PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3183, 6 September 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

An optimistic view of the situation created by tho collapse of the Russian resistance on tho Dwina front is taken by Colonel Shumskv, the military expert of the Potrograd Bourse Gazette, who is at present in London. His survey is interesting, not bo much on account of the detail factors which he adduces as making a German advance on Petrograd this year impossible, as beckuse it embodies tho opinion of one who is presumably in a position to speak with authority that the Russian armies, though demoralised, are not likely to reach a state of complete collapse. His opinion is supported for the time being by detail news of events on tho Riga front, and by the aspect of affairs in other parts of tho Eastern theatre. It ie shown that some of the Russian troops gallantly resisted the enemy's advance, and indeed it is not clear that the Germans have yet occupied that part of Riga which stands east of the Dwina. At best, , they are in a fair way to complete their capture of the town, but apparently they arc meeting a more powerful resistanco than earlier reports indicated. They claim to-day the capturo of thousands of prisoners and 150 guns on the Riga front. The only other success they report at time of writing is the capture of a hill south-west of Czcrnowitz.

Bad as it is, the situation does not wholly lack redeeming features, and these are indicated in Colonel Shumsky's statement. An advance on Petrograd is not in visible prospect, and no doubt is impossible unless the Russian armies give the invader an open and unimpeded road. It is more important that existing circumstances in Russia seem to offer the enomy no great opportunity of improving his general situation. According to Colonel Shumsky the Anglo-French offensive has attracted 160 German divisions to the Western theatre. If his figures are accurate, tho Allies have been successfully developing their offensive in recent weeks with nearly threequarters of Germany's total strength opposed to them. At tho same time, Austria has been compelled to transfer divisions from tho Eastern to the Italian front, and s? hiur lengthened the front apportioned to _ tho reduced number of German divisions now detailed to act against tho Russians. # # Short of <in absolute collapse ot tho Russian armies, the enemy should bo badly placed either to develop an offoneivc in .the Eastern theatre or to transfer further forces from that area for.jsorvico elsewhere. It is to be noted, however, that the latest nows of tJio political situation in Russia, which has an immediate bearing on the condition ot the armies at tho front, is not promising The "international element, it is stated, still outweighs the patriotic element, and opposition to the forces which make for the restoration of order and discipline is apparently not declining. 'The approaching,, winter will impede the enemy in any offensivo ne may attempt, but it will also bring hardships and privations, resulting from food shortage and other causes, which will be heavily accentuated by the prevailing disorganisation and will seriously increase the difficulties of the Provisional Government and the Army commanders.

In one of two air raids on England reported to-day, the majority of the victims were members of the British naval forces. Without details, this fact would hay© implied, that the enemy had achieved some success in a definite attack on a military objective. Official reports show, however, that the raid was made at night, and thatmost of the naval men who wero killed or injured met their fate as the result of a chanco-directed bomb striding a barracks. From the facts supplied the Germans appear to have adhered to their customary tactics of flying at a great height and not venturing to closely approach their target. Another raid, in , which some of the enemy machines contrived to reach London, is reported in a late message, but at time of writing no details arc supplied.