PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 8, 4 October 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

. A survey of the war outlook by fcho Berlin Mor/jen- I'ost is not withoufc interest, for it is one of the most definite confessions of Germany's desperate plight that has ever como from Germany, lhe Uorgen I'ost considers that the only remedy for the situation in which Germany is now placed is a ruthless offensive, and it advocates that line of action on the ground that in spite of great sacrifices demandjd it would be more humane than i long backward and forward movement, and that "wo must convinco the enemy that we are victors. These details call for very little consideration. In spite of the state ot affairs on the Eastern front, the Allies have been making definite ind unbroken progress towards their goal for a long time past, and Sermany, instead.of being victorLous is very obviously defeated and it bay. It is not unlikely, however, that a powerful party in Germany Eavours a last desperate bid for victory, and it is even possible. thai its view may prevail. There is no room for doubt as to what the fate sf another German offensive in the Western theatre would be. Organised as the Allies now are, such a move would play directly into their bands. But, bad as her prospects are- from this point of view, Ciprnany has no attractive alternative in sight. Failing to improve' her position now she certainly cannot jope to do so when the strength of America, is added to that of I'ranee ind Britain. To the men who made the war, and to whom defeat would spell the destruction of their power, oven the most hopolcss effort to avert defeat may seem preferiblo to existing conditions and the wnditions that are in near pr,osaect. Thev may be influenced also oy doubts as to whether they will DC able much longer to keep the 3erman population and armies in jontrol, and still more by doubts in regard to the continued adhesion if their allies. It is, of course, possible that the enemy newspaper quoted is merely indulging in bombast with a view to moral effect in Sermany, but if it has spoken with authority or at the bidding of authority its utterance must stand as i damaging confession. An otteniive against the Western Allies at Ms stage of the war would be the inal act of Germany's madness. An jssertion that a ruthless offensive is lior only hope of bettering her listing situation is a confession ;hat she cannot face the prolongation of the war. It is a striking departure from the confidence once jxpressod in Hilndenbueo 3 iron front," and in Germany's ability x> withstand attack as long as ■night bo necessary. *** * , The position in Flanders shows io material change, but to-day s reports'make it perfectly clear that ;he enemy's recent counter-attacks iavo involved a prodigal sacrifice )f lives and have utterly failed to ichievo their intended purpose. Abortive enemy attacks are report)d also on the French front. Aclounts given by correspondents of ;he conditions ruling m l< landers nakoit evident that the enemy s in imminent expectation oi iuriho'r attack in that quarter. *** . * A still more extraordinary statenent on the submarine campaign ,han was transmitted a few days igo is attributed to Lord Nokthjliffb In urging that the United States must adopt strong measures ;o meet the U-bbat menace and proxjet its convoys, ho is, of course, >n unassailable ground, but the assertion that "there is no real de ; 4se in the total Allied .sinkings s in conflict with official state* nents on this point. Apart from he Admiralty returns, and statenents by Mr. Lloyd OfcoßOß which iavo been quoted recently, Dr. Admboh (Minister of s reported to-day as saying: We iave mastered submarine ruthlessless and have been doing especially veil lately." As to the statement Sibuted to Lord Nohthcliffe hat he believed Germany had estabished a submarine base on tta French coast, it is perhaps an effort ,f imaginative American ]ournaism- -; ■ » * .. ' Accobdino to a Bfluter message, ■to number of Turks taken prisoner n the rccent,battle on tho Buphrites was 13,000, tfut doubt is casj lT )on this return by other messages, Lof them official, which sho* hat the number of prisoners thus ar counted is 3800. It is indicated, that the latter numbe, E 6 Tot fully -cover the captures effected.