PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3134, 12 July 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The Russians are building upon their initial success in the, area south of the Dniester in a fashion ■which promises important results. North-west of Stamslau, the enemy lias been thrown back for a distance of six miles or more, and is attempting a stand behind the River Lomnica, a tributary which runs northeast to the Dniester, and enters it a mile or two west of Halicz. Attacking on the Lomuica, the Russians arc in position south-west of Halicz, and the enemy's hold upon that important bridgehead is now imminently threatened. Gaining Halicz the Russians would outflank tho enemy's line north of the Dniester, and compel him to retreat in the direction of Lemberg. Judging by tho progress made and b,y ■ the accounts given of the splendid spirit in which the Russian troops are pressing the offensive thews seems to be little doubt that these developments'will be witnessed i.n the near future. ■ ff * - * * *

Serious importance is attached, in some quarters to the political crisis which has arisen, in Germany, but common prudence dictates an attitude of suspicion until, it is seen how far the Government* is manipulating tho situation for ite own.ends. A genuine revolt against the junkers is, of course, a possibility, and tho overthrow of Betiiiunn-Holuveo by the mddlc-class bloc whicih has been formed would be a fairly convincing indication that such a revolt is taking shape. Betmanjj-Holi.weg, however, has often been threatened, and has often survived political storms, and as yet the _evidence of a democratic upheaval in Germany is incomplete and inconclusive.

The most promising feature of tho situation as matters stand is the reported agreement -bstwecn Austria and the principal South German States. Persistent reports have alleged the formation of such an agreement since the accession of the Emperor Charles. For instance, the Um Natimwle reported some time ago that the young Emperor and his consort had visited Munich, and that negotiations were proposed for the union of Bavaria and Austria against Prussia. The Italian newspaper added: Vatican circles, it is hinted, were tempted with tho suggestion of creating a Catholic South German State by means of a union between Austria and Bavaria, and agents have been working in Paris and London to obtain eventual approval of such a scheme. These x agent-j it is said, are secretly approved by Austria. They are very discreet, but nil the more insidious.

Similar reports have come from other quarters, and while they cannot yet be definitely tested they are certainly suggestive. Tho present arrangement of the Gcrirtan and Austrian Empires is not dijo to the natural inclination of the people of the various German Slates, but was reached under the- dominating inlhiencfi of Prussia, who gained her ends by methods which contained the germ of h,cr policy in the present war. Tho German Empire was shaped in war and may bo dissolved in war, and a union of' Austria with the- South German States would be

welcome as ;i development making for a settlement of the present war and for future peace. Both in Berlin and Vienna all reports that the two Empires are in any respect at issue have been denied, and i l , has been asserted that relations between them have never been closer and moro unclouded, but these denials and affirmations have been somewhat overdone. It is significant that Heur Ekzbergeh, who is heading what is alleged to be a definite attack upon the Prussian junkers, is reported to liavc taken action as tho result of a long audience with tho Eiiperor Charles in Vienna last week. Precisely to what extent those who aro taking part in tho movement aim at modifying AustroGcrman war aims has yet to appear, but a definite attack on Prussian supremacy would certainly tend to bring nearer the conditions for which the Allies are fighting.

A late message suggests that the immediate tension of tho political situation in Germany has been relieved by concessions, chiefly in the way of Ministerial changes, and that Bethmann-Hollaveg has some prospects of gaining a further lease of power. Such concessions as arc mentioned, however, will not dispose of the internal forces in tho Central Empires which appear to be increasingly threatening Prussian domination. Growing distress, particularly in Austria-Hungary, tends to make the threat more formidable, and an ultimate union of Austria and the South German States against Prussia is a distinct possibility.

Yesterday's news that tho Russian columns in Western Persia have letreatcd probably does not. mean anything worse- than that the Russians are adjusting themselves to the conditions of a period of general inactivity in Mesopotamia. For tho time being, however, a junction between these columns and the British advanced troops in Mesopotamia is postponed. At Khanikin, 'ten miles west of the Persian border, the Russians were separated by little more than thirty miles from a British column which in April last'advanced to the foothills of the Jcbcl Hamrin range, further south. The Russians have now retired not only from Khanikin but from Kasri Shirin, a town in the Persian - hills about twenty miles to the north-cast. They may l'etire still further east. It is unlikely in any case that they will again invade Mesopotamia until weather conditions in that theatro permit an active resumption of tho British offensive. On the Tigris the British hold the whole of the completed section of railway north from Bagdad, a length of about eighty miles, with its railhead at Samarra. In tho area! between the Tigris and the Persian hills tho Jobel Hamrin range is strongly held by the Turks, and is the chief physical obstacle with which Sin Stanley Maude's force will have to reckon in the next stage of tho advance northward. * * * *

The Jehel Hamrin is a range of gravel hills, at some points_ 600 feet or more above the plain, and stretching slantwise across the country from tho Tigris to tho Persian hills. The range is altogether nearly 150 miles long, and near tho centre of its length the Shatt-el-'Adhaini cuts through it in a defile on its way to the Tigris. The Diala, another tributary of tho Tigris, passes through a second defile about fifty miles to the southeast. An attempt to force the Jebcl Hamrin range evidently formed no part of Sir Stanley Maude's plans for tho ■campaign which was conducted with sucli brilliant success last spring. The British force which advanced about 80 miles north of Bagdad along the Diala and drove the Turks into the foothills of tho range was not well enough served by communications to warrant a continued advance. Tho only road available was scarcely worthy the name. These circumstances, and-the fact that tho Russians were in no great force, serve to, .explain why tho latter did not drive home their advance in tho area north of the Jebcl Hamrin Tange, a movement which threatened the Turkish _ defensive line in flank and rear. Little activity is to,bo expected in Mesopotamia during the next month or two, but a -dispatch from Sir Stanlev Maude, of which a summary is published to-day, is a satisfactory confirmation of recent_ reports that the British organisation in this theatre has now reached a pitch of officiency which reduces the inevitable hardships of the campaign to a minimum.