PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 25, 24 October 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Two highly important announcements in regard to tho submarine .campaign -wero made by Mb. Lloyd George in tho coiirsc of the Albert Hall speech, which is reported to-day. Ho stated that "our monthly shipping losses are now not much over one-third tho losses recorded in April." During April, tho worst month of the submarine campaign, Britain lost 550,000 tons of shipping, so that Mil. Lloyd George's statement meams that monthly losses have now been brought down to something less than 200,000 tons. This loss, like that recorded for April, is in part made good by new construction. Much the most important fact disclosed by Mr. Lloyd Georgb relates, however, to the anti-submarine campaign* He made the arresting announcement that more than three times as many enemy submarines have been accounted for this year than during the whole of last year. This at once emphasises the magnitude of tho enemy's underwater effort and tho success of tho measures taken to defeat it. It will be remembered that a few weeks ago tho British Naval authorities were quoted as stating that during the past quarter more submarines had been destroyed than in any previous quarter. It tlms appears that the rate at which the U-boats are being destroyed has not only increased during this year to tho extent stated by the British Prime Minister, but is still increasing. Taking account of the simultaneous decline in shipping losses, tho outlook is decidedly improving. In regard to the construction of new tonnage Mr. Lloyd George is reported to have said that Britain would build tour times as much shipping in 1918 as.in 1916 (when the output was 538,000 tons). Some time ago he was credited with tho statement that Britain would add four, million tons to her mercantile marine in 1918. Ihis was perhaps an error in tiansmis sion, but the. statement reported today pointing to an output ot slightly over two million tons m 1918 looks liko a conservative estimate of prospects for that year. It is anticipated that Britain will this year build 1,884,000 tons of new mercantile shipping (apart from <130,000 tons to be acquired abroad), auct with the development of standardised construction it should be possible to considerably improve on tins achievement in 1913. 4f i J Available reports from Flanders describe a limited but successful Allied attack on that part ot the front which extends across low country west of the Passchendaele Ridec and facing tho forest ot Houthulst. All the lighting as yet reported occurred considerably north-west of tho sector occupied by the Now Zcalandcrs. The ' joint of the Franco-British line lies south of the forest, and the trench and British troops attacked simultaneously. Progress was made at several points, and in the latest fighting reported enemy countei-at-tacks wero sanguinarily defeated. Matters are left at this point at the moment of writing, but a tremendous intensity of aerial attack on aerodromes, depots, and communications behind the enemy lines is to be added to other'indication-, that more extended operations are in near prospect; bin DOUGLAS Haig mentions' that Australian air scn'adrons which have hitherto been in "training have commenced active work, and "have already proved themselves worthy of the high opinion formed of them on arrival. **" * .

The Germans have made their expected landing on the mainland ot Esthonia, hut 111 what forcc lias yet to !bc disclosed. The Worder Peninsula, mentioned as the scene oi the landing, « a small P™ m °" l °s hitting into Molin bound. All leant messages have gone to show tint the Russian naval forces offe - ed a splendid resistance to the greatly superior squadrons by which attacked. If the spirit is displayed by the ami forces, the enemy wnl bs apt to make slow progress jn Ins opoi .itipi.s against the Hank of the Russian line. An interesting detail 111 one of the Russian official reports is the statement that a British submaricc in the Gulf ofßiga nttnwcd an encniv Dreadnought- (with results not disclosed) and sank a transpoit. This was particularly daring work in viow of the strong force 0 re?trn»ers nnd other mobile craft the enemy has at command.