PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3124, 30 June 1917, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

At time of writing the most de&uite reference to offensive action by the Russian armies is made in a, Renter message, which states that there is reason to believe that tho Russians ha.ve begun an offensive at two points. This, meantime, awaits confirmation. Amongst recent reports indicating that the enemy anticipates a, Russian offensive one stated that, Austrian divisions arebeing transferred from.tho Austro-ItaJi-a-n theatre to the East front, and another that Turkey is sending divisions to Europe in return for "additional loans and food." Tho enemy may'be able to transfer an ■ appreciable body of strength to the- Eastern theitre from the Ital-' ian-front (though not without taking risks in'the latter quarter), but even .summer inactivity in Mesopotamia will not enable tho Turks to' send any large force; to the Eastern theatre if tho Russians vigorously resume'the offensive. If this development is witnessed the Turks will probably find full employment for their troops in. their own theatres. It is most improbable that any disposition is possible to the enemy which would enable him to raise his Eastern armies to the strength at which they stood last year. Assuming that the Russian armies are, once again in such a state of discipline as to make an offensivo possible there is no doubt that the enemy will find himself in a considerable numerical inferiority in the Eastern theatre. On tho other hand it is at present purely a matter of conjecture how far tho Russian mechanical organisation and munitions supply "have been impaired by tho disorders of the revolution. * * * *

A late message embodies several reports which go to show that a llussian offensive is under way, but at timo of writing detail particulars of its progress are still lacking. Though action by the Russian armies is overdue, it may still servo to materially improve the situation of the Allies in the near future. It will tend also to improve the internal situation in Russia, although, as is pointed out, it will not wholly dispose of the economic and financial problems which at present loom formidably. , . , . ft

An achievement of very groat magnitudo is outlined in a statement by the British Minister of Munitions (Dit. Addison) in a statement which appears to-day. It shows that the British output is now stationary, or nearly so, where some of the most vital details of war production are concerned, but stationary at a point which makes it possible to meet comfortably the unexampled demands of the tremendous offensive under which the German defences in the Western Theatre are steadily crumbling. At _ tho /same time, measures are in train to rapidly extend tho already elaborate railway system in the Western theatre, which enables the Allies to use their immensely superior artillery with maximum effect; and improved tanks, embodying features at which tho Minister only hinted, are coming forward freely. As a _ whole, the statement gives a most impressive picture of that material and mechanical superiority of the Allies which is admitted even by tho cnomy. One . Gorman military writer, Captain von Salzmann, remarked recently in an article in the Yossische Zeitung: y

Tho English spirit of organisation has been the main factor in promoting the extraordinary construction of tho system of roads behind the Anglo-French front, and in completing tho system in a fashion we are compelled to admire. From tho reports received from abroad wo seo that only tho brilliantly-constructed system of roads, canals, and especially of .railways and light railways, has made possible, the rapid moving about of the musses of artillery that aro absolutely necessary for the attack. In this matter our enemies are in a certain senso superior to us. ... This manner of warfaro lacks all that is intellectual. It is tho mechanical solution of a mechanical question. Tho present Anglo-French offensive does not show a single new factor. It is always the same old picture—increased effectiveness of artillery, mechanical smashing down of the opponent, and, finally, advaaco into tho lines that have been flattened out. As long as the material superiority of {he enemy lasts, tho Hindenburg strategy of voluntary evacuation is tho only possibility as a passivo reply.

Captain vox Salzmann sees no better remedy for the existing state of affairs than tho unrestricted use of the subniarine. To-day, when the- submarine has as poor prospects as over of achieving decisive results, ho would probably be hard put to if, to prescribe any more promising remedy. As, to his attempt to show that the Allies have found only a ■mechanical solution of the. military problems by which they are- faced, it, is to be "said that the Allies are not more definitely superior in mc-cha-nical organisation than in other factors of strength, which may he summed up in the terms of fightingpower and generalship. The extent to which the Germans have been , out-general led as well as out-fought by tho Western Allies was lucidly brought out by the. military correspondent of the Westminster Gazelle in an article, published on May 10. Pointing out in the first instance that the position reached in tho West front definitely confirmed a contention that the enemy was strategically held, and that his defensive must depend more and more upon coun-ter-attack, the correspondent went on to remark: —

Nobody can suppose that- men would have bce"n sacrificed by tho German Command as they hnvo been sacrificed during, the past "month with an almost unlimited recklessness had there been any better expedient. The mere- fact of occupying a line subject to pressuro on both flanks is an evidence of inferior strength—real .fighting strength. No General, German o.r sny other, having

tho power to extricate himself would consent lo occupy such a position tor a. <lnj". But (o get out it has been imperative to exert a sufficient fighting strength, even if only for a time. In. Unit wo have, tlm explanation of theso apparently reckless proceedings. A gen- ■ oral check inthded on tho Allies would givti tho temporary freedom nnd breathing space wanted. jS'othinp else would avail, and nothing le.?s. The check has not been inflicted. Instead, the attempts to inflict it, adding still more to tho initiiil inferiority in lighting streDgth, have aggravated the position. The enemy has become tied clown not only by strategical pressure, but by tactical necessity. Holding on lo strong natural bastions like tho Vimy Ridge, the A 7 rcgny Plateau, the Craonno Eidge, and the Ridge of Jtoroiivillers, he could hope along those section? of the front to maintain a, passive defensive, reserving his active- defensive for assaults on the, "Hindenbnrg" Hue. The lofe of the bastions one after another has imposed an active defensive "at all points. It involves at once a dispersion of effort and a. huge addition to obligations. There io a limit beyond which, on this enlarged scale and at the pace of the past month, an active defensive cannot l>e maintained.. So far us that can bo done, we may expect to see it shade oh" into a. passive defensive, but a. passive defensive on fronts not naturally adapted to Buch tactics must be subject to accumulated disadvantages. It. will be the phase of manifest defeat. This may lake time, though events are moving fast. The inroad on tho German strategical reservehas been unexpectedly rapid.

This- in all essentials applies to the existing situation in tho Western theatre. The character' of the enemy's defence is unchanged. Ho is still reduced to supplementing his crumbling fortifications with ramparts of living flesh, and in tho process his strategic reserve is dwindling. These conditions very clearly demonstrate that tho mechanical .superiority.of "tho. Allies, vitally important as it is, is not by any.means, the only factor " making for. tho enemy's ultimate- defeat. ' To the ■fact that'the'Allies'are possessed of a vastly superior artillery we mustadd tho fact that they are compelling the enemy to. fight in conditions in which artillery superiority tells with maximum effect.

.In a report published yesterday the Austrians claimed that they had completely recovered their lost positions Eouth of the Suga'na. Valley, in the Eastern Trontino. A Rome message to-day supplies what aro presumably the facts. >;A very powerful Austrian attack' compelled the Italians to retire from the summit of Mount Ortigara, one. of the principal positions lately captured. The summit is not at present occupied by either side. . The enemy is to be credited with a definite success, but ho exaggerated it grossly in. his report of yesterday.