PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3133, 11 July 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The highly successful Russian attack reported to-day took shape in the area south of the Dniester, about 70 miles south-east_ of Lemberg, and. nearly forty, miles south of Brzezany, the Russian objective on that section of the Galician

front on which the offensive had previously attained its chief development. Clear proof that the- at-

tack was shrewdly driven homo appears in the fact that the 48 guns captured by the Russians include twelve of heavy calibre. Those pieces

would, of course, be posted well behind the enemy line, • probably several miles in rear of the posi-

tions first attacked. More than 7000 prisoners were also captured, which brings the total number captured by the Russians since their offensive opened into the vicinity of 30,000. Available reports show that the Russians broke right through the enemy line west of Stanislau, and launched their cavalry in pursuit, but the Austro-Germans apparently succeeded in rallying on a river lino some miles westward of the front on which the battle opened.

In thciv latest stroke the Russians have resumed the enveloping movement against Halicz, on the Dniester, which was interrupted last year. Halicz is a strong point in the outlying defences covering Lembcrg. Positions adjacent to the town command the Dniester where it is crossed by an important road bridge. Last year the Russians closely approached these positions on the north bank of the Dniester, but encountered an extremely obstinate defence. Their present enterprise is a turning movement against Halicz on'the south. A railway west from Stanislau runs parallel to the Dniester at a distance of about a dozen miles, and ibis railway marks the line of the Russian advance.

The powerful and effective thrust sou Hi of the Dniester docs not seem to have entailed any material slackening of thy tension in the Brzcwmy region, further north. Recent enemy reports have alleged that the Russians are throwing away masses of men in vain attempts to make progress in this quarter, but a llussian semi-official message which appears to-day indicates that these allegations are an exact inversion of the facts. It reports the heavy defeat of counter-attacks in which the enemy has striven desperately to stem General Brusiloff's enveloping movement upou Brzezany, and mentions the interception of a German wireless dispatch admitting terrible losses. German forces apparently predominate in the vicinity of Brzozany, but tho sector attacked by General Korniloff south of the Dniester was probably held by Austrian troops. The offensive 'meantime is developing on a rising scale of success, ami while there is no- doubt that the Russians arc encountering a more stubborn resistance than in theearly stages of their offensive last year, their artillery equipment is reported to havo been very greatly improved. The cxtcn-1 sion of the offensive recorded to-day is an encouraging indication that their available resources in llic aggregate materially exceed those of the enemy, and suggests that they have good prospects of achieving decisive results. The enemy was able to bring great additional reserves, to bear at the critical stage of last year's campaign. It is tolerably

certain that he is much less favourably j)laced to-day. A statement by the French Minister of War (M. Painleve) which is published to-day contains some very frank admissions. M. Paini.kve announced some time ago that France would limit her efforts while awaiting American aid, but he now amplifies the guarded reference which he made on that occasion to the losses suffered in this year's offensive into a definite statement that the price paid in the offensive was too high for the results won and that the chiefs responsible have been relieved of their commands. These results, including the capture of the heights of the Aisne and of dominating strongholds in the Champagne, were of very great value, and the Minister's statement regarding the losses incurred is correspondingly serious. On the other hand, his declaration that France will pursue a policy of prudence, not lacking iu energy, and conserve her. forces for the final battle is n further proof of the splendid spirit of determination in which she is conducting the war and of her wonderful powers of recovery. To the countries allied with France this very definite warning that her powers are not inexhaustible should carry an irresistible appeal and should stiffen their determination to spare no effort in supporting the heroic exertions in which she has persevered with unexampled fortitude. * *

Fkoic the particulars of its scope and operation givea in the news yesterday, the- American embargo on neutrals seems likely to fulfil expectations in the matter of tightening the blockade of Germany. Loud protests are-boing raised in Holland, and it is alleged that the United States are starving the Dutch, but Holland and other neutral countries upon which the cmbarg* may impose hardships are entitled to very little consideration. They have invited these hardships by carrying on a profitable trade with Germany, and concern over the loss of this trade is probably the chief inspiration of their protests. Some figures quoted in this column a few days ago indicated the extent to which the American embargo is likely to limit Germany's importation of useful supplies. Further light is thrown upon the matter in a document recently published in Washington. It stairs that until recently American foodstuffs exported to neutrals were being re-exported to Germany in sufficient quantities to provide rations for all the German armies on the Eastern front (about one-third of Germany's total forces), and sufficient fats for 7,500,000 soldiers. Holland and other neutral 'countries, if they suffer to some extent under the operation of the embargo, will have themselves to blame. It is much more important that Germany is likely in the near future to keenly feel the effect of the tightened blockade.