PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 137, 27 February 1918, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The tone taken by German newspapers in articles quoted to-day is added to evidence already in sight that the enemy is about to launch a great offensive in the Western theatre, but it is as.difhcultas ever to imagine what lie hopes to gain or accomplish in such an adventure. A very-well-informed English military writer observed recently that according to the best available .information the balance of numerical strength in the Western _ theatre would not be turned against the Allies during .the next six months by more than .250,000 men. at the outside. He added that .the gulf between hiving to force elaboratelyfortified lines and having to defend your own is.immensely greater than an enemy increment oi a quarter of a.million or even half, a million men can span. Numbers apart, the Allies arc infinitely better placed either for defence.or for a continued offensive than at any previous stage of the war. The British hold tho commanding ridges east of Yrires, the Vimy ridge,. and the old Hindenburg'lines near Canibrai. The French are in firm possession- of tho Oraonne plateau, and are much better placed than they _ were at Verdun. All things considered, it is a fairly safe conclusion that if the Germans undertake their threatened offensive their action will ho sincerely welcomed by the Allies, from first to last, in conducting thcii 1 offensive, the Allies have made a. particular point of provoking the enemy to the utmost possible energy in counter-attack. They arc now: promised a counter-attack or series of counter-attacks upon the maximum, scale, and there is every reason to believe that in dealing with them they will advance as definitely towards ultimate victory as. if they were breaking into the German lines.

Another indication of the waning strength of the Ottoman Empire is supplied to-day in tho news that the British forces in Mesopotamia have extended their advance along tho Euphrates. Against slight resistance patrols have penetrated to within ten miles of Hit, that is to say they arc now. about thirty miles west and north of Bamadie, which during the last few months has marked the limit of the British advance westward of Bagdad. The difficulties of an extended advance up the Euphrates towards Aleppo arc hardly likely to bo overcome in the near future, but the line of advance has perhaps assumed increased importance now that the prospect of Russian co-operation in Northern Mesopotamia and in Persia has disappeared. Long and difficult as it is, the Euphrates route is tho. shortest from Mesopotamia, to Aleppo, a highly important enemy base and the point from which his communications branch east into Mesopotamia and southinto Syria.

The right note is struck by Mr. Samuel (Jompers, president of the American Federation of Labour, in replying to an invitation from; the head of the Herman trade unions to discuss peace. Curtly refusing the invitation, Mr. Gompehs adds pointedly: "Either you-smash your autocracy or v/e will smash it for you," This rough-and-ready pronouncement is as effective in its way as the more elaborate statements in which President Wilson has so admirably set out the Allied case, and the -known facts of the situation certainly justify Mr. Gompers in the attitude he has taken up as the leading representative of organised Labour in America. Recent events have done something to discount the impression which was created by the strikes reported in Berlin and in other parts of Germany a few weeks ago, and to deepen a suspicion that they were engineered by the Government with a. view to misleading opinion in Allied countries, or at all events that the importance and significance of the upheavals were., deliberately exaggerated by German propagandists.

There is as much reason to believe that any Labour or Socialist representatives permitted to leave Germany with the object.of discussing peace would do so as agents and instruments of the Government. The overshadowing fact is that there is no sign of effective opposition to the ruthless policy .of the military party, and that for anything that appears to the contrary the German masses .arc regarding with passive toleration, if not with approval, the unopposed extension of the invasion of Russia and the prcpara : tions that arc under way for a renewed offensive in the Western theatre. It is commoniy agreed that the growing - pressure of war conditions makes for ultimate revolt in Germany, but the German workers have yet to show that they are capable of breaking their bonds. An interesting account' of the present attitude of the German working classes' was given not long ago by Herr W.innig, a well-known. Majority Socialist and. trade union leader. According to a report taken by the London times from a German newspaper, he described the German people as displaying very great indifference to the discussion of Parliamentary reform, as absorbed in their cconoihic- troubles, and as recognising that no amount of democracy in the Government can remove the blockade. "L'ut he also says," the report continues,, "that there is now great bitterness about the increasing militarist control of labour. Until a few months ago the necessary'' labour, for the munitions industries was provided by dismissing men from the Army. Such men were compelled to work, and were subject to the provisions of the Auxiliary Service Law, but within these limits they, were 'free citizens.' Since the removal of General Groner from,lllft War Bureau the military authorities have adopted a different practice. They have sent back to the front thousands of the men who had been released, and they have filled their places with soldiers who are merely 'on leave for work.' These measures are considered to be directed against tho trade unions, and to serve the interests only of the employers, while at the same time there is the utmost possible restriction of freedom of speech as regards. Wages ;and Conditions, .of work'. ''"''"''■ '.''".'." "■' ' : •