PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2922, 7 November 1916, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Though notable results have already been achieved and very heavy damage inflicted on tho enemy, it is by no means certain that the great Italian offensive on the Carso plateau has yet reached practicable limits in its present stage. In the ordinary way it would not bo surprising if the Italians called a halt after striking such a smashing blow, in order to make deliberate preparation for a further effort. But tho situation as it is reported to-day is essentially open and interesting possibilities arc raised of additional developments in tho immediate future. According to one report tho Austrians in the northern part of the Carso have lost touch with their compatriots occupying the southern section of the plateau, and this account of tho position gains some colour from an accompanying semi-official report which deals with operations in tho vicinity of Mount _ Faith. This height stands a mile and a half beyond Mount Pecinka, which the Italians captured and passed in tho earlier stages of their assault, and has an altitude of about 1400 feet. It evidently constitutes a vital point in the enemy's line, and tho Italians, if they have not captured the crest, are at all events established on the western slopes. Their success at this point, about midway between Gorizia and the sea, is probably the foundation of tho report that the Austrian forces on north and south have been cut apart. It is quite possible, of course, that the unofficial reports exaggerate the immediate ' danger by which the enemy is faced. So much depends upon tho progress of artillery in rear of an attacking army that it is unwiso to expect too much of any single effort. But the prospect is tentatively raised that tho Austrian organisation has been so damaged that the Italians may be able to rapidly follow up and extend their present measure of success. _ In this respect, as has been said, the position is, interestingly open.

In its definitely: established proportions the Italian- victory counts already as a highly important contribution to the general Allied offensive. The extent to which the defences covering Trieste have been laid open is not merely a matter of geography, and cannot be estimated with any_ confidence in the existing state of information. But no such uncertainty exists in regard to the Austrian losses of 39,000 men, killed, wounded, and taken prisoner. In this one battle the Austrians have lost permanently, or for the time being, the strength of two full divisions, or approximately the infantry strength of four divisions. It is by such blows as this, that the war will bo won, whatever change of ground may incidentally occur. • •. » • Successful attacks by the Anglo-French armies, on the Sonimo and at Verdun are> the more remarkable since the prevailinsr weather conditions are in the highest degree unfavourable to active operations. The rain-storms and mud_ of the present period oppose maximum difficulties to the advance of men and guns, and the attacking armies must be much more seriously hampered now than they will be later on, when hard frosts prevail. In their latest attacks the Allies havo demonstrated that they are capable of making not unimportant progress in their offensive even when conditions of weather and ground are at their worst. As to the British front, Sib Douglas Haig reports that progress was made on a front of a thousand yards, south of Bapaumc. The most notabta British gain was the capture of high ground neighbouring the Butte de Warlencourt on the Albert-Bapaume Eoad. The French succeeded simultaneously in operations on a more extended scale. On the front of about two miles_ between Lesboeufs and SaillySaillisel they pushed forward several hundred yards. To the south they captured most of the village of Saillisel, beyond the Bapaume-Peronne Road, and . still further south they made considerable inroads into the big wood which bears the name of St. Pierre Vaast. . With the extension of the French advance at Verdun reported to-day, these events carry a strong suggestion that though major operations may be difficult during the period of bad weather the enemy will be given very little rest.

The Rumanian situation' is in the main improved. The Germans report that they have progressed beyond the Predeal Pass, and the' claim is admitted by the Rumanians, but with details which show that the progress made by the enemy is of very limited extent. The trenches he has gained stand north-west of Azuga, and this place is only three miles inside the frontier. Meantime, the Rumanians are successfully attacking both in Western Wallachia and, as appears from an enemy report, in the frontier region east of the Predeal Pass. The circumstances as a whole seem to be in harmony with the hopeful view of the. outlook taken by Mb. Stanley Washburn in a dispatch published to-day. » « > .

In occupying the Greek port of Katcrina the Allies have presumably put a stop to further fighting between the Greek Royalist troops and those of the Provisional Government. This is satisfactory as far as it goes, but there is increasing evidence that the political situation in Greoco is anything but satisfactory, and that the policy of t,he Allies is in somo respects illcalculated to introduce a better state of affairs. An Athens message quotes the Venizelist newspa,per Ilestia as declaring that no significance attaches to the action of tho Allies in postponing recognition of the Provisional Government, but this comfortable view of the situation is directly contradicted in another message, which indicates that M. Vbnizelos is ill-satisfied with existing conditions. There can be little doubt or hesitation in choosing between these conflicting stories. It is strictly natural that" M. VmriZELOS should demand full

recognition of his Government as something more than a recruiting agency for the Allies, and that he should strongly deprecate the Utopian scheme of securing the cooperation of Constantine. Not a shadow of justification has thus far appeared for the wonderful toleration the Allies are exercising towards Constantine and his faction, and visible facts indicate that the indictment irmlied in this statement of the Venizelist position is justified. Apparently it is the Entente policy to give Constantine unlimited rope in his pro-German activities and conspiracies, and, as a necessary corollary, to discourage and hamper the Provisional Government which is attracting all that is best in Greece to its standard. According to the Venizelist statement, Constantine is now concentrating an army corps within twenty miles of the flank of the Allied army. It seems possible that he may force the Allies to take tho strong measures from which they have thus far carefuly abstained, i They arc, of course, anxious to avoid even the appearance of coercing a small nation, but their present policy docs not promise well I even from this point of view.