PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 132, 21 February 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Whatever may bo the nature and scope of the Gorman offensive in fcho West when the blow is actually delivered, tho enemy at presant can have no reason to complain that his intention to strike has rcooived inadequate advertisement. From various sources on the Allies' sido rocontly have come announcements of "a terrific offensive," "a colossal bat-tle,"-"a supremo effort," "a final thrust," to quote some of tho phrases used in the dispatches from the war zone. "At any moment," says Mr. Philip Gibbs to-day, "we may see the beginning of the enemy's' last desperate effort to end the war by a decisive .victory." Router's correspondent at British. Headquarters quotes Von Hindenbueq as saying to a deputation of editors: "I shall bo in Paris by the First of April"— an auspicious date for a German disappointment! All this trumpeting and heralding of Wie German nufht is liable to create a falso perspective in the minds of unthinking people, who may conceivably be led into tho apprehension that, the Germans may possibly achieve, in the West what they partly accomplished in Italy, The facts of the situation point in the opposite direction. It must be remembered that tho Germans have never yet scored a military success against an antagonist who has challenged them on anything like equal odds. Indeed, the Ypres battles furnish illustrations of the fact that even with apparently overwhelming odds in their favour tho Germans cannot break the British. At Verdun in 1916 a terrific avalanche of men and metal was hurled at the French* line. The French Army reeled from the shock of the blow, but its line never broke. Verdun was saved. Lost ground was subsequently recovered. What is the position of Britain and France in tho Western lino to-day? Stronger, wo are assured, than ever they have been before, and receiving from their great Ally on the other sido of the Atlantic thousands of fresh and vigorous troops week by week.

It would be foolish, of course, to ridicule or depreciate the intentions of the enemy at this stage of the conflict in the West. The German armies on that front, by reason of the Russian collapse, are at their maximum as regards numerical strength and weight of metal, but their morale is on the ebb. The West front for the Germans has long been a nightmare of terrifying horror, intense discomfort and excruoiating suffering. Every German soldier who rises to the advance in this coming offensive will know that he is about to enter a living- hell. German regiments have mutinied when ordered to Flanders. Compare this spirit with the valour of the British, at Ypres, the Canadians at Virny, the New Zealanders at Passchendaole, the Australians at Bullecourt, the French at Verdun and the Ohemin-dcs-Dames. It is the will to win. * * *■ # Eeuter's correspondent who quotes Von Hindenbukg as saying: "I will be in Paris by the First of April," also refers to certain manifestations of a new internal crisis in Germany. "The domestic situation in Germany," he says, "is now creating internal excitement, causing pressure to lie brought to bear on the _ militarists, who aro forced to pacify tho people." Von Hindenbukg's alluring promise was given in reply to a statement by his interviowers that there would be no food in Germany by next May. If the internal situation in Germany is so, it is a poor inspiration for the troops at the front. A further causo oi discontent is the breakdown, of tbo negotiations at Brest Litovsk. For a time it looked as if Germany had got the burden of the' Russian front off her mind. She is now committed to an offensive which may be) attended with, unexpected complications. If tho Bolsheyiki decido to fight they will join issue with a unanimity of purpose which will provide a now experience for the Germans on tho Russian front. Fortunately for the Germans, tho Bolshevik- authorities are at present more than fully occupied with their internal problems, the chief of which is that of thoir continued existent* as' tho dominant political power in Russia.

Nevertheless, the Germans are tied to that front, and it follows, therefore, that a definite limit can be fixed to their resources in the West.

The news from .Russia to-day discloses no developments of material import. The- fact emerges, however, that the Ukraine settlement is very far from being an accomplished fact. So far as pen, ink, and paper could do it, the Ukraine Itada made peace with Germany. The Rada's supporters aro now faced with the task of sustaining their new role of political independence in the face- of Bolshevik opposition, and to judgo from the war dispatches to-day this will be no light matter. Extraordinary stories have reached England of tho recent fighting between the Bolsheviki on the one side and tho Ukrainians and Cossacks on the other, and taking a line through the various'statements in the Times dispatch, the Ukrainians and tho Cossacks havo had decidedly the worst of it. Tho situation in Petrograd has reached a state of complete anarchy and chaos. Food is scarce, robberies and murders of common occurrence. Meanwhile, the Germans have taken Dyinsk, in tho north, and the Austrians have captured Lusk in the south. According to a Russian offioial message Lenin and Trotsky have protested against the German invasion while the Russian Army was being demobilised. (It was stated some days ago that tho Bolshevik demobilisation order was cancelled shortly after its issue.) The Council of the People's Commissaries has now been forced ■ to declare its willingness to sign a peace on tho conditions dictated by the enemy at Brest Litovsk.

Mr. Lloyd George has delivered his promised statement to tho Houso of Commons in explanation of tho difficulty wbicb led to tho resignation of Sin. William Robertson from tho eontrol of the Imperial General Staff. At the time of writing only the cabled report of Mr. Asquith's speech, commenting on tho Prime Minister's explanation, has come to hand, Mr Lloyd George's remarks having been delayed in transit. From the tenor of Mr. Asquith's remarks 'it is evident that the Prime Minister's explanation of the status of the Council of Versailles was considered to be a satisfactory statement of the case. Further comment is deferred pending the arrival of the remainder of the roport.