PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 248, 8 July 1918, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

An attack by tho French between the Oisc and the Aisnc has resulted in the recovery of important ground in the area of the enemy's last offensive thrust and in the capture of more than a thousand prisoners. Tho Italians also arc briskly pursuing the attacks which aim at thoroughly re-establishing a sound dofonsive line, and it is reported to-day that in combined land and sea operations in the coastal zone they nave subjected the enemy to further defeats and added' to their haul of prisoners. The extraordinary feature of the war situation, however, is still the enemy's unexplained _ delay in resuming tho offensive, in spifce of his obvious incentives to act with all possible speed. It is assumed that he is perfecting preparations for a formidable onslaught, but meantime ho is suffering appreciable damage in local battles, and it is even more important that he is suffering an increasing eclipse in the realm of aerial warfare. From this time forward American aeroplanes will be sent to tho front in increasing numbers, and there is every likelihood that the Allies will rapidly develop their existing superiority and that they will carry the war into Germany with more and more damaging effect. Ono of to-day'o messages mentions that during last week_ the enemy lost tivo thousand men in prisoners alone, and that 179 German aeroplanes wero brought down, as against 36 Allied machines missing. With aerial squadrons taking an increasing effective part, in actual battle as well as in bombing the enemy's communications and depots of supply} it would appear that aerial developments alone supply him with a powerful motive for attacking with all his power before conditions are turned still more to his disadvantage.

A cablegram stating that President Wilson's future course towards Russia will be largely governed by the recommendations* of the Supreme War Council is closely followed by tho news that that body urgently recommends intervention. As a whole the reports on the subject as yet in hand arc un-

official, find the lumling of. British, French, Japanese, and American marines Jit Vladivostok docs not necessarily mean that intervention, in any serious souse of the word, has been decided upon. .But in view of tho known development of events it seems by no means unlikely that thu American Government has reconsidered its past attitude in the matter, and is seriously thinking of intervention. Its consent to this course would probably settle the whole question, so far as a definite test of the possibilities of assisting and promoting reorganisation in Russia is concerned. Intervention seems to be amply justified in view of the helpless condition to which Russia is reduced and her consequent inability to resist German penetration and exploitation. The practical difficulties of the enterprise, and its possibilities, will depend very much upon tho spirit in which the Allied advances are met by the people it is desired to benefit. American participation will bo commonly accepted as a guarantee that nothing in tlfe nature of military domination of Russia