PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3104, 7 June 1917, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

._..___4 Flanders figures prominently in the news to-day. The naval base established by the Germans at Ostcnd lias been subjected to a naval bombardment which is described as the most formidable of the war, and Allied aeroplanes are dropping tons of bombs on Ostcnd 1 and Zccbruggo ,md upon Bruges, Ghent, and other places inland with which these ports are connected by railway or canal. At the same Lime a correspondent slates that the British guns on the northern part of the front are maintaining a bombardment of unparalleled violence. This last item mi doubt irlal.es to Flanders as well as to Northern France, and the news as a whole carries the suggestion that the next big move in the Allied offensive may be witnessed in Flanders. There is no certainty in the matter, however. It is the apparent, policy of the Allies to carry their wrecking tactics to the utmost practicable lengths before attempting to drive in the nemy's lines and to keep him in a state of uncertainty as to where, the main attack will fall. Impressive as it is the tremendous bombardment poured upon the enemy from sea, air, and land in Flanders does not necessarily mean that it is in that quarter trial, the blow will fall.

It is, of course, likely enough that llic. Allies siro about; to make- another Ijig move in the- development of their offensive. / It tho Champagne and more recently on tho heights of tho 'Aisno the, French have been fighting crreat defensive battles. The enemy has engaged in extremely costly and exluilisting efforts without securing the results for which ho had hoped. He aimed at recovering strong- positions and observation points the. loss of which has desperately weakened his line, and his efforts have- failed. 'Coincidently be has been subjected to an almost unendurable strain on the British front. Ho has hcie'precisely the same incentives to counterattack as on the French section of the front, but the reigning conditions have set limits to his efforts in

this direction. An official message shows that the British are again pushing forward in fcho Hat country south of Lens where the enemy lately made heavy sacrifices for the sake of recovering a very limited area of tho ground lie had lost. The collapse- of the German atlacKs on tho French positions north of the Aisno seems to mark a definite stage in tho campaign, and it may tie taken for granted that the Allies will gijfc the enemy no respite in which to recruit his energies. Presumably they have been content to fight practically stationary battles only for the reason that under these conditions they have been enabled to subject the enemy to a maximum strain.

Suggestive indications that big events are in near prospect in the Western theatre gain additiona.l colour from tho fact that a rising stir of activity is reported on the Russian front. Tho Germans state in an official report that nothing of importance Aas developed on f.ho East front though fighting activity' has revived at many points. The .revival of fighting activity is, however, in itself a. development of considerable importance, and marks a considerable advance from the. conditions of total stagnation and moro or less frequent fraternisation which were recently in evidence. The enemy report betrays an expect a'tion of further and still more active developments in the Russia.n theatre, and the fact that the Germans have heavily bombarded a section of tho Russian northern front is another indication that they anticipate an early resumption of active campaigning.

As information stands the Germans v-ill derive less satisfaction from the results of their latest! air raid on England than from those of the raid which preceded it. As a military enterprise the raid was a failure.' Tho sixteen aeroplanes engaged attacked a naval establishment on the Thames Estuary, but, according to fcho official report, with negligible results. They did a. considerable amount of damage to house property in Essex, but tho number of deaths and casualties reported at time of writing is small. Tho enemy ivas favoured by weather in his approach, he does not seem to have persevered very obstinately in his attack, and evidently liia plans woro laid largely with an eye to a safo retreat. Nevertheless he was so promptly engaged that two aeroplanes of the attacking squadron were brought down. Tho attack was made in the evening, presumably in order that the raiding squadron might return homo in a failing light and run a ,mimmum risk of being intercepted by Allied aeroplanes from tho Dunkirk base. AVhothor expectations under this head were realised has not been made known at the moment of writing.

A somewhat sensational story, credited to tho New York Times. alleges that Japan has informed Russia that in consultation with Britain she will consider what measures should be taken if Russia concludes a separate peace. Japan obviously is not in a position to intervene effectively in Russian affairs in tho manner suggested. Under other circumstances a threat of action in Manchuria might weigh heavily with the Russian Government, but the present problem is not one of deliberate and considered treachery, but of disorganisation. It is, of course, possible that the problem may bo solved to tho satisfaction of Russia and her Allies. In existing circumstances a threat of hostile action by Japan in the event of Russia- failing to honour her obligations to her Allies would carry little weight. It would weigh least of all with those factions in Russia which are- chiefly responsible for the existing disorganisation. On all grounds it seems quite safo to conclude that Japan has made no such representations as .are alleged, either in .consultation with Britain or on her own account.

The account given by tSe_ Austrians of the- price '' at whicS the Italians have purchased their recent successes on the Isonzo front no doubt belongs to the domain of fiction. Meantime, it lacks direct contradiction, but it is not for a moment iu doubt that the late events of the campaign have turned heavily and decidedly against the Austr'ians. The Italians have carried a series of immensely strong positions. They are established on a much belter line than that, from which they attacked, and they arc well placed for a further advance Their latest achievement has been to decisively repel heavy and sustained Austrian, attacks on a front extending right across the Oarso Plateau and as an outcome to advance their lines, instead of losing ground. Tho Austrians are in a situation which they will not mend or improve with words. -.w » •

A naval action which is reported to-dav cost tho Germans a destroyer of their 1912 programme. S2O was launched in that year. She was a boat of 56-1 tons, with a speed of 32 knots.