PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3110, 14 June 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

To-bav's news of the Italian offensive on the Trentino front indicates that it js developing on a scale of considerable importance. According to a Times correspondent formidable. Austrian strongholds have already fallen to assault, and he adds that the battle is still raging, and that important developments are expected.' Reports from Vienna allege that the Italians wore repulsed with heavy losses, but this testimony must be -regarded with suspicion, in view of the fact that similar reports were issued by the Austrians when the Italians were at the height of their recent victorious offensive on the Isonzo front. In their present enterprise the Italians are attacking on a short front extending south-west, through mountain country, from the valley of the River Brciita, which constitutes a transport avenue running cast from Trent to the frontier. What object General Cadorna has in view is meantime a matter of speculation, but it is probable that he is chiefly intent upon deranging the enemy plansand possibly upon forestalling an offensive stroke. So long as the Austrians strc able to maintain organised resistance, Italian progress in the alpine country in and adjoining tho Trentino is bound to bo slow. On tho Isonzo

front the Italians have reasonably good prospects of driving in the enemy defences to an extent which would enable them to occupy Trieste and invade. Istria, but tho enemy would have very badly defeated to make"" a- success of equal magnitude even possible in the Trentino.

The only immediate result of such successes as the Italians have lately won in the Trentino borderland is to increase their margin of security in the area in which they were formerly vulnerable. This is an important advantage,' but it will hardly account for the transfer of activity from the Isouzo to the Trontino front, unless it is further assumed that some expectations are entertained of an enemy offensive in tho latter area. But for the fact that tho Austrians have been able to draw strong reinforcements from Russia, it is likely that tho Italians would have continued to concentrate upon the offensivo in which they were lately making good headway towards Trieste. One tact which has n very important bearing on Hie situation is that the Italians are very much better placed than their enemies in the matter of transport. Using tho railways and roads which cross tho Venetian Plain, they are in a position to rapidly transfer troops and'artillcry from tho Isonzo to tho Trentino, or vice versa, as occasion may demand. The Austrians are handicapped by having to rely «pon very much longer and more difficult transport routes.

The best news which has come through for some timo past regarding Russia is contained in a German report which speaks of. "active-fin-hting" in the Baltic Provinces, in the vicinity of Baranovitehi Junction, and at different points m Galicia, The report is unconfirmed from Russian sources at tune of writing, but it seems hardly likely that tho Germans would circulate false news of military activity on a front where their interests would be best served by continued stalemate Tho hopo pf a vigorous Russian offensivo this year is n<> longer bright, but it is still possible that the Russians may exert a sufficient pressure upon the enemy to materially assist their Allies in other theatres. If tho enemy has withdrawn troops as freely from the East front as recent reports allege, any organised activity on the part of 'tho Russians would bo apt to place him in serious difficulties.

In southern Flanders the British are steadily extending their advanceeastward of the Messines Ridge, and Sir Douglas Haio to-day reports progress on a front of two miles north-cast of Messines. The hamlet of Gaapard, which has been occupied, stands about a mile and a half east, and slightly north of Messines. This definite news sufficiently disposes of a German report that "English cavalry advanced castward of Messines, hut only remnants returned." Tho evident intention is to suggest that a successful de'fenco is being maintained immediately eastward of the positions which were lost in the recent battle, but in actual fact Messines is now a mile- and a half behind tho British line.

General prospects on the West front arc indicated in Sm Douglas Haig's statement to tho 2nd Army, which captured the Messines Bulge, that tho success gained is a long step towards the final and victorious end oE the war. Made as it is with full knowledge- of the state of affairs in Russia, the declaration of the Commander-in-Chief naturally carries great weight. As to tho immediate outlook his address to the 2nd Army carries an obvious suggestion that a further big development of the Western offensivemay bo expected in tho near future.