PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 27, 26 October 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Tim activities reported to-day on tho Italian front are perhaps chiefly notable as indicating tho ox-

trcmc anxiety with which the enemy regards the existing ; state of affairs in that quarter. In spite of the tremendous strain to which they aro subjected in the Western theatre, the Germans havo contrived to send reinforcements to Austria, and it is stated that tho Italians are faced also by practically the whole strength of tho Austrian armies. At timo of writing • a claim- by the Germans that they have captured Italian positions on tho Bainsizza Plateau and on sections of the front further north and taken some thousands of prisoners is neither contradicted nor denied. The latest Italian communique in hand states that a developing enemy attack was brought to a stand by bad weather, and. German official reports have be-' come so unreliable that tho specimen under notice must be regarded meantime with'extreme suspicion. * * * »

i Though there secim to be no doubt | that the enemy lias made his prei parations on a formidable scale, tho Italians should be well able to defeat whatever attack ho may develop. The enemy's object, according to a correspondent at Italian Headquarters, is to compel the Italians to abandon the Bainsizza Plateau, and fall on the .Isonzo. This statement assumes that the purpose in view is essentially defensive, and that the enemy is prepared to incur heavy sacrifices for the sake of as far as possible restoring tho Austrian defensive line, which the Italians have deeply penetrated. In thi/ enterprise tho

Ausfcro-Germans aro in" the first placo, by the near approach of winter. Indcedf the news was cabled recently that winter had made a premature appearance in the high country which now promises to become the scene of : active operations. Apart from tho factor' of weather, which is certainly not unimportant in the mountain country, the Italians are posted everywhere in formidable positions, which they have laboured untiringly to strengthen and to provide with convenient lines of supply. At an early stage of tho war they captured.commanding positions in the Tolmino region, including'the towering peak of Monte Nero, and have since held them continuously. Further south they are so posted that the enemy,, even if he made headway in attack, would have to deal with T <mge behind range of powerful defences.

In their summer offensive the, Italians advanced across the Bainsizza Plateau, north of Gorizia, to a depth of four miles on a front of twelve miles. At the southern end of'tho plateau they captured tho dominating height of Monte Santo and gained a footing on the slopes of Monto San Gabriello, which is a vital pillar of tho enemy's remaining defences in this region. It is on the Bainsizza, Plateau and the area to the south that the Austrian lino is most dangerously threatened, and here, as elsewhere, the Italians arc strongly established. They. had_ no sooner advanced across tho Bainsizza Pla- - teau than tlioy set to work energetically to establish adequate communications. A correspondent who visited the battle area in early September declared that very soon the transport question _ would present no more difficulties. "Rock-.! drills and road mctal-crushcrs," ho remarked, "arc hard at work, and the valleys and ridges arc alive .with an army of workers. Very soon there will bo no lack of roads.' Taking account also of tho fact that tho Italian troops on tho battlefront are backed-, ty ample reserves, and that tho material equipment of the armies lias been progressively improved during the war period, there are substantial, grounds lor holding that' an enemy counteroffensive. if it is attempted, will .open with poor prospects. The general circumstances,_ as has been said, are chiefly suggestive of the enemy s desperate anxiety to restore a desperately-menaced line. Tho tact that Austria has now been granted German reinforcements, which she was denied at a period when Germany was vastly better able _ to spare them, in itself is m the highest degree significant.

The latest return of British shipping losses shows a marked increase on the figures of recent weeks. Seventeen ships over 1600 tons have been accounted for. This is tho highest figure-touchcd for seven weeks. The number of small ships sunk (eight) marks a considerable! increase on tho losses of several preceding weeks. There is no reason to suppose that the increase in losses for tho latest week is due to the introduction of any abnormal feature into the campaign. Fluctuations of. this character have been a feature of tho campaign since April last, but in (he intervening period losses have, upon the whole, very substantially declined.

The latest submarine story comes from a -wrifcer in tlw Daily' Mail, who declares that Germany is building a number of diving cruisers of 6000 to 8000 tons, carrying 8-incli i guns, and capable of cruising round the world. 'There is every reason for regarding these assertions with profound scepticism. The submarine is formidable not on account of its fighting strength, but because it has exceptional powers of concealment. Apart from tho apparently impossible qualities \witli which thev are credited, craft such as the Daily Mail writer describes would bo no more effective -as- instruments of commerce-destruction than submarines of a type which could be constructed much more speedily and at a much smaller, outlay in labour and material.