PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 68, 13 December 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Specific information regarding a recent German overture is supplied 10-day by Mk. Balfour. In September last Germany endeavoured to open a peace discussion with Britain through a neutral diplomatic channel, and apparently the reason that the overture was not followed up was that Britain, as she was in honour and duty bound to do, forthwith laid the'proposal before her Allies. Evidently what Germany desired and hoped for was a separate understanding with Britain. That she thought such an understanding possible affords new proof of her inability; to understand that she occupies a moral plane to which other nations are not prepared to desccnd. Possibly Germany hoped by agreeing to evacuate Belgium to secure a modification of other Allied demands. In any case, her overture was an open confession that her leaders are much less confident than they publicly pretend. The measure of success gained in Italy will hardly give them the confidence they lack. Neither will late developments in Russia, for these were in fairly clear prospect when the overture to Britain was made. * * * * An encouraging account is given by Sir Leo Chiozza Money of the progress of British shipbuilding ill comparison with losses by submarine attack. Up to the end of November only seven standardised ships bad been launched and put into service. Yet in November the total amount of new tonnago completed came within measurable distance of balancing the losses by enemy attack. Since nearly all the tonnage built in November consisted of vessels to which methods standardisation had not been applied, the position disclosed is of good promise. The construction yards are being rapidly cleared of other than standardised ships, and already many standardised ships are Bearing completion. This moans that the output of new shipping will increase rapidly in the near future until the maximum output possible under methods of standardisation is reached. Clearing the yards of ships built under tbe old methods and making tbo necessary preparations for the uniyersal application of standardisation has necessarily been a slow process, but from this time forward the fruits of the enterprise will be reaped. 1 * * * *

One of the numerous measures taken by the Allies to defeat the submarines consists of the development of listening devices. On this subject the Paris Matin recently quoted a high French naval authority as observing: "Our .submarine listening microphones have been perfected to a .degreo which we would never have ventured to hope for only a few weeks ago—a progress which is proved by the rewards bestowed by the Minister of Marine on the brilliant officers, Lieutenants Broglie, Formmaget, and Walser, who have so successfully devoted themselves to such inventions. Once they are supplied with these devices all ships will soon be able to recognise the presejioc of a submarine, its distance, and its direction, and can then manoeuvre so as to avoid it, while, on tho other hand, the gunboats and scouting vessels can at the same time take-up the pursuit. That is why tho British Naval authorities are confident. And we, too, have good grounds for ho.pe."

News available at the time of writing records no important development in the main theatres, but there is oxccllent news from the Cambrai front. For the time at least, instead of pursuing their counter-offensive, tho Germans are endeavouring to construct a. defensive line, in unfavourable ground, facing tho excellent lino t\iey havo lost, and in all respects under, heavy disabilities.

A CIRCUMSTANTIAL account is givon to-day of the barbarous murder of General Dukhonin, tho brave Russian commandor, whose "crime" was that ho had refused to enter into dishonourable negotiations with the enemy. The wild disorders into which the Revolution has degenerated present no blacker feature than tho martyrdom of a legion- of gallant officers. "Shameful death, 'insult, unmerited opprobrium," a London Times correspondent at Petrograd wrote not long ago, "were the lot of brave men who wore the Russian uniform. The Navy was as bad as tho Army. Wholesale slaughter of officers took place at Kronstadt at Helsmgfors. But death was preferable to the ignominy which naval officers have had to endure —and still suffer—• under the committee system. The infantry having sustained the bulk of tho casualties during tho war the standard of efficiency natural!v had I declined, and in this arm the officers lived through a particularly trying ordeal. Perhaps Russians are tho only people that could have siroultaneously afforded such extreme examples of baseness and heroism as did the misguided seamen and soldiers on tho one side and.their officers on tho other. Yet they had been associated in many a gallant light, and it would be a mistake ta lose confidence in the revival of these glorious traditions when the days of indiscipline come to an end. Under the committee system the officer had no power over his men. He could lead them if they chose to follow, and at the worst he could attack jingle-handed until a bullet from the enemy or from his own men laid him low. Many died in this manner. In the Navy it waa worse. The officer had to take his ship whither and whensoever his committee thought fit. Now if it could be so ordained that tho committees should include only brave, honest, and enlightened men, we might entertain some argument as to the possible merits or demerits of the system. But in practice it has been the smooth-tongued sycophant that has invariably ruled the committee. When Prikaz No. 1 destroyed discipline and brought tho committee system into tho Army, it was fondly hoped by M. Gutciikoff, then Minister of War, that things would gradually right themselves. But tho Soviet intended otherwise. A "Declaration of Soldiers' Rights' was drafted, to legalise and even to intensify the disorder caused By Prikaz No. 1. Rather than sign _it M. Gutchkoff resigned. When this final blow to discipline was delivered over M. Kerensky's signature General Alexieff declined to remain at the head of the armies in tho. field. For a similar reason Generals Gurko, Leciiitsky, Radico-Dmit-rieff, Draoomiroff, and many others resigned their commands."