PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 72, 18 December 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

A tremendous struggle is under way in Italy, and tho only change disclosed to-day is that the enemy has gained a little ground on thd mountain front between the Brenta and the Piave, at very heavy cost. Since the Italians are defending a vital flank by a, somewhat narrow margin, the position cannot be regarded with careless confidence. On the other hand, they stemmed the enemy's attacks, almost in the area where the contest is now at its height, before they had been reinforced as they now are by FrancoBritish divisions. Before long, also, the ''white truce" of winter is bound to bp : imposed-

The cabled summary of a recent statement by the American Secretary for War suggested that he regarded very seriously the prospect of a great German offensive in the Western theatre. As he is quoted to-day, Mh. Baker takes a somewhat different view. Ho points out that no element in the- situation shows that the Western initiative is passing to Germany, and at the same time- suggests very reasonably that she is bound to regard with apprehension her waning influence in tho East, exemplified in the British invasion of Palestine and occupation of Jerusalem. It seems not at all unlikely that Germany may seek to restore her damaged prestige in Turkey and in tho .Southern Balkans, but such enterprises will not help her in the great effort fhe is supposed to be contemplating in tho Western theatre.

Britain, as Mα. Lloyd Gkoko.e observed in his recent speech, is tue only belligerent nation which )ia& increased its food output during tho. war. This year's harvest, though it fell short of expectations, increased the homo production of food by fMm two to three million tons. His hoped next year to make a similarly large addition to available supplies. Yet the food problem in Britain, as cablegrams point out to-day, is in some respects exceedingly acute, and it is not unlikely that tho Government may bo compelled to resort to rationing. If the position in Britain leaves much to be desired there is somo consolation in the fact that tho position of enemy countrios is infinitely worse.

The Manchester Guardian, <\ newspaper well informed in such matters, recently published an article which stated that thn estimate of ncutra's is that, whereas the 1915 grain harvest in Germany .was roughly 10 per Hint, below tki average and the 1916 harvest 15 per cent, below that of 1915, the pr> Bcnfc harvest will sl?ow a further declino of between 25 and 35 per cent. "According to ono opinion from a

neutral country," it is added, "tho 1917 harvest in Germany, without outside assistance, cannot suffice to cover the requirements of the population for moro than six months. Tho hay harvest has been a fai'ure, the barley crop is very light, and the outlook for tho German _ bee)' drinkers is a poor one. There is nothing that is telling so much on the health and working capacity of tho nation as tho scarcity of fatty foods of every description. There has been a decline in the gold holdings of tho Roichsbank, which are down to the level at which they stood this time two years ago. It is becoming increasingly evident that Germany is faced with tho possibility of .a coal famine in the coming winter'. Fears are also expressed of_ a. new transport crisis. Mineral oils are unfortunately arriving from Rumania in increasing quantities, and Germany is even able to allow' a limited export to the Scandinavian countries, but certainly not enough to render those countries independent of supplies from other sourws. It is computed that there are in force in Germany 892 separate Imperial laws, orders, and proclamations dealing solely with the food supply and with tho control of trade in the ordinary necessaries of life. The authorities display great activity in seeking out and_ punishing evasions of theso regulations, and in tho month of Juno, in Cologne alone, there were 882 prosecutions for offences of this description. There lias been a rovival of unrest amongst tho workers; strikes, have been of more frequent occurrence, and an increase of peace meetings has been reported."

"With regard to Austria-Hun-gary," the same article _ observes, the economic situation is grave. Taking all tho crops together—cereals, fodder, potatoes, roots, vegetables, and fruits—the total yield in Hungary would not be more than a medium one, whilst in Austria Bohemia, Moravia, and Galicia it will bo poor. Tho potato famine still continues in Austria. Tho coal question promises to become extremely serious next winter. As to the warweariness and longing for peace in Austria-Hungary, there .is no room for doubt. In Hungary especially public opinion is convinced cf tho necessity of securing peace." How far these conditions will be modified' as a result of the armistice with Russia is uncertain, but the disorders under which that country is labouring do not improve the enemy's prospects of drawing upon it for food supplies. If tho AustroGermans had been able to secure the cultivation of the territories _ they have occupied their food problems would bo minimised, but it is known that tho terrible inroads made upon their man-power havo seriously restricted their efforts in this direction. Admitting that* the extent to which the enemy may bo able to obtain supplies from Russia is uncertain, it is undoubtedly true that the Allies are vastly better placid to grapple with the food problem.