PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3008, 20 February 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

I A double significance attaches to the British attacks north and south of the Ancre. which were reported yesterday. They represent, in the first place, a prompt and effective reply to the enemy's local effort in the Champagne. If it lay in the power of the Germans to set the pace in a series of local battles in ground of their own choosing, they might, in spite of inferior resources, do a good deal to hamper and impede tho development of tho Allied ofEen- ' siye. They arc not likely, however, to be granted even limited scope in developing such a policy. The events in tho Champagne and in tho Ancre Valley, which were reported, yesterday, no doubt accurately reflect conditions which will rule in the Western campaign during tho critical six months that lio ahead. As information stands at time of writing it would appear that tho Frfsnch restricted themselves to economical defensive tactics in meeting the German attack in the Champagne. Instead of attempting a local counter-stroke the Allies seized the occasion of the German attack to further develop their offensive in tho Ancre Valley, where thoy have a definite objective in view. The French and British armies are operating under a single control, and the relation between events in. the Champagne and in tho Ancre Valley is obvious. It is clear enough that it would have paid tho Germans better to stand fast on tho Champagne front, and devote the extra troops and guns which they concentrated for an attack in that region to tho defence of their positions in tho Ancro Valley. As it is thoy have mado a gain of no particular importance, and suffered a material loss. It may be that the Germans hayo littlo to hopo from a defensive policy, but ■in tho operations under notice tho departure made from a defensive policy was, from the enemy's point of view, unfortunate. This would bp still moro apparent if the operations had been upon a bigger scale. Even as matters stand it is evident that if a German attack on a part of tho front whoro the Allies are not immediately bent on action gives the signal for a development of tho Allied offensive in an area where there is good prospect of results being obtained, the enemy is not turning his defensive resources to the best account. If tho Germans woro in a position to attack in the hope of forcing a decision in the Western theatre tho case would bo different, .but it is tolerably certain that their resources aro now quite unequal to an attempt of this kind.

Apart from its general significance the British advande in the Ancre Valloy on Saturday is of considerable importance at an immediate view. It was made in the most important of the series of local battles fought in this locality/since the New Year. Not only was the enemy's front deeply hut ho lost nearly 800 men in tho category pf prisoners alone. To speak of a series of local battles may tend to diminish tho actual importance of the offensive) movement along the Ancre. In point of fact it has already reached the stage of a deep and dangerous penetration of tho enemy front. When tho new year opened the British troops were posted at no great distance cast of the village of Beaucourt, which was captured.in November. Saturday's advance carried them, oil the south bank ot the river, to fithin a few hundred yards of Petit Miraumont, a village more than two miles cast of Beaucourt. ■North of the Ancre they are not so far forward, but have penetrated tho enemy front to a distance of moro than a milo cast, and northeast of Beaucourt. Saturday's advance 011 the north bank of the river reached the upper slopes of a spur, which is the highest ground for miles. Gaining tho summit, which is apparently still held by tho Germans, tho attacking troops would be advantageously posted on the flank of the enemy's positions to the north, and with good artillery observation of his positions to the east.

In their progress since tho beginning of tho year tho British haw covered about a third of the distance which separated them at that date from the junction of Achiot-lc-Grand (west of Bapaumc), which is a vital link in tho enemy's local communications. The offensive is driving a wedge iuto ■ tho enemy line, intensifying the peninsula salient, with the strong position of Scrro at its apex, which tho Germans are already defending north of the Ancre, and paying the way for the creation of a similar salient' south of the river in the area southwest of Bapaume. The alarm with which the Germans regard tho persistent penetration of their defences is indicated in their tactics, and in the losses they aro incurring in vain attempts to roll back tho British attacks. In his report today Sir Douglas Haiq speaks of enemy counter-attacks made, in strung force on the new British positions north of tho Ancre. Evidently tho Germans made- a big effort tu recover the ground they

had lost, but their attacks worn broken under artillery fire, and did not reach tlio British lines.

Nbws may arrive at any time of an important extension of the British offensive in Mesopotamia. Dislodged from tlio south bank of the Tigris everywhere east of Kut-el-Amara, and for a distance of live or six miles west of that place, the Turks on the north bank aro precariously placed. A lato message yesterday stated that two- Turkish communiques admitted a retirement on the Tigris following on British attacks, it is not unlikely that the enemy may evacuate Kut, as well as positions further east on tho north bank of tho river. As tho British offensive is developing on the south bank, Turkish forces attempting to hold- the positions mentioned on tho north bank would stand in serious danger o£ being enveloped.

