PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3003, 14 February 1917, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

« A report from Sir Douglas Haig which tells of further progress in tho Ancro valley conveys also some useful information as to the conditions ruling on that section of the front. Tho theory was advaucod the other clay by a correspondent that the progress lately made by the British troops along t'lie Ancre may be in part explained by tho enemy's voluntarily yielding ground in places in order to save losses of men. French nowspapers are now quoted as suggesting that tbe Bntish should definitely ascertain whotker tho- German retirement is wholly forced or rep rcs-ants some new'tactical devicc. It will be observed that the message regarding the French newspaper utterances, brief as it is, opens up much wider and moro important possibilities than the bare suggestion that the

Germans five here and there resigning ground which it is no longer profitable to hold. One reading would be that the Germans aro suspected of contemplating' an extensive retirement on tho northern part of the Somme front; in preference to awaiting the shock of assault in their present positions. It is natural enough that such ideas should bo entertained, but whether they havo any definite foundation is another matter. Tho possibility of an attempt by tho enemy to shorten his lino is always present, but liis prospects of doing so with success and .advantage are probably poorer now than at any previous stage ol the war. Secrecy would bo tho essence of success in such an enterprise, and a secret retirement, even assuming a considerable sacrifice oi guns and rearguards, is almost certainly an unattainable ideal. The Allies are in constant touch with, the enemy's dispositions not only through tho agency of their splendidly efficient air service, but by means of tho constantly successful raids to which Mu. Bonar Law alludes to-day.

It does not seem likely that the enemy will voluntarily attempt an extended retirement on the Wost front, but the questions raised in regard to lato events in tho Anere valley aro of immediate practical importance. Tho theory that the enemy is making a partial and gradual retirement in this sector with tho idea of improving his front is not capable of absolute disproof. But it does not seem at present to be supported by any positive evidence, and it is discounted by statements made in Sir Douglas Haig's latest reports, and also by the nature of the changes lately .effected in the Ancro valley. Yesterday, Sir Douglas Haig reported the capture of enemy defences on tho southern foot of Serro hill and stated that tho Germans taken prisoner outnumbered the total British casualties. To-day ho reports a further advance, in an area just cast of the ground captured yesterday, and mentions that a German counter-attack on tho latter position was caught 'by an artillery barrage and easily repulsed. These obviously are not the circumstances .of a voluntary retirement. If tho Germans were falling back voluntarily thoy would leave their abandoned trenches as nearly as possible empty, . and certainly they would not squander men in counterattacks.

A bkliep that tho British aro fighting, their way a Icing tho Ancro valley against the best resistance of which the Germans aro capable is further supported by tho fact that tho recent changes of front, instead of improving the enemy's position, havo doiio a great deal" to weaken it and to* pave tho way for still more damaging inroads. _ Each forward step : that the British have lately takeri accentuates the peninsula salient which is being foriued in tho German line north of the Anere. Serro hill was formerly a strong bastion in tho westward facing the German line. It now marks almost the apex of this salient, a'nd is imminently threatened with envelopment. Tho British are in a lair ; way to .materially widen thfe front on which they have liroken into tho German main defences, and the advances thoy have lately made east of Beaucourt and south arid southeast of Serro bring them perceptibly nearer to this achievement.

Mr. JBonar Law's statement that the British 'troops actually engaged on the fighting front are femrteen-foid tho numbor engaged at the outbreak of war does iiot convey prccise information. as to British Army strength: .It points, however, to' the presence of soniothing liko 1,500,000 British troops on the actual fighting front in Franco and Flanders; apart from further forces, ' no doubt considerable, at present in reserve. Probably the Minister's : statement does not take account of the oversea and Indian divisions on tho West front. If not, their inclusion would make tho total British strength engaged not far short of two millions. Tho claim made bv Mr. -Bonar' Law that the British. troops are superior to the enemy man for man, besides being better equipped, is amply justified by their achievements. ** . *

An Italian communique to-day opens with the brief statement:

"We reached Tarvis station." The rest of the message refers to other sections of the front. If the news

is correct as it stands, it is of tho highest _ importance, ■ but the probability is that a mistako has occurred in translation or transmission. Tarvis is a railway junction situated near the eastern end of the Carnic Alps, about half a dozen miles beyond tho north-eastern ex-

tremity of the Italian frontie'r. Besides being in touch with a railway from Venetia, Tarvis commands the railways which serve tho northern, part of tho Isonzo front, and also the most convenient railway approaches to the Carso regioh and Istria. It has~ long been an Italian objective, but when the position was last defined the Italians were separated from it by somo five miles of high Alpine country. It is not at all likely that these difficult miles have been covered in a sudden advance. Probably what has really happened is that Tarvis station has been bombarded at long range, or subjected to aerial bombardment.

Italian reports of late events east of Gorizia suggest that .the Austrian exaggerated their, success in that quarter. Tho enemy claim to have captured nearly a thousand prisoners has not yet, however, tieen specifically contradicted. Tho latest official report in hand states that tho lines east of Gorizia have been rc'-established, and tho Austrians repulsed with heavy losses « ft % »

Pebhai'3 on the principle that what is black cannot be made blacker, the Germans show astonishing readiness in providing unimpeachable evidence of, their own infamy. The latest case in point is pited by the Foreign' Office in a statement issued by the Press Bjireau. When arrangements were completed recently for tho exchange of British and German incapacitated prisoners, the German Government telegraphed (through the American Government, prior to the rupture of diplomatic relations) that -the departure of British hospital ships with severely wounded Germans was no longer regarded as safo, and suggested that the incapacitated men should bo transported to and from England by Dutch paddle-steamers, to which the Germans guaranteed safo conduct. Tho German Government, that is to say, formally announced that its submarines would torpedo all the British _ hospital shins coming within their reach, and so furmshocl tho

whole world with evidence of its criminal intention. The other day wo had inspired German newspapers indignantly disclaiming tho idea that any German submarine would have wilfully torpedoed a Belgian relief ship. But in tho message referred to tho German Government announced its intention beforehand of committing even baser crimes than the sinking of relief ships. Tho episodo is one more proof that to credit Germany, as she is now constituted and ruled, with a moral sonse, is to go wildly astray. *Vt - *

It is reported from New York that Admiral Fiske has invented a "torpedo-aeroplane" which is said to be capable of destroying a battleship. One authority, it is added, says that the machine could have won tho Jutland battle. "Whether Admiral Fiske makes or endorses theso claims does not appear, but if lie has invented such a machine the invention may prove to ho important. He is a naval expert of high standing, and is regarded -by some of his countrymen as only second in that capacity to tho late Admiral Mahan. It may bo wise, however, to look with a good deal of doubt upon the assertion that Admiral I'iske's • machine will make & single <ur pilot more than a match for a. Dreadnought. Some years ago' it was claimed for the submarine that it had ended the reign of tho Dreadnought, but expectations under this head have not been realised. It will not be surprising if tho torpedo-aeroplane also fails to come up to expectations.