PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 195, 7 May 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

There is no confirmation at timo of writing of a report received yesterday which indicated that the enemy had resumed his attack upon the ridge held by the Allies in Southern Flanders. Tho present absence of detail news is inconclusive, but whatever, the position may be in this particular area there arc no grounds for assuming that the enemy has any thought ,of slackening in ihc prosecution of his offensive. _ Tho very facts which enable tho Allies to look ahead with confidence supply the enemy with a powerful incentiveto press his attacks with all possible vigour. On present appearancos the peace offensive foretold by Lord Kobert Cecil is likely, if it takes shape, to synchronise with violent military efforts.. (such a move on the part of the war lords would nevertheless supply a convincing indication of failing confidence. So long as they expect to gain their ends in battlo they haveno need to resort to a peace campaign with a view to influencing either-their own population or the people of Allied countries. As a writer in the Frankfurter Zeitung observed somo time ago, "political bluff without a decisivo military victory is quite senseless, and in the long run positively injurious." He added candidly that if the Germans had this decisive victory they would gladly do without the war-aid of policy. His further remarks arc interesting as an exposition of tho principles of the peace offensive from the German point of view: "Tho precise, object of our political method is to make, the 'bluffing' of our enemies with Ministerial speeches and senseless break-through battles impossible through tho fact that we open wide the doors to peace —so wide that one day, in spite of all agitation, tho. majority of the Entente people v/ill be disposed to march through tho open door with us, with or without their present leaders. A reasonable peace offer, which is accompanied by good military blows, and which cannot therefore seriously be misinterpreted— "such a peace offer, and such a peace policy, has an enormous attractive strength, a magnetic energy which in the long run no people can resist, if at the same timo the hope of final victory through physical forco is terribly destroyed. This is tho position in which tho Entente stands to-day. It is true that we have not thrown them to the ground, but their own high-flying plans arc arorfar from realisation as ever. The peoples are beginning to doubt. The psychological process has begun. This is where our peace policy intervenes. The offer of a peace tolerable also to our enemies gnaws at their hearts, multiplies their doubts, and paves the way to understanding. They arc facod with the decision and their own troubles and their own failures gradually forego our enemies into tho path of peace."

* * * * The Frankfurter Zeituwj writer is cat pains to explain that the "psychological process" which aims at creating a peace sentiment in Entente countries holds no dangers for Germany. It would lead, he observes optimistically, to negotiations, and then Germany would reap the fruits of her military successes. "Nobody among us doubts," lie adds, "that in our general situation the military advantages far outweigh the political disadvantages. The fear in the Entente Stales of the conclusion of peace affords the best proof. Our military and political leaders, the directors of the Empire, with the Kaiser at their head, would not have joined together in the peace policy of the Central Powers if thcydid not know that our vital- necessities were absolutely secured in this peace policy.

Have no fear! The readiness for peace is of itself no sign of a. weak position. Tim decisive (actors which determine the nature of the peace lie in the -actual situation, in our hands, in our reserves, and in the increasing pressure of our submarines. In spile, of many entries on the wrong side of tho account, the situation is favourable for us, and that will be proved in the days of negotiation." It is no doubt very much in this spirit that the enemy is again developing or contemplating a peace campaign, but so long as they retain ordinary sanity the Allies will not regard such advances otherwise than with unmeasured contempt.

Late messages, though they arc brief, make it clear that no big infantry battle has yet opened on the Flanders front. There have been local battles, and in one of them, according to a correspondent, the Allies advanced their line between Locro and Dranoutrc, that is to say, in tho valley separating Mont Keiiimel from Mont Rouge, to a depth of five hundred yards on a front of a thousand yards. The area is ono in which the enemy strove desperately to push forward during Monday's battle. At the moment of writing there is no news from Italy.