No addition is made at time of writing to yesterday's report which declared that tho Allies had broken tho enemy right wing on the Macedonian front. It is somewhat early in tho season for an offensive to open in Macedonia, and no doubt the report was exaggerated. When the weather is favourable, and the Allies are ready to strike, they will probably aim at pushing forward rapidly. The country to be iraversed is difficult, but its difficulties will be likely to tell heavily against a beaten and retreating army, except where it is in a position to retire in good order, with its artillery, from one prepared line to another. This the enemy has been able to do 'hitherto in Macedonia, in face of the measured blows struck by the Allies. But there may be another story to tell when the Allies are ready to press the offensive in full power.

Some progress has been made towards a settlement with the Greek Royalists, which will eliminate tho danger of an attack on the rear of General Sareail's army, but a report from Mr. Jeffries indicates that Constant™ and his faction have not yet made tho full submission that the Allies demand. ' If the surrender of 80,000 army rifles has been accompanied by a surrender of artillery, Constantine's regular forces must be for practical purposes out of action, or nearly so. But arms to an unknown quantity remain in tho hands of civilians, and the problem of securing them is evidently beset with, difficulties. This, with the duplicity of the Greek General Staff, to which Mr. Jeffries refers, points to a situation which still holds possibilities of trouble. Tho surrender of the army rifles, however, suggests that the Allies are in a fair way to fully enforce their demand, and meantime they are maintaining • the blockade, which is their most effective weapon in reducing the Eoyalists to submission.

Certain experts are quoted today as stating that tho German submarines, after a fortnight at sea, must be dry-docked and have their engines overhauled. This is certainly not the case. No definite information is available as to the period for which a modern submarine is able to keep the sea without being dry-docked, but it can certainly do so for much longer than a fortnight. A recent'' ex- , ample is that of U53, which was away from her base for six weeks when she mado a cruise to tho American coast. It is true that Qo3 called at an American port, but sho was not dry-docked, and any overhaul or'repair carried out while sho was in port would no doubt have been equally practicable in fine weather at sea. llcports at the time stated that TJS3 did not replenish her stores of fuol when sho visited tho American coast. The length of a, submarine's voyage is noli determined by her own fuelcarrying capacity. ' it is quite feasible to employ submarine storeships. G.erman newspapers aro quoted to-day as stating that the Dcutschland—moro than once reported sunk or captured—is now engaged in carrying petrol .for other submarines. This may or may not bo true, but it is highly probable that submarine mother ships form a regular part of the Gorman commerce-raiding establishment. The fact that there is nothing to prevent the raiding submarines (unless they aro.captured or destroyed in the interval) keeping the sea for six weeks on end, or longer, increases the significance of tho drop that has occurred from the rate of merchant ship destruction registered in the first two weeks of the unrestricted campaign.

There- will lio no sitting o fthe Third Wellington Military Service Hoard in Wellington Dm week. Tlio board will sit in Tamuaninui mi Thursday, and nmy sit in Wellington again a wcelc from to-day. At Ilio monthly ineotiug of the council of tho Central Chamber of Commerce Jield yesterday a, report was received from the executive on tho reply of tho of Agriculture regarding tho organising of tho Dominion's resources. It was noted by Mr. A. Leigh Hunt that tho very day after tho meeting tho announcement appeared in tho papers referring to tho sotting up, of the Industrial Efficiency Jioard, which served the purpose of tho scheme proposed by Mr. Hunt. Tho chairman said that tho Government had appointed four gentlemen, whom he knew were very able members of the community. They • had been a body who did not hesitate to criticise tho Government and its actions, and equally they should endorse the- Government's action when they did ilio proper thing. The board, appointed was a credit to tho country, and would, he felt sure, do good work. It would be noticed that a fifth gentleman was to be appointed, one- with a special knowledge of agricultural and pastoral matters. A prominent official in Wellington has the strongest reasons to doubt that the men in Egypt serving with the Mounted Forces are not getting the newspapers that are sent to them. He states that thero are at least three persons sending papers to his son is with the Canal Forces) every week, yet by every mail the son writes that he has never yet recoived a newspaper. Some light was cast upon the situation in a recent letter, in which he states that he asked an old Wellington College chum whether he was receiving any papers, and ho replied in the affirmative. When the writer inquired as to how one could get the papers sent him and not another, the man said that his friends_ always took the precaution to register any papers they sent. "If they don't," he said, "they send them on to the hospitals." Now the official mentioned takes the precaution of registering any papers he posts, though he finds its difficult to understand why such a precaution Bhould be necessary. The deputation representing the city and neighbouring boroughs is to wait upon the Minister of Publio Works tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock. The appointment had been made for this morning, but it was postponed owing to the funeral of the Hon. Sir' George M'Lean. The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Bussell) has received advice' from Miss of Kerera, Hawke's Bay, that sho will hand over to him a'Tyedel motor-car for the raising of funds for patriotio purposes. Mr. Russell stated yesterday that the car would be the first prize in an art union which would be held shortly in aid of the Returned Soldiers' Hostel at Wellington. This institution is now established at Newtown ? but it is understood that the committee wish to acquire larger premises;

