PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2957, 21 December 1916, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Rumania continues to hold attention as a theatre of critical events, but at the moment the- situation is not developing rapidly. It remains an open question whether the enemy will settle down upon a defensive lino facing that on which the Allies aro established or contemplates an attempt to extend hie invasion into Bessarabia. According to a message- which arrived as late news yesterday tho lino selected by the Allies follows the rivers Trotus, Sereth, and Danube. This alters the position as it was touched upon yesterday only to the extent that tho reported location of the Allied line will leave a small portion of Moldavia, tho south-western corner of tho province, open to the enemy. Tho lino in any case runs across the southern part of Moldavia, and then along the Danube to, the Black Sea. Jn the later developments' of the campaign the operations in tho Carpathians on tho western frontier of Moldavia and further north have lost nothing of their importance. Pressing upon the enemy in this mountain region, the Russians are at onco doing something to limit his concentration in Southern Moldavia, and, what is much more important, are covering the flank and communications of the armies which stand opposed to the enemy on the southern front. It should be noted that only the lower course of the Sereth is included in tho defensive lino selected, by tho Allies. Tho Sereth rises in Bukowina and runs south through Moldavia, dividing tho province into two approximately equal portions on east and west, but it is only tho lower course of the river, where it runs south-east to the Danube, that offers an advantageous defensive line. A general retirement on tho Sereth, throughout the whole length of Moldavia, is not, of course, a practicable policy. Other things apart, the trunk railway which traverses Moldavia and affords the best line of communication with Russia ruus at most points west of the Seroth. In order that this vital line, upon which the whole defence of Moldavia depends, may bo safeguarded, it is essential that the Allies should at least hold their own in the mountain country of the western frontier. On present indications, it is their intention to do this while maintaining a defensive line across country to tho Danube on tho south.

For the time being the fate of all but a very small part of Moldavia remains undecided. As reports stand the Allies are still fighting south of their selected line both on west and east. The Germans report that they repulsed a Russian attack in. the Putna department, that is to say at the south-western extremity of Moldavia, south of the'Trotus line. ' At the other end of the front the Allies still retain a foothold in the Dobrudja, south of the Danube, though they are said by the enemy to be retreating. At time of writing there is no news \of events on the central portion of the front. _ In its general effect recent news is fairly good, more especially the report which arrived yesterday that the Rumanian army is now reorganising and refitting in Bessarabia, behind the Russians, who are temporarily holding the line across Rumania to the sea. This emphasises the essential difference between the position in Rumania to-day and that which arose a year ago when the remnants of the heroic Serbian army had to retreat through almost impassable mountain country to the Adriatic coast. Though it was unablo, for lack of artillery, to make head against the enemy in Wallachia, the Rumanian army, largely as a result of its own prowess, has had at all times a comparatively open line of retreat. Terrible calamity has overtaken the civil population of Rumania, but the army, though it has suffered defeat, has escaped disaster. If the quoted reference to "refitting" means that a more ample supply of guns and munitions is now available, Hindenbui£g and his subordinates may presently discover that the invasion of Moldavia and Bessarabia is opposed by vastly greater difficulties than they have encountered in Wallachia.

An improving situation in Grceco is indicated in some remarks by Me. Lloyd George in the speech reported to-day. Presumably ho has substantial grounds to go upon in his statement that the Allies mean to take no risks in Greece, and in affirming his belief that the "definite and decisive action" they have do l cided to-take-_there has succeeded. As to the precise nature of this de'finito and decisive action, however, we are le£t very much in the dark. To the extent that they have been outlined the later aokons of the "Allies seem to fall'largely into the category of half-measures. For instance, as reports stand, the Royalist troops are being moved south,

but are not being disarmed. Rather more drastic action would be needed to fully warrant the confident tone taken by the Imperial Prime Minister in regard to Greece, and, his remarks on the subject are chiefly interesting as suggesting that such action has been taken or is immediately in train.

On top of the news that the Athens Government has issued a warrant for the arrest of M. Venizelos on a charge of high treason Mr. Lloyd George has announced that it has been decided to recognise the agents of M. Venizelos. Presumably this means that if has been decided to grant formal recognition to Vonizelist representatives in the Allied capitals. Such a decision would necessarily involve joint consideration and consultation on the part of the Allies, so that it is unlikely that they were influenced in reaching it by the very recent announcement regarding the issue of the- Athens warrant. The step announced is manifestly in the right direction. The best interests of Greece and their own immediate interests seem equally to warrant the Allies in granting the fullest possible recognition to the Provisional Government, which stands opposed to the unconstitutional usurpation and tyranny of the King, but for some reason they have made extremely slow and hesitating progress in that direction. The uncertainty of the Allied attitude towards the Provisional Government was made fully apparont in a speech by Lord Robert Cecil (Undor-Seoretary for Foreign Affairs) in the House of Commons on October 31.

As to our attitude towards M. Venizolos (ho «id) the Houm will recognise the extreme delicacy of saying anything about it. I may say this, however, that wherever we find part of the Greek community, which is in fact under tho Government of jr. Venizelos or his Provisional Government, whom the majoril■ n P°P ulation recogniso him as their Government,: wo recognise him as de facto tho ruler of that portion of Greece. More than that I do not think it right for me to 6av. Mr. B. M'Neill: lias that booh convoyed to M. Venizelos?

Lord E. Cecil: I should rot like to answer that without looking up the actual facts. I have said all that I think I can usefully say at the present time about M. Vonizeloe.

Considering that tho Allies are working jn close co-operation with M. Venizelos and his Government this was a lamentably weak and undecided attitude to take. The recognition of Venizelist agents is distinctly a forward step, the more so since it would seem to involve as a

natural corollary fuller and more open recognition of the Provisional Government than the Allies have yet accorded it.