PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3187, 11 September 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Hopeful views are in favour regarding tho position on the Riga front, and' detail reports show no great change. The Germans state that at a number of points, north of tho Dwina, they have driven the Russians back on positions they arc consolidating, and the Russians report that the- enemy, having crossed the River Aa/is concentrating .his forces under cover of his cavalry. It is suggested that failing better fortune tho-Russians have good prospects of a successful stand on | tho'Pskoff lino. About 120 miles north-east of' tho Dwina and ranging northward to within about JJS miles of the Baltic Coast, there is a great lake measuring- some ninety miles, from north to south. Advancing on Petrograd by the coastal route, as they must do if they intend to enlist the co-operation of their, fleet, tho Germans would have to force tho comparatively narrow defile between the lake and the Baltic coast. It is to a -line covering this defilo that messages.-e----for as the Pskoff line. Assuming that the Russians aro .driven, back so far, the locality will obviously lend itself admirably to a stubborn defence, unless the German fleet contrives to cover the landing ot a force to strike at the Russians, m flank and rear. The determining factor as regards both land and sea operations is likely to bo the spirit in which the Russian forces approach their task. The Russian Dreadnoughts arc heavily outnumbered, but this in itself does not necessarily mean that tho enemy has a simple and easy problem to solve In attacking the coast. Ho tias to reckon not only with the Russian Dreadnoughts, but with torpedo craft, including submarines, mines, and coast defences. If the Russians are now making reasonably good use of their opportunities under Ml heads, an attack on the coast is an enterprise from which the enemy may deem it wise to abstain. lhere are continued rumours 'of naval events in the Baltic, but at time of writing no definite report of an engagement. x # fi No definite development is reported on the Italian front. The Au«trians claim that since August 19 they have oapturod more than 18,000 prisoners on tho Isonzo front-moro than half the number captured by tho Italians in their present offensive—and at time of writing tho claim is uncontradicted, bub this docs not necessarily mean that it is in accordance with the facts. In cive-and-take mountain fighting such as has recently ruled, the Italians have no doubt lost a good many prisoners, but tho Austrians have frequently been conviotcd of gross exaggeration in regard to events on the Italian front and elsewhere.. Up French, as news stands, retain in full tho important gain on the Verdun front reported yesterday, and have repulsed powerful countcr-at-

tacks. Tho British report succe-is-ful local fighting iu a number ci areas and some gain of ground.

News was published in the United States on July 28 that another American contingent had safely arrived at a European port and disembarked. No details regarding the contingent were given, apart from tho fact that it included a sign-il company along with other troops, but apparently it was transported in a singlo steamer. The American Government declined to comment on tho news or to furnish any information, and presumably intends to observe henceforth the same secrecy in regard to tho movements of troops as is observed by other Allied Governments. Somo time ago, however, it was reported qn credible authority that probably the United States would send about 120,000 National Guardsmen to France in the autumn and as many more during the winter. The troops in question had all undergone six months' service and training on tho Mexican border. Writing on July 27, a correspondent with the American: Forces in France supplied some interesting details of the progress made by officers and men in their training. "Tho hard training which the American troops arc- now undergoing," he remarked, "is bringing out a -marked degree • of efficiency in the young officers who but recently joined the Army, having undergone training at Pittsburgh, or at other camps. Regular Army officers, are particularly struck by the enthusiasm with which these men have plunged into their work. They declare that the quality of these officers sets at rest any doubt as to tho high standard of leadership in America's vast new army. The young officers have adapted themselves very quickly to the 1 new conditions met here in training with French instructors, and seem to appreciate fully tho'most minute details. They are exceedingly earnest in their work, and never tire. They; have won unstinted praise from older officers who havo seen years of military service." <

The correspondent quoted the colonel of one of the United States battalions as expressing an opinion, seemingly held by most of the American officers already in Franco, that as many officers from American training camps as can possibly be spared should bo sent to Franco at the earliest possible date, to undergo intensive training in the actual war zone, and also to have experience in the trenches, so that they may bo fitted to act as instructors to ,thc American troops as they arc-land-ed. "There is a feeling," ho continues, "that these young . officers should not bo held in America until the regiments to which it is proposed to assign them are actually formed, but should come in advance Of their regiments, so that they may direct, the final training of thenmen here. Under this plan a certain number of officers would be assigned more or less permanently to training duty in America, and men of the various regiments would pass through their hands for drill in the rudiments -of soldiery, such as the manual of, arms, ordinary marcning tactics, and general setting up instruction. They would then cross the ocean and the regimental staffs would be completed on this side from among tho officers who already had undergone a course of study and training in the ever-changing rules and practices of modem European warfare." , 1 * * * * The American troops, according to the, correspondent, _ havo settled down into the routine of the new training very quickly, and are progressing as rapidly as their officers expected. "The American soldiers, be adds, "have taken naturally to bomb-throwing. They like that part of the daily programmo better than any other. When they are not hurling dummy metal missiles they may bo seen practising with heavy stones, dummy shell holes having been constructed as targets. It is now planned to take both officers and soldiers to the French front in detachments froin time to time, so that they may see and study life in the trenches before they are actually called upon to take their places there. These trips will all be marlo during the training period, and men who have been m the trenches will'instruct other squads in what they saw and learned there.