A cup lias been donated by Mr. A. Binns, jeweller, for presentation to the best rifle shot in each Reinforcement draft. The conditions are as follow:— Tlie competition to be for privates only; the test o be Tabl B; tho host shot in each company to qualify for tho final; the best shot in the final to be the winner of tho cup.

Tho following temporary appointments havo been approved by the Camp Commandant at Featherston:—Pte. H.' Leach, 25th Specialists, to bo lancecorporal ; Ptc. N. TV. L. Absolum, 25th Specialists, to bo corporal. Headquarters, Q.M. Stores—Sergt. E. J. Colson to bo quarermaster-sorgeajit; Corpl. G. J. TVilkins and Ptc. P. P. Fuell to be sergeants. 0 Company, 21th Eeinforconionts—Ptes. H. Low, IT. Sutherland, G. Clark, and E. Lyon to be corporals. Ptes. F. I?.. Kemp, .T. E. Harris, C. B. Bowdon, W. G. M'Ewan, H. B. 0. Miles, H. L. Silcook, ,T. M. Torry, L. Harris. H. A. Stilhvoll, H. AV. Cater, and G. H. Burrough to bo lance-corporals.

Tho Canterbury Chamber of Comjnoroe has written to tlio Central Chamber in Wellington, asking its support in, protesting againsS tho stopping of tho practice , of telephoning telegrams. Mr. Gco! Winder said that it was sonicwliat straugo tliafc a change should lmvo heenmado when it meant that more labour'had to be employed in delivering tolograms at all hours of the night, instead of telephoning them, and posting them for delivery the next (lay. It was suggested tliat in tlio case of sending telegrams by telephone tho.Department might bi\pub to some trouble in keeping tho,accounts. It was decided that the executive should wait on the Secretary of tho Post aiid Telegraph Department (Mr. W. It. Morris), in bVder to ascertain why the change had been made sinco the beginning of the year. : A prosecution, of considerable interest was heard in tlio Magistrate's Court yesterday (says a, Press Association telegram from Wanganui), 'ihe Labour Department proceeding against fifteen slaughtermen employed at the Wanganui Meat Company's works, as a. sequel to a recent alleged strike., It appears that tho defendants refused to work with two men on the ground that i they wero not members of tho Wellington Slaughtermen's Union, and the result was that tho management was compelled to dispense with tho services of the mon objected to in order not to hold up operations at a busy period. For the defence it was argued that no strike was intended, and that the slaughtermen would have contimiod working had the request to put the non-unionists off'not been complied with. Tho cases against four of the defendants wero dismissed as they commenced work on tho morning of the alleged! strike. Tho Magistrate reserved docision ill the remaining casos. When a prospective defender of tho Empire has been modically examined in Auckland (says tho "Star"), it is now tho custom, when handing him 1-is leave pass, for the officer to explain to him that if ho wishes to savo money for tho Government ho need not necessarily tako the five shillings which are clue to him after he has been attested. It is understood that in Auckland tho statement of this simplo alternative has been instrumental in saving over £30 of Government money. The "Otago Daily Times" says it is understood that xhe Government has ordered medals from England, to be worn by returned soldiers, honourably discharged from the New Zealand Expeditionary Forco, and that supplies will shortly reach tho Dominion. Tho medals will bear a suitable inscription. Advico has boon ieceived from tlio High Commissioner that tho sum of £5 contributed by The Dominion Fund on November 14 last has been paid over to the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John. In acknowledging receipt of tlio contribution tho chairman of tho Finance Committeo desired that tho warm thanks of tho committee bo expressed for tho generous assistance extended to the society in their work for the relief of tho sick and wounded. A large English mail, via Australia, for New Zealand isjJue to leave Sydney to-morrow, and will reach New Zealand in about a week's time. It probably will como in tho Wimmera, which is due at Auckland on February 25.