PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3101, 4 June 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Though Russia is not immune from tho strikes which appear to bo epidemic in Europe at present, news from that country to-day points upon the whole to an improving situation and outlook. A particularly welcome report states that a conference of soldiers' delegates from the front deprecated exaggerated and misleading statements about fraternisations and desertions, adding that tho former were not serious and that the latter did not apply to the troops at the front. It is added that the conference urged the severe punishment of deserters. Presumably tho delegates assembled at this conference wero either elected by tho troops at the front or selected by some orderly method.. So much assumed, they would be bettor entitled to speak with representative authority than the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Dolegates which has figured prominently in tho cablegrams since tho earliest days of tho revolution, This organisation was described some weeks ago by the Petrograd Bmshoiya Volia as ii fortuitous aggregation of.workmen and soldiers, mainly well-intentioned but ignorant folk, who have fallen under tho domination of an "ultraSocialist clique." Apparently, though on this point full' information is lacking, the workmen and soldiers attached to or represented on the Council were drawn chicfly, if not wholly, from the troops of tho Petrograd garrison and from Labour bodies in tho capital city. It is unlikely that an organisation so constituted would have exerted' as powerful an influence as it has on policy and public affairs but' for tho fact that the Provisional Government is not supported by a representative ■ Parliament. Tho Duma does not seem to have come within measurable distance of filling tho gap which must exist until a Parliament has been elected on a liboral' franchise.

.At all events, the report mentioned is a cheering indication that the state of the Russian armies at the front is far from being as bad as sonic messages havo alleged, and that desertions and other departures from orderly efficiency have been chiefly in evidence amongst the troops in training and in tho depots. These are three or four times as numerous in Russia as the armies actually on service a.t the front. Desortions and disorders behind tho front are only less geri-

oiis than in tho presence of the enemy, unci must react unfavourably upon the armies on service, but the maintenance of good orcler and discipline at the front, besides being a vital factor in itself, must contribute in an important degree to tbo restoration of orderly conditions generally. The position in Russia is undoubtedly serious, but it seems to be far from hopeless even as regards the immediate military outlook. Any effort that Russia, puts forth in tho near futuro will no doubt bo in some degree weaker than it might have been on account of the disorders which have occurred and still prevail.' It remains possible, however, that an organised effort by Russia, in conoert with her Allies, may materially promote their common interests in tho present year's campaign. Reports during the last few weeks alleging an almost hopeless state of affairs on the Russian front have been more or less definitely contradicted by news of activity in different localities, and tho failure of the enemy to improve his positions at any point except in the Stochod incident in March. To-day's message indicating a better state of affairs receives a measuro of confirmation from a communique reporting effective work, by the Russian artillery in a number of important areas —on the Riga front, in the vicinity of Baranovitchi junction, inGalicia, and elsewhere.

To his consort the Kaiser lias telegraphed that the Anglo-French offensive has failed, "after the mightiest battles of history," and to the Austrian Emperor congratulating him upon tho "failure" of Italy s mighty effort. It is likely that one' message will convey as much comfort, and command as much credence, as tho other in the quarter to which it is addressed. Tho speech by the Austrian. Emperor which is reported to-day suggests very clearly (in spite of tlie conventional remark that "our group fights irresistibly for its honour and existence") that he is without illusions in regard to the military outlook". As to tho West front, nothing is more certain that that the Anglo-French offensivo of the year is at an early stage, and will develop during the next few months on a very much greater scale than it has done as yet. _ In assuming for purposes of rhetorical assurance that the Allies.have "shot their bolt," the Kaiser is living from hand to mouth in a fashion which strikingly illustrates his poverty of resource.

Reports from tho main theatres show no great change or important development. Tho Germans allege that they captured a French position at the. western end of tho Aisne front, but a French message indicates that the enomy success in this quarter was temporary. As a whole, the Allies appear to have had decidedly the best of it in recent fighting. The British report successful raiding, and the aircraft have been actively engaged attacking the enemy's depots and communications. News from tho Italian .theatre is also good. In an attack made either in the course of a considerable local battle or in the preliminary movement of a further general advance the Italians gained important ground on the southern part of the Cargo plateau.

Tun cxa'cfc nature and scope of the Allied control of Itoyalisb Grcccc which, is to bo inaugurated to-day have not been made known at time of writing, but presumably the Allies arc assuming direction of railways and telegraphs anu other means of transport and communication, and are instituting such policeing measures as will enable them to avert or defeat any treacherous attempt by Oonstantine and his faction. That the control imposed is strict may be judged from the' fact that the Greek Government is permitted as a concession to send code messages to its agents abroad. Possibly it is intended to utilise'further Greek ports as bases and depots and to make use of the principal Greek railways in furtherance of tho Balkan campaign. There is reason to believe that the Balkan theatre will be the scone of considerable, activity in the near future, but in any case effective control of loyalist ffrcccc is essential to the security of General Sakrail's army, and it gives ground for satisfaction that this control appears now to havo been established.