PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 21, 19 October 1917, Page 4

Various indications have been given that aerial attacks at long range and in heavy force will take an important place in the Allied winter offensive. Evidence of the apprehension with which the enemy regards the prospect is given today in the suggestions oi German newspapers that attacks on open towns arc unwise. The Munich Post carries the matter so far as to demand an agreement amongst all belligerents that open towns shall be spared. This is a remarkable change from the tone in which German newspapers jubilated over the bombing of London by trie Zeppelins, and later by aeroplanes. However, it is unlikely that the Allies will ever attack the residential areas of open towns unless in the way of direct reprisal. ■ Apart from their attacks upon the enemy's purely military. establishments and his communications, they wilf find an ample target in the manufacturing centres of Westphalia and elsewhere, which have developed into enormous

hives of war industry. Alleged particulars are given to-day of some of the latest German aeroplanes, but reports of this kind rest on doubtful authority. A more trustworthy account of what Britain is doingin preparation for an aerial offensive on a big scale was given in Land and Water some time ago by Mr. £. Percy Noel. He was permitted by the Admiralty to travel as a passenger on the trial voyago of a now.giant aeroplane, and th 6 result of Sis observations was to convince him that "the aeroplane of the type most suitable for carrying the war into the heart of Germany _ is ready." He declared his conviction that the employment of the big 'plane "in magnificent numbers" as long distance artillery in Germany was only a question of months (this was written in July).

Naturally Mr. Noel gave a guarded description of the big aeroplane, but ho stated that though it carried a load of. several tons, it travelled faster than any aeroplane regularly employed by the Allies during the first year of war. "It is provided," ho added, "with two engines of the maximum , power known to successful air engineering. The wing-spread is so expansive that eighteen fully-sized men could lie along the 'planes head to heel, and any one of them might walk on the ground the lower piano without bumping his head. It has flown with twenty-five- people aboard as easily as with three." The big Gotha biplane used by tho Germans in bombing London has a wing-spread of 72 feet. From" Mr. Noel's description it will be seen that tho British machine exceeds this measurement by thirty feet or more. The Gotha is driven by two engines, each of 250 horse-power, and a report to-day states that on a new typo .of machine the Germans are installing two 2GO-horse'-power engines. Months ago Dr. Addison, when lie was Minister of Munitions, stated that 350-horse-power engines had been produced in Britain, and it is presumably by two engines of at least this power that the aeroplane described by Mr. Noel is driven.

A message shows that the British have definitely embarked on tho enterprise of attacking the enemy in his own territory. Sir Douglas Hais reports that a British squadron, no doubt composed of such machines as have been described, heavily bombed and set on firo an enemy factory westward of Saarbrucken, 40 miles beyond the German frontier. All the British machines returned safely. Saarbrucken lies duo east of Verdun, and the British arc no doubt operating from a base behind the French front. In any case a promising beginning has been made in operations which may be expeoted to develop on a great scale' and heavily influence the course of the war. Long ago British airmen singly and in small parties operated far beyond the German frontier, but it is something very different that is now in prospect.

j To-day's reports dealing with events in the Gulf of Riga indicate that tho enemy has all but completed his conquest of. that waterway. With Oesel Island' in the enemy's hands, as it now seems to bo, ho is bound to gain complete command of the gulf. It will soon be known whether he intends to extend his operations to the mainland, and, if so, on what seal©. A gloomy estimate of Russia's general prospects in the war is attributed to General Alexieit. Ho even thinks it possible that Russia's collapse may lead to tho interposition of Japan and a demand by that country for territorial concessions at Russia's expense.

I One account of the Kaisbu's mission to tho Near East is that ha is intent upon inducing tho Bulgars to attack General Sarbail. This story is heavily discounted by tho fact that it credits Bulgaria with an effeetivo strength moro than twice as great as she can actually boast. A much moro plausiblo story is transmitted by an Amsterdam correspondent.He declares that the Kaiser's rush to Sofia and Constantinople is duo to information that the Bulgars and Turks oan hardly stand another winter of war. It is very probable that the minor Allies of the Central Powers aro losing faith. At tho same time the Kaisek's tour in itself affords evidence that if Gorman influence in Bulgaria and Turkey is shaken it is not yet overthrown. An extended Allied advance is no more to be expected in the Balkans than in the Western theatre during the winter, but on the, other hand General Sarrail _is much better placed now to resist attack than in. I the davs when Constantine reignedat Athens. Possibilities in Turkey i aro more open, but ,while the Turks have gained some relief in Armenia, General Maude has made a brilliant beginning in Mesopotamia, and Britain has yot to show her hand in Palestine, a theatre which seems likely to\wi tnoss Dig ovents ' n the near future One of the Kaiser's objects mav be to induce Bulgaria to send troops to Turkey, but the Bulgars have at all times shown a marked reluctance to fighting away from home, and are not likely to bo more amenable on this point now than at a timo when Germany's prospects in tho war looked infinitely brighter than they do to-day.

An increase in tho number of small ships sunk, a reduction in the number of larger ships meeting this fate, and total arrivals and sailings muc'h below tho average aro features of tho Admiralty return for tho week which ended on October M. Twelve ships over IHOO tons were sunk as against 14 in the previous week, but the number of smajl ships sunk increased from two to six.