PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3182, 5 September 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

News that Riga lias been taken by the Germans is a normal sequel to tlie "voluntary retirement" of some of tho Russian troops defending the Dwina lino, which was reported yesterday. What will follow is Very largely a matter of conjecture, but the position already reached is a staggering example of what happens in a.' country where the sense of national responsibility is lost. An important city and a wido stretch of countrysido havo been handed over to German plunderers, and tho disaster may reach much more serious ' dimensions _ if tho demoralisatoin of the Russian troops is not speedily checked. There is convincing evidence that tho Germans are not in a position to bring any great force to bear against Russia, but-if the Russian troops continue to retire as they did from the front (covering Riga it is, of course, quite possible that the pacifist oracles of Petrograd may have an opportunity of sampling German rule. Hopes aro still entertained that tho national danger may unite all parties in Russia. Until it is seen whether theso hopes have any foundation, tho possibilities of the existing situation can onlv be regarded as extremely open. It is something to the good meantime that tho Russians are still fighting on the Rumanian _ front. Measures of reorganisation in that quarter appear to have been effective for the time being. « * »•■■»'

There is a dearth of detail news from tho Western theatre at timo of writing.- Tho Italians havo made a further advance on the southern part of the Oarso Plateau, but tho latest news they transmit is that bad weather is interfering with their advance, and that the enemy is rushing up reinforcements. Another report mentions the transfer of five' Austrian divisions from tho East to tho Italian front. This certainly' bears witness to the formidable character of the Italian offensive, and possibly indicates that the enemy, owing to tho imperative demands of the Western and Italian theatres, has little hope of developing any extended enterprise in Russia.

The determined spirit in which France is facing the prospect of a prolongation of tho war as a result of Russia's military, failure is indicated not only in, her recent brilliant successes on tho Verdun front, but in tho efforts she is making in the domain of industrial reconstruction and in tho restoration of liberated territory. American assistance in these activities' is expected to take a very important place in that interlocking of French- and American efforts which is destined to exert an importa'nt influence on tlio war. "Wo must relieve Franco," General Pershing remarked to an interviewer soon after ho , reached Paris. "We mustallow her to resume her productive activity." What theso observations m'ay imply was indicated by tho Paris correspondent of the Observer. With tho powerful help of the United States added to the increasing share taken by the British Army in the operations on the Western front, he remarked, it would bo possible for France not merely to hold on. but to start reconstructing her ruined territories and her economic activities without waiting for the conclusion of peace. Such a policy, he added, was not only wanted from a French point of view; it was also needed to make the Germans realise that they could not gain, anything by prolonging ■hostilities.

"What," the correspondent continued, "is the present situation 1 There is no real scarcity of labour in the industrial world. According to an inquiry, the result of which was made public last week by M. Clementel, Minister of Commerce, the labour employed by 44.8G0 French firms amounted in January, 1917, to 1,481,000 men and women, while before tho war the number was' not over 1,622,000. Speaking after M. Clementel in tho same sitting of tho Senate, M. Bourgeois, Minister of Labour, gave particulars as to where the deficiency of labour was being felt. Agriculture comes first with a lack of about 200,000. men. Public works and,mines require 60,000 men. From 20,000 to 30,000 men aro wanted for the reparation of the havoc wrought by the Germans in the liberated territories. About 100,000 men are also necessary for the so-called services de Varricre of the Army (supply, engineering, work on roads and railways, etc.). Altogether the present deficiency of labour is about 400,000 men. Now tho ideal solution would/ be that France's Allies, and more especially America, should send over to the Western front a corresponding number of soldiers or labourers, so as to enable the War Office to demobilise at once all the men above a certain age, say 45 or 46, and thus provide the country with the additional labour it badly needs. • There are' reasons to believe that America is already preparing herself for this most helpful effort; it ought not to "be difficult for her to send over in a very short time from now a considerable number of military labourers who, for this special purpose, would require no training at all. In the meantime the _ French Government arc already taking mea-. sures to be in a position to release a gradually increasing number of men for civil work without impairing the fighting strength of the Army. - ■ • Once tho United States has sent over its own men the relief wiil b<\ complete. The nation will then be in position to rebuild its new house on the. ruins of the old one and to improve what has not been destroyed. Of course, reconstruction can only be partial as long as the Germans hold Northern France, but partial reconstruction will be enough to infuse the nation with a renowed Vigour and enable it to stand the strain of warfare as long as will bo necessary. , j