PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 75, 21 December 1917, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

, The position on the Italian front is summed up by a, high military authority as secure, and detail newa shows no reason for dissenting from this verdict. Now that snow is falling in the mountains it seems reasonably probable that operations will settle down on tho present line. It is a stato of affairs which bears witness to the reality of tho Italian recovery, for the enemy lias by no means made the westward progress he seemed likely to when his offensive broke the Italian line on tho Isonzo. Afc that time the possibility was in plain sight that the Italians might bo compelled to retreat to the Adige. Discussing tho possibility of such a retreat soma weeks ago, Colonel Repington pointed out that Italian armies on tho Adige would no longer be exposed to "the standing menace from the mountains which must ever haunt the mind of a commander who fights on the Julian front with the knowledge that the postern gate of Trentino may one day be forced by the enemy upon his rear." The Adige, he added, was the true military frontier of Italy, and the other rivers of Venetia were outpost lines. By withdrawing to the Adige at anv timo during the recent critical weeks the Italians would have gained relief from the worst pressure of the enemy's attacks. But by successfully resisting his onslaught on an exposed flank as well as b'etwoon the mountains and tho sea they have saved a wide expanse of territory and a number of ancient cities from invasion, and have limited tho task to be accomplished whin they are again in a position to take the offensive. At all events, the onomy's prospects of compelling the, Italians to retreat to their ultimate line of defence now seem poor *#* # l A state of quiet is reported in the Western theatre, but how long it will last is a very open question! Conditions of ground and weather at present oppose less serious obstacles to active operations tlian the conditions which obtained in the battles of tho early winter in Flanders, and a sudden movo on one side or the. other is by nn means unlikely. It will be noticed that a United Press correspondent speaks of the reigning lull as one the reason for which is not immediately apparent. A high military authority observes that the enemy, having increased his forces, may initiate an attack. This is perhaps rathor a taunt than an expression of opinion, fnr the authority n'.so remarks that in snite rif his accretions r.f strength from Russia, the enemy is still a long way behind the superior English and French forces.

Is Russia the Ukrainian Uada has defied the Boishnviki, and the lattnr havo rofiortod by declaring war. There arc further reports also that Siberia is li'<elv to become a senurate State. Evidences are nnilfciiilyinc; that Uussia is in serious danger of breaking up under internal sti-ftfis. The danger is undoubtedly

real, and lms long been foreseen. Meantime, Germany's prospects of. reaching a stable agreement with Russia are not improving, nor is there any visible likelihood of conditions arising which would cnablo. her to dispense with a military screen covering her Eastern fron-