PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2924, 9 November 1916, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Evkkts arc reported on tho Sonime front which rather run counter to accepted ideas regarding tho extent to which bad weather impedes offensive operations. Attacking south of tho Somme on a. fairly wide front, tho French have cut deeply into tho enemy lino north-cast of Chaulnes, and it is mentioned that tho attack was made in spite of heavy rain. The gains made, which aro justly described as important, include the villages of Ablaincourt (eight miles south of the Somme) and Prcssoir, a little further south, and ground beyond Ablaincourt to the outskirts of the village of Gomiecourt. East of Ablaincourt tho French must now be nearly a mile beyond the lino on which the attack opened. _ Such a penetration of the enemy lino would be notablo in any case. It is all'the moro notable in view of the weather conditions which ruled. As regards tho vital factors of observation and transport, conditions could not have been worse, but it is likely that the very fact of conditions being so unfavourable to attack enabled the French to spring a surprise on tho enemy. That the .Germans wore poorly prepared to resist,this sudden blow is indicated in its result.

The Berlin wireless message reporting a terrific Allied offensive on the Sommc is evidently a belated version of the events of last weekend, which have already been covered in French and British communiqucs. It is also a somewhat obvious attempt to convey a false impression of the nature and outcome of the week-end battles. The general suggestion is that there was an inconclusive struggle, in which heavy losses fell evenly on either side. Reference to tho earlier Allied reports will show that this account is absolutely false. The British and h re.nch attacks were driven swiftly and shrewdly home, and achieved gains which were in great part retained. The enemy indulged afterwards in costly and all but

completely ahortivo counter-attacks, wbicE must certainly have, multiplied his losses in comparison with those of tho Allies. At the moment of writing tho position on tho Wallachian front is not very clearly defined. Claims aro made by the enemy which imply, if they aro truo, that tho Rumanian defensive in portion of tho frontier region is being very severely tested. It will he noticed, however, that while tho enemy alleges that he captured positions and took a thousand prisoners south of the Hothei - thurm Pass, the Rumania na state that violent attacks in this quarter were successfully repulsed. On the other hand it is clearly established that the Russians are pressing forward on the northern part of the Moldavian frontier, in the region of the Tolyges Pass. A_ retirement in this region is admitted by the enemy, together with tho loss of a hill position in Southern Bukowina, where also, the Russians would apnea* to be pressing the offensive, i « • * • .

A German wireless message published as late news yesterday recalls the famous Bara'ong charges which were effectively dealt with by the British Foreign Minister in the early part of this year. In the Baralongcaso Germany alleged that the survivors of a submarine crew were murdered by the seamen of a British auxiliary cruiser. The British offer to submit the Baralong case and specified German outrages to investigation by American naval officers was not accepted by Germany, and no detailed refutation of the charges has been published. There is no doubt, however, that British seamen were guiltless in the matter, and that Germany deliberately trumped up the charges with full knowledge of the actual facts. The same remarks undoubtedly apply to the story with which Germany is now regaling the ears of neutrals. An Admiralty statement is published to-day, in which the later German charges are explicitly met and refuted. It "sSows that Germany has no cause .of complaint, and would have none even if her habitual policy had not placed her beyond the pale of international law. One detail only in the German allegations, tho chirgi- of inhumanity to a captured submarine officer, is left unanswered in the Admiralty statement, or in the summary transmitted. But this is a charge which may safely be set down as untrue. As to the general allegation, Germany stands definitely convicted of a mendacious attempt to blacken the fair name of her enemies, an attempt'the more shameless in view of her own vile record.

Mention is made to-day, not; for the first time, of a demand wi.Wy supported in Great Britain that Germany should be required, as a condition of peace, to replace the merchant shipping sunk by her submarines. -Apparently the Imperial Government is taking measures to this end, for it was reported recently that in reference to the Proclamation requiring British subjects to make returns of claims against enemy persons and enemy subjects, the Institute of London Underwriters was advising insurance companies to file, without delay, with the directors of the Foreign Claims Office, Foreign Office, particulars of all losses paid .owing to destruction of merchant vessels by enemy submarines. It is understood that since the outbreak of war particulars of every loss paid by underwriters at Lloyd's on ships and cargoes destroyed by the enemy have been supplied to the committee, arid aro carefully recorded. This points to an intention of compelling Germany to make full restitution for the piracies effected by her submarines.