PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3085, 16 May 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

A. splendid achievement by British naval aircraft i 6 reported to--day, and one which is calculated I 'to destroy any remaining faith the Germans may have in the Zeppelin as an instrument of offence. One of the big airships was heard approaching the British coast early on Monday morning. It was pursued by naval aircraft, which ovor"hauled and destroyed it fifty miles from tho Dutch, coast. The circumstances are indicative of the high pitch of efficiency reached by the aeroplane in comparison with, the unwieldy craft by which the .Germans formerly set so much store, and suggest that any Zeppelins which henceforth set out on a raiding voyage to England will be courting destruction. . Last year was one of disaster for the big airships, and judging by the fate of L 22 they will avoid similar results this year only by keeping out of harm's way. The remarkable feature on this occasion was the speed with which the pursuit was organised and launched. Probably the pursuing aeroplanes were already in the air when the raider approa-ch-cd. It is a matter of familiar knowledge that many 'of the difficulties which formerly attended night flying havo been successfully overcome.

The enemy's total losses in Zeppelins reach a big figure. Major J. L. Baird, of the British Air Board, stated in Parliament' •in August last that seven Zeppelins had been .destroyed by the British, i and. five so badly damaged that they could be considered as wrecked; and that the Allies had accounted for 35 Zeppelins. Subsequently six Zeppelins and one big rigid airship of the Schutte-Lanz type were certainly destroyed. Included in these figures'are the six Zeppelins and one Schutte-Lanz airship brought down last year in Englandor on the English coast. L 22 is now added to tho list/' Apart from the enemy airships destroyed in action, or in their sheds by raiding aeroplanes, a number have been lost through stress of weather, and others are credibly reported to have been destroyed by misadventure On its general record the Zeppelin is a dismal failure. It has useful qualities as a naval scout,-, but except in this particular the enormous sum expended by the Germans in constructing Zeppelins has been largely thrown away. » . # « »

Reports from the British front available at time of writing show an improving situation. The enemy has failed in : most -desperate attempts to repair the breach made in the Hindenburg lino at Bullecourt, and the breach has, if anything, been increased. As reports stand, the Australians hold all of Bullocouvt but some isolated houses on the eastern side of the village. The British havo also completed the capture of Roeux, a position east of Arras which the Germans have defended with great tenacity, and some ground has been gained a . little further north.

The statement mado in one mes--sago yesterday that the capture of Bullecourt practically isolates Queant is not yet cleared up, but it seems likely that Queant -is immediately threatened, not by the capture of Bullecourt itself but by : tho extension of the British advance over a strip of relatively high ground between the two villajres. In the vicinity of Bullecourt tho ground nowhere reaches an elevation of moro than 260 feet. In the immediate vicinity of Queant, and to the west, there are elevations of 290 feet, and within a mile of the village on the north-east an elevation of 350 feet is reached. It therefore seems unlikely that tho occupation of Bullecourt in itself "practically isolates" Queant. But it is very possible that an advance over tho intervening strip of high ground montioned' (in the attack south-east of Bullecourt, which is 'described in the news to-day) has given the British artillery command of the railway and roads supplying Queant from tho east.

The report of a conference at which Russian Ministers and a member of the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates met delegates from the fighting front largely speaks for itself. It is evident that the members of the Provisional Government are making a gallant effort . to arouse and inspire tho nation, hut it is'not less' clear that conditions both in tho country and in the army are giving them an uphill task. No impartial mind can fail to perceive the justice of M. Milujkoff's contentions regarding the Polish question and others, or to be impressed by M. Kerenski's grave and urgent warning, but the vital question meantime is whether the Russian people are capable of grasping tho facts and putting forth tho disciplined effort which the occasion demands. The answer to this question is not yet given. But for tho fact that it appears as a detail in a declamatory appeal, serious fault might be found with M. Kerensici's statement .that the Anglo-French advance in the Western theatre is already stopped. Tho Western Allies are by no means at a standstill in their great task, but no difficulty need bo mado about admitting that their progress now and

later would be materially facili- I tatcd if Russia were taking up her share in the common task. Mr. Bonar Law made an interesting and suggestivu reply to questions regarding rumours touching the possibility of n separate peace with Austria, Bulgaria, and Turkey. His observations on the possibility and desirability of breakingup the enemy alliance are of a nature- to suggest that such an achievement is in the region of practical possibility. In this matter, as in others, however, much deponds upon the outcome* of the present critical situation in Russia. With the Russians vigorously attacking, prospects of detaching one or all of the countries named from the Teutonic Alliance would be fairly good, but stalemate in Russia would bo apt to indefinitely postpone such a possibility. There is news from Rome to-day which very possibly portends the early resumption of the Italian offensive. Subjected to joint pressure* by the Russian and Italian armies, Austria might find her remaining strength hopelessly overtaxed, but it is not yet by any means certain that this concerted pressuro will bo applied.