PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2942, 30 November 1916, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Matter for keen gratification is afforded in the news that two more Zeppelins have been brought down in England, or, to be exact, off the coast of England, as they were attempting to escape after a raid on the interior country; And gratification will be intensified by the plain evidence now afforded that the British anti-Zeppelin defences have now been raised to a very high state of efficiency, not only in the vicinity of London, but over a greatpart of tho United Kingdom. The raiders which perished oa this occasion wore brought down in places something liko two hundred miles apart, one of them off tho coast of Norfolk, north-cast of London, and the other much further north, off the coast of Durham. This shows clearly enough that tho military authorities have done much more than provide for tho defence of London against aerial bombardment. Apart from tho work of guns and aeroplanes in actually dealing with tho Zeppelins, not much is permitted to be known about tho measures devised, but tho extended range of country over which the defensive organisation has been so signally proved offoctivo makes it evident that it is largely mobile in character. Exeopt in particular areas, hxod-point defences would not serve against such enomios as tho Zeppelins. Ono important factor is an intelligence system which provides for tho speedy transmission of news of tho Zeppelins' movemonts. At this timo of tho year tho airships are no doubt able to sot out from their bases in darkness, but in the j shorter nights news of their imjionding arrival could he rocoived long before thoy crossed tho English coast. The transmission of news from place to placo in England as the Zeppelins aro located is, of course, equally important, and it is no doubt such a system, to'gethor I with tho provision of guns and searchlights mounted on motors, and other measures for swiftly concentrating force at given points, which has mado it possible to account for a not inconsiderable percentage of the Zeppelins recently raiding England. Tho whole effect of reports in hand is to show, that tho raiders brought down on Monday night weretrapped in tho moshes of an organisation which must have been very skilfully devised.

It is noteworthy that the Zeppelins aro extending their raids on England much later into tho present year than they did in 1915, when they mado no attempt on England after about the middle of October. Their persistence this year certainly cannot bo ! ascribed to a run of good fortune, for, including tho two now accounted for, no fewer than seven havo bcon brought down in England during 1916. Tho last brought down prior to tho latest raid mot thoir fate in September.One fell to earth comparatively undamaged, and another was destroyed outright, on the night of Septemi)ur'23. Anothor was destroyed just a week_ later. Apart from the sovou Zoppolins actually brought down in England or in English coastal waters during 1910, a numhor got away in a wrecked and crippled condition, and some of these (in-

eluding the one associated with tho famous King Stephen case) were lost. In all, in England and elsewhere, the Germans must have lost close on twenty Zeppelins during 1916. A report transmitted at the beginning of October stated that ten had to that date been destroyed during the year, and several others have since suffered disaster, besides the two brought down on Monday night.

With the excoption of a German communique asserting that tho Danube has been forced at Giurgevo, almost duo south of Bucharest, leports in band at time of writing disclose no material change in tho aspect of the Rumanian campaign. Tho exception is somewhat important, and is rather out of keeping with the bulk of the news, which Indicates generally that the Rumanian retreat is proceeding in good order. An onemy crossing of tho Danubo at Giurgevo, if it has boon made in force, revives and renews the danger of an enveloping movement against the Rumanian southern flank. The onemy report, however, at present lacks confirmation, and other messages indicate that Mackensen is meeting very serious difficulties in his efforts to pass troops across tho Danube, and that the outlook as a whole is improving.

Reports in hand toll of no big event in any of the main theatres, and news from Macedonia and from Greeco largely speaks for itself. With the continued, though not rapid, progress of tho Allies in Western Macedonia, tho prospect of a powerful enemy counter-stroke aiming at tho recovery of Monastir appears to bo steadily receding. As to Greece, it is not yet clear that tho Athens Government has yielded to the Allied demands respecting the surrender of war material, and the danger possibly still exists that < Constantino'and his associates may endeavour as a last sorvice to Germany to plungo their country into civil war. In view of his record, tho King's exhortation to his officers to "remain calm" counts for little. At worst, it should be well within the power of the Allies to speedily quell any Royalist outbreak, but as matters stand it seems by no means certain that an opon conflict will bo avoided. If CpNbtanting were sincere in his exhortation and professions he would before now have yielded to the Allied demands.

» « • * It was reported a few days ago that a British decoration had been conferred upon M. Trbpoff, now Russian Premier, and until recently Minister of Communications, in recognition of tho rapid construction of the Murman railway. This presumably means that the railway has been completed, and tho importance of the achievement is measured by the fact that tho Murman railway—a double line—connects Petrogracl with tho only open port available to Eussia during the winter, with the exception of tho Chinese ports, by way of which Japanese and other supplies are transmitted along the Siberian route. During last __ winter, war material unloaded at Kola Bay, on which the northern terminus of tho railway is ; situated, was itransported by rail as far as the north-western extremity of tho White Sea. Thence it was carried on sledges across the ice of the White Sea to tho Archangel railway. Another and longer sledge route brought Kola Bay into touch with the railway north' from Petrograd, which skirts the Gulfs of Finland and Bothnia. A continuous double line, bringing the ice-free I port into touch with the Eussian main system, will, of course, represent a very great improvement upon these arrangements, and the increased facilities offered for the rapid importation of supplies during the winter should result in a material augmentation of Russia's effective strength in all the theatres in which she is engaged, and more especially on her main front, which now extends south through the Carpathians into Rumania.

The whole length of the Murman railway has been estimated at 650 miles, _ and tho rapidity 'of its construction (taking it for granted that it is now completed) is the mora remarkable since effective work was possible only in the summer months. The ground traversed is full of lakes, and is in many places so swampy_ that maximum engineering difficulties have had to be overcome. The speedy execution of an undertaking of this nature and magnitude is a striking indication of the spirit in which Russia is prosecuting tha war, despite the efforts of the'proGerman minority within her gates. Though tho railway was planned as long ago as 1899, its construction was not put in hand until the presont war revealed the urgent need of an ice-free sea-communication between Russia and Western Europe. Tho sea-terminus of tho railway is a commodious harbour, on the eastorn si do of Kola Bay, where extensivo quays and warehouses have been constructed. Provision has been made for the defence of shipping using the port in the establishment of a naval base at Kildin, on the Murman coast. Some cruisers, and a number of destroyers, and othor small craft have been built in England and sent to Kildin since the war began. As occasional brief reports have- shown, they have been actively employed against enemy submarines.