aown the enemy's fighting strength.:, It is by this time pretty well understood that though they have set them-: selves to open a breach in-- the eneniy front it is not the aim of the-Allies to break through at the earliest- possible moment and force a- battle in the open. Expectations of this kind have been pretty widely ed, and some American; and other critics have passed'dubious comments upon the .slow progress of. the Allies. The answer to such strictures, if they need an answer, is that the Allies "are doing effectively what is probably to be done in no other way N than by the methods they have- adopted.'• Very possibly they are capable of such at concentration of men and guns' as would enable ihem at any time, by a sudden violent effort and at a terrible cost in lives; to completely breach the I enemy front and expel the Germans from a considerable extent of the I territory they have invaded. It is likely, however, that in such "an- onslaught the Allies would be brought to.a halt considerably short of decisive victory, and if the enemy contrived to. fall back unbroken • upon a.shorter line he would be better placed than he is now to continue his resistance'-and lengthen out the war. In, the methods the Allies have adonted nothing is left to chance. They are not intent upon driving'a b'ulgo in the Gorman front, or even upon driving back the front, as a whole. Their aim is to so cut down the enemy's strength that his resistance will collapse,. If full success .is achieved the enemy will ultimately find himself not only unable to longer maintain his present Western front, but incapable of effecting an orderly retreat. '

As Mr.' Hilai're Belloc has remarked, the Allied offensive is not an operation for 'territory. The penetration of the eneniy front on the Sorame and the continued and methodical widening of the breach are vitally important, not because the Germans have . been expelled from some miles of territory, but because the reduction of their fighting power is in this way'-' being rapidly expedited. An-account of the conditions under which the of-fensive-is developing on a very important section of the front is given to-day by Mr. Philip Gibbs. The description and particulars he gives of' recent operations north- from the Pozieres ridge are best understood with the aid of a .good map, showing elevations, but even without this aid the salient .facts may be grasped/ Generally speaking, the British are now established on the high and dominating ground of tho ridge which faces towards Bapaumc, and the enemy is defending descending slopes which are raked by a murderous hail from the British guns. .

Even Thiepval, an enemy stronghold on high ground on the western flank of the attacking front, is completely dominated by the British artillery. Mr. Gibus mentions that the bombardment caught the enemy in tne,act of relieving the Thiepval garrison, with the result that a j double garrison has been trapped. Official reports show that the attack on Thiepval is rapidly closing in. The British are now also in close contact 'with the enemy third-lino position of Martinpuich, which is situated oh the descending slopes of "the ridge, some miles east of Thiepval. The facts relating to this section of the front are the more notable since it is here that up to the present the most formidable obstacles to progress in the offensivo have been overcome. Only a few weeks ago the enemy monopolised the tremendous advantages which the British now derive from the possession of dominating, positions and consequent ability to control artillery bombardment by direct observation.

The failure of the enemy to maintain positions in which he had such a pronounced advantage bears striking witness to the power and effect of the Allied offensive* Other evidence to the same effect is supplied in reports of the transfer of German troops from Verdun and elsewhere to the Somme. The immediate task of the enemy is to hold' up his crumbling defences on the Somme front. But he is menaced not hero only, but on his front as a whole, and as he draws increasingly upon his general line in unavailing efforts to prevent the widening of the present breach he is carried steadily and inevitably nearer to ultimate collapse. No doubt if they were governed by purely military considerations the Germans would long ere now have retreated to a shorter line, and so eased the .strain upon their declining resources. That they are pursuing an.-.exactly oppo-

site policy and striving desperately and at all costs to maintain their present line can only be taken to mean that they feel it impossible to face the political effects of a retreat. This attitude and the conditions upon which it is based are factors making definitely for the ultimate triumph of the Allies. It is doubtful even now whether the enemy is still capable of an orderly retreat in France and Flanders. But, assuming that as yet he has tho option of retreat, a point is visibly being approached when he will have it no longer, and when defeat on his present line will involve' complete disaster.

_ With the British attack developing formidably on the left wing of che offensive front, the French nave made another big stride towards the road junction of Combles. As a result, no doubt, of just such a bombardment as is being directed on the enemy positions beyond the Pozieres ridge, they were enabled to rush the remaining portion of the village of Maurepas, of which they already held the southern half. They also struck forward 200 yards on a front of over a mile north of Maurepas. This means thatjhey are within about a mile of Combles on the south-west.

. At time of writing the position in the Balkans is, in essentials, much as it was reported yesterday. The Bulgarians have accomplished nothing., that affects the military outlook, the Allies have yet to make their move, and Rumanian intentions are undisclosed. Reports indicate, however, that Rumania will make common cause with the Allies. A development which possibly deserves attention is the popular movement in Greece which aims in the first instance at resistance to the Bulgarian invasion. It is just possible that this movement may rescue Greece .from the fate to which she nas been consigned by the pro-Ger-man policy of King C'onstantine and his recent Ministers. Late' developments have tended to eliminate Greece as a positive factor in Balkan affairs. In the ordinary'way a new Parliament-would have' to bo elected and a now Government, installed to enable her ih strike out on a new line arid make common .with- the .Allies. Conditions permitting an.election are not likely to be restored, however, until the Allies "have 'dealt' with Bulgaria,' and by-that time-Greece will'have lost her -opportunity, and her aid will not be desired.

It would thus seem that' Greece is immediately, confronted -by the fate foretold by M. Venizelos in ..denouncing the policy and measures of the King arid his"pro-German faction—the fate of -being left friendless .and. despised,, .without nope of extending her territory or liberating her compatriots living under foreign yoke. 'The position will not be .easily retrieved, but theexample of the brave Greek soldiers who lately defied orders and died iu' defence 'of- their coivntrv has perhaps not been wholly in Vain. The agitation in favour of action against the Bulgars appears to be gathering head. But M. Venizelos, who is better qualified .than anvono else to weigh the situation and its possibilities, does not seem to bo very hopeful.

Important Russian successes arc reported in Armenia and in Northern Mesopotamia. In Southern Armenia the Eussians were swept back by a Turkish counter-of-fensive, and lost both Mush and Bitlis, towns which are important because .they . command passesthrough the Taurus ' range' - into Northern Mesopotamia. These passes are the gateways to an advance on the Bagdad railway. No time, has,been lost .in. meeting and defeating, .the enemy .counter-stroke, and it is announced to-day that thei Russians have again entered Mush; after defeating a Turkish army of i our-divisions. Another force further .south has heavily defeated the Turks on the approaches to Mosul on the upper Tigris. The operations both'in Armenia and in Northem Mesopotamia seem likely to develop apace. '

There is not much to be said about reports that Bulgaria is suing for peace except that the Allies' are not likely to be so foolish as to' smooth Bulgaria's path to repentance at any cost to Serbia, or at the risk of losing Rumanian support. Bulgaria seems to be without prospects, and she no doubt has the option of unconditional submission./