PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 73, 19 December 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

When German surface raiders attacked a merchant convoy in tho North Sea some weeks ago and sank a number of vessels, it was explained that by a strange fatality tho wireless equipment of the escorting ""Ships was destroyed at first contact with the enemy, and rescue and pursuit were- thus made impossible. Another attack on a convoy is announced to-day by the First Lord of the Admiralty, but in such terms as to suggest that the naval organisation was found wanting at a vital poinb._ The affair in any caso resulted in the loss of a destroyer, four armed trawlers, and six merchant ships, one of them British.' According to Sir Eric Geddes, for some unexplained reason the forces sent by the Com-mander-in-Chief to secure the convoy against attack by surface vessels did not reach the scene of action in time to prevent the convoy's destruction. This certainly implies a failure in organisation, but tho facts have yet to be v clearly established. If such a failure has occurred it is a rare and exceptional event in the history of the Navy's war activities.

A recent announcement that Londoners had been given their first view of a British Zeppelin—a mammoth airship which circled the metropolis at a low altitude—has a bearing upon events like tho German raid in the North Sea as well as upon larger issues. The outbreak of war found the British Navy at many points well prepared, but notably deficient in the matter of scouting equipment. As an instrument of murder and destruction, tho Zeppelin is "a demonstrated failure, but it has great value as a naval scout, and it is, of course, in this character that it has been adopted by the British Admiralty. An adequate fleet of rigid airships would bo a valuable adjunct to the Grand Fleet, and its existence would increase the risks attending enemy raids like that reported to-day. At times, however, conditions of light and weather so favour the raiders that even the most vigilant scouting and patrolling are liable to prove ineffective.

• « • At time of writing thero is no news of events in the land theatres other than Italy, and there no material change in tho situation is disclosed. The prolongation of a practically stationary battle on the Italian front, of courso, tells against tho enemy. The Austro-Germans have every incentive to force the pace, for if they are brought to a halt by winter Italy will gain precious time in which to restore her shaken organisation, but as reports stand they are making no headway. Tho Italians report officially that where the enemy at one point invaded their line between the Brenta and the Piavo the position ultimately "-was re-established to our advantage." It is indicated also that at other points enemy attacks fared badly.

More than twenty thousand aeroplanes are now under construction in America, and it was announced early .in October that the first allAmerican battleplane would soon be sent to Europe. An interesting account of tho progress of tho American aviation programme was given recently by the London Times correspondent at 'Washington. "Contracts," he stated, "have been allotted and work 'is in progress on tho entire number of aeroplanes and motors for which £128,000,000 was provided by the Aviation Bill passed by Congress in July. This called for more than 20,000 aeroplanes. , Tho types of machines now in process of manufacture cover the entire range of training machines, light high-speed fighting machines, and powerful battle and bombing planes of tho heaviest design. The contracts cover an ample number of training machines and embrace many giant battleplanes of a capacity equal to the Caproni, Handley Page, and similar types. The Amorican forces in Franco , will bo amply equipped with aircraft. Tho work of the aviation section has been thoroughly The training of airmen, the building of motors, tho construction oT wings aro proceeding uniformly, so that when tho motors are ready the planes will bo ready, and when the finished aircraft_are ready the airmen and machine-guns will _be available. Within a reasonable time this country will send its first aeroplane to Europe which, from propeller to engine, machine-guns, and camera, will have been made in the United States. Aeroplanes for tho United States are being construct ed both in this country and abroad.' Approximately one-fourth of_ the number immediately needed will bo mado abroad."

"The United States to-day," the correspondent adds, "is in virtual control of many of the materials required for tho manufacture of aircraft both for this Government and the Allies. Steps have already been taken for the conservation and distribution of such materials. The aviation service of the Allies may lay claim to 'an international general staff composed of more than 30 air service experts of tho Allied nations now in Washington on regular duty with the officers of the American Army and Navy and tho numbers of the. Aircraft Production Board. The best ten experts of tho air services of the Allied countries have been lent to this Government in order to aid in getting the American aviation programme under way with the fewest possible mistakes and tho greatest economy of time. There has been a remarkably gratifying response to the call for airmen. The United States has an unlimited supply of young men of courage and sclf-reliancfc, of _ good judgment and decision, for this service, which appeals to tho imagination and patriotism of youth. Today thousands of Americans arc being registered for flying. Several great universities are turning out cadets steadily. Twenty-four flying schools have- been created. Arrangements have also been mado with the Allied countries for tho final training of American cadets on foreign soil. These, men are being trained in American uniforms and will be turned ovor as finished airmen to tho fighting forces in France. American aintnen to-day ai'o training in all tho Allied countries, and many arc undergoing intensive training behind tho battlcfronts. The sending of groat numbers of American airmen abroad and llio acceleration of training preparations at tho flying schools in the United States indicate clearly tho scope- of tho Avia-

fcion Section since hundreds of millions of dollars have been made available for an army of airmen. There is practically no limit to the number of aerial lighters which the United States can and will furnish in the war for democracy. Thereexists to-day the closest co-opera-tion among'tho Allied nations in sending a great aerial fleet above the battlcfronts. When tho American Army moves up to participate, the fighting eyes will be ready. The signal corps and the staff of foreign advisers are well satisfied with the progress made."