PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 238, 26 June 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

The speech by Mn. Lloyd George which is reported to-day is noteworthy not only as a general survey of the war situation, but as the first comprehensive statement on the subject of Allied and enemy strength which has been made with authority since tho Germans opened their offensive. The British Prime Minister states in the first place that on March 21 the contending forces were nearly equah He adds that new factors since introduced make an. up-to-date computation impossible, but that the Americans arc arriving at a great rate and that he will be surprised if in a comparatively short time- the Allies are not stronger than the Germans. As a whole, Mit. Lloyd George's observations in regard to numerical strength apply apparently to the forces which are and will be available on either side in Franco and Flanders, and do not extend to Italy • or to the other theatres. It is in regard to the likelihood that the Allies will before long exceed the enemy in strength that he is most definite. As to the earlier points he makes, it seems likely that though they opened their offensive in a strength approximately equalling that of the Allies, tho Germans

were for a time in a position to bring up reinforcements at a greater rate, mainly, no doubt, by the transfer of troops from llussia to the .West front. It is probable also that tho Allies were influenced by their knowledge of this fact, as weli as by lack of faith in the tactics upon which the enemy has based his j remaining hopes, in deciding to stand for a time on the defensive. The enemy may for .a limited time retain the advantage of being able to bring reinforcements to bear at a greater rate than the Allies, more especially as the American troops now pouring into France cannot at once become available. But Mr. Li,oyd George makes it plain that short of the intervention of factors now unforeseen whatever margin of superiority the enemy still retains will speedily be overtaken. To the extent that his observations throw light upon the much-discussed but obscure question of relative strength they tend to justify his general expressions of confidence and his belief that the Allies have excellent prospects of repelling the formidable attack the enemy is expected to launch on the West front in the near future.

The Austrian defeat imposes a new though as yet unmeasured drain on Germany's strength which is likely to seriously affect her dispositions in the Western theatre and to hasten the day on which she will face the French, British, and Americans in inferior strength. J|; is obvious that tho war lords have every possiblo incentive to attack with all the oowcr at their command with a minimum of delay, and no doubt tho effort .against the FrancoBritish _ armies which is assumed to be imminent will be correspondingly desperate. But the outlook from Germany's point of view is certainly nat promising.

There is little in the detail events of the Austro-Italian campaign reported at time of writing which calls for remark. Ifc is. however, a striking indication of the state to which the Austrian armies have been reduced that they have attempted no offensive on the mountain front, where they enjoy so many advantages of position, with a view to relieving Italian pressure on their comrades retreating in,. ; disorder across the Piave. As i;o the nature of the disaster .which has overtaken the Austrian forces on the Piave reports speak for themselves. The war lias witnessed few, if any, examples of more absolute defeat and more terrible carnage. There is no indication that General Diaz contemplates any movement of infantry over and beyond the Piave in the immediate future. Indications are that while taking the- fullest possible toll of the enemy ho is wanly alert to the possibility of having to meet renewed attacks on his mountain front. An Austrian report, which asserts that the retreat across tho river was made ''unobserved" is, of course, intended for home consumption. There is ample and detailed evidence that the retreat was detected in good time,_and that the retiring Answian divisions were not so much harried as slaughtered.