PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3081, 11 May 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

This week's report on the submarine campaign shows an appreciable drop in tho number of British ships destroyed, and a much inoro considerable drop in the amount of tonnage destroyed. Taking account of ships both over and under 1600 tons, the number of sinkings dropped last week to 46 from 51 in the previous week and 55 in tho week preceding. But the outstanding feature of the current return is that while there is an increase in the number of small ships sunk, tho number of ships over 1600 tons isunk by the submarines has dropped to 24, as compared with 38 in the week, before last, and 40 in tho week preceding. Assuming that tho ships over 1600 tons averaged 4000 tons and tho smallor. ships 1100 tons, this would mean that the submarines, in the week reported on to-day, accounted for 47,000 tons of shipping less than thoy did in the previous week, and for 57,000 tons less than in tho week preceding. As they stand, the figures _ point_ to a falling-off in the effective activities of the long-range, submarines, and 'to increased! activity in the sea«s adjoining Great Britain, where, possibly, the mine may be playing a bigger part than the torpedo.' A very important detail in the report relates to the number of ships unsuccessfully attacked. This was 34, as against 27 and 24 respectively in the two preceding weeks, and tho increase suggests that tho reduction in) the amount of tonnage destroyed is'duo largely to improving efficiency in measures of defence 'and counteraggression, and that it has very probably been accompanied by an increased destruction of submarines. It would, of course, be a,mistake to lay too much emphasis upon the improvement disclosed in a limited period, but tho position meantime shows a. very material improvement.

No exceptional event in the Western theatre is reported at time of writing,, though-both on the French and British sections of the front the enemy has sustained further losses in the persistent countor-attaeks which emphasise the limitations of his defensive soheme. The British have recovered some ground immediately west of Fresnoy, and advanced slightly at some points further south. Most of the fighting reported north of the Aisne occurred on the northern slopes of the heights lately captured by the French, and, therefore, under conditions which place the enemy at a serious disadvantage. Comments by Me. Bonar Law on the progress of the British offensive speak for themselves. Particular importance attaches to his statement that British' losses in the present : offensive have been fifty to seventy-five per cent, less than on the Somrae, pre- | sumably in a g}ven time. Thiß material reduction in British losses gives the more ground for satisfaction since the nature of the recent fighting seems to , admit no other conclusion than that the enemy's losses have" been unprecedentedly high.

Some infantry fighting is reported to-day on the Russian front, though as yet only on enemy authority. The Germans state that they repulsed Russian attacks in Southern Bukowina and in Rumania. There 'is nothing to suggest that the attacks wore on a scale, of any great importance, but they attract attention at present on account of' the danger which has appeared that political dissensions may reduce the Russian armies to helpless inactivity. Before many weeks have passed the- position will be determined one way or the other, and meantime a.succession of local attacks would carry a fairlv definite indication that the. Russians were on the eve of offensive action. Tho Russians themselves report to-day a forward move in Northern Persia. One of their columns is advancing north--west toward the border at a poiufc about a hundred miles north of Khanikin, where they have advanced from Persia into Mesopotamia by way of a caravan route leading to Bagdad. Tho latest advance is of some importance as implying a threat to the communications of the Turkish forces which are opposing tho Russians at the Diala crossing, near Khanikin, and the British in the Jebel fiamrin hills, further west. ' «■ . « « •

There arc* rather suggestive reports to-day from tho Macedonian front. A German communique speaks of Allied attacks at numerous points between Lake Prcsba and Lake Doiran—that is to say, along practically the whole southern frontier of Serbia—and of particularly bitter 'fighting in the Cerna salient. This is in part contradicted by a French report, whioh states that no attack was made in the Cerna salient, but it fs not clear that the E'ronch authorities contradict the oueray report as a whole. In any case, they themselves speak of general artillery activity along the front, arid of succcsshil aerial attacks on enemy dopots. Whether the Allies aro opening an offensive or merely making a demonstration remains ' to bo

seen, but what is known of the position on the Macedonian front suggests that GENEBAii Sabkail is likely to take the offensive in the near future against the chiefly Bulgar forces to which he is opposed. A. good deal depends, however, on the turn of events on the Russian front, and it is possible that stalemate in that quarter may release enemy forces for tho Balkans, and_ preclude tho possibility of an Allied offensive in Macedonia. Conversely, a forward move in Macedonia would be an encouraging indication that tho Allies confidently anticipate developments in the Eastern theatre which will keep the Austrq-Gorman armies facing the .Russians fully occupied. As the armies are placed in Macedonia, the enemy is holding a long front with' bad oroas-com-munications, and tho Allies have sorao prospects of springing a surprise by concentrating heavily against any ono of a number of vulnerable points. This fact gives particular importance and urgency to the problem of dealing with spies in Greece, which is mentioned in the news to-day. The danger that the Allied plans may be penetrated and revealed to the enemy by Greek spies is more serious than that of overt hostility by any part of the Greek population which remains subject to Oonstantine, but the danger is so plainly evident that no douEt drastic precautions are being taken to guard against it.

The Cerna salient, which the Germans falsely allego was the scene of a recent Allied attack, is a wilderness of bare granite mountains enclosed by the Oerna River, where it runs in a deep loop east of Monastic The branches in which • the river runs on either side of the salient aro about fifteen miles apart, and the mountain front aoross the salient is one of tho strongest sections of the enemy's defensive lino. It is ah immediate and very formidable barrier to progress by the Allies northward towards uskub (on the Vardar railway), which would be their first'main objective in an advance throucrh Southern Serbia. Reaching Uskub. they would liberate half of Serbia, and create an unmistakable threat to the enemy a communications through the Balkans with Turkey..

It is an indication of the important place allotted to the Italian contingent in tho composite army under General Sarraii/s command— an army which includes French, British, Serbian, and Russian contingents, and five Greek divisions raised by the Vbnizemst Government at Salonika—that it has since November last been holding the front oxtending across the Cerna saliont as well as sections of tho front further west, towards the Albanian frontier and across Albania to the Adriatic Coast. In improving road communications from their coastal depots on the' Adriatic to the interior country, and m other ways, the Italians have contributed notably to the great task of the Allies in tho Balkans, which has been well described as a Roman effort. Of the estimation in which the Italians are held by their Allies in the- Macedonian theatre, an English correspondent wrote not long ago:

For efficiency, for smartness, and practicality in dress and equipment, and, above all, for their skill in road-making and maintaining ample communications in one of tß'e most difficult countries a. modern army lias ever moved in, the Trnlinns have made a reputation among the Army of the Orient. The sector they now hold is the one of tho whole line -where the opposing trenohes are nearest. In places the Italians are SO yards anil nowhere are they more than 120 j awls from the enemy, and trenchmortar fii'o goes on continually. Their general was wounded at Monastir lost November by'a shell, which killed five men close to him. He rejoined his troops at the front before tho wound had closed. Few Englishmen had personal knowledge of the Ttaliw.s as soldiers before they sent a contingent out here, and tho sincere admiration whioh their proved'capacity evok« is not nnmlngled, perhaps, with surprise.