PROGRESS OF THE WAR
According to the latest reports in hand at tims of writing, the important success gained by the French on the Verdun front westof the Mouse has been fully maintained. The attacking troops mastered the enemy positions to a depth of a thousand yards on a front of about a mile and a half astride the Esnes-Malancourt road. This road runs north and south about threequarters of a mile west of the crest of Hill 304, an eminence upon which many battles have centred. The result is to clear tthe western flank, of Hill 304 and greatly strengthen tho French hold upon that position. The area of the action is one in which the enemy made comparatively little headway in his great offensive of last year. In the positions they have • now taken the French are little more than a mile and a half distant from the lino on which the enemy stood when he opened his offensive in February, 1916. The fact that it was further east that he developed his principal effort does not detract from the importance of the latest French success. The anxiety with which the Germans regard the changed situation is indicated in the costly and quite unsuccessful counter-attacks they have made upon tho lost positions.
, Tremendous air activity on the British front and along the Belgian coast is regarded as foreshadowing portentous events. Taking account also of tho materially' improved situation on tho French front tho outlook would be decidedly promising but for tho fact that an unfavourable turn of events is threatened in Bussia.
At the moment of writing no definite development is disclosed in the Russian offensive, but reports dealing with the political situation indicate that it has again assumed an exceedingly _ troubled and critical aspect. This, of course, is not of good promise as it bears upon the position on the fighting front. Tho disorderly outbreaks in Petrograd reported yesterday appear to havo been suppressed, but as news stands tho situation retains many disturbing features. It is feared, amongst other things, that an extensivo strike is imminent, and it is still more disquieting that at a time when tho need for resolute action by a strong central authority is particularly acute there are evidences of serious and growing dissension between the political parties which up to the present seem to have been doing their best to co-operate. Several Ministers belonging to tho Constitutional Democratic Party havo resigned, and M. Kerknski is credited with tho statement that the retirement of these Ministers is a, blow in tho back for free Russia, and one which menaces tho succcss of Brusiloit's offensive. Unless current reports are grossly misleading, existing conditions in Russia, and particularly in Petrograd, threaten to deprive the Allies of Russia's effective co-operation at a time when it would havo been of supreme value. The general military situation and political unrest in enemy countries dictate a policy of vigorous action on the part of the Allies, but they will be gravely hampered in adopting such a policy if Russia again fails them at tho critical moment.
This week's return of British ships sunk by mine and submarine shows a very slight increase upon the figures of last week—one more ship .under 1600 tons and one more fishing boat—and tho position then disclosed was that losses, after falling steadily for four weeks, had reached the lowest point touchcd for 17 weeks. As a whole, therefore, available evidence supports tho view that the enemy submarine effort is tending to decline. The rate of loss, however, is still serious.
There is interesting news from Spain. At its face value it means that the country is in a state of revolution. A separata Parliament is said to havo been convoked at' Barcelona, and it is suggested that tho situation is' already beyond the Government's control. A recent /statement by King Alfonso indicated that he was toying and paltering with a crisis . which demanded vouy different treatment, and today's news implies _that his folly has incurred appropriate retribution. Spain has been brought to the verge of commercial and industrial ruin by the German submarino campaign, and in tho circumstances Alfonso's declaration that she must remain neutral to the end, "unless attacked," was an obvious attempt to evade patent facts. There is little doubt that his crown is now in serious. jeopardy. A successful revolution would not necessarily bring Spain into tho war on the side of the Entente, but the parties <vhhh may be expected to support the revolution aro in general markedly friondly to France and Britain.
Tub British attack on Gorman merchant convoys off the Dutch ooasfc turns out to have been an even
more successful affair than early reports indicated. A lata message yesterday stated that the f6ur enemy ships captured were not tho only losses out of tho 17 which left .Rotterdam bound for Denmark. It is understood that in addition four ships ivcrc sunk, two driven ashore, and one run ashore on tho Dutch coast and- three compelled to return to Dutch ports. Of tho total number only three, as far as is known, contrived to cscapc andppurr r sue their voyage. It now seems clear that the British raid extended into 'Dutch territorial waters. A definite statement to that effect is made by tho Amsterdam Tcler/ruaf, and at time of writing there is no denial from London. Tho circumstances certainly warranted the intrusion. It would be an absurd policy on Britain's part to allow the Germans to open a useful transport routo through Dutch territorial waters. Naturally the incident has excited furious anger in Germany, and if the expressions of the Yossische Zeitunr/ are representative, Holland may find herself confronted by an awkward problem. In effect she is invited to curb tho power of tho British Navy or expect to feel the weight of German vengeance. Whether this throat has any weight remains to be scon. If only the morality of tho step were in question, Germany would probably invade Holland without a moment's hesitation, but she is no longer in a position to regard with indifference the additional call upon her resources which a conflict with Holland would involve. Even if she had the necessary force at disposal, it is doubtful whether possession of the Dutch coasts and river-mouths would so extend the freedom of her naval action as to compensate for tho military effort entailed.
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3141, 20 July 1917, Page 4
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1,069PROGRESS OF THE WAR Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3141, 20 July 1917, Page 4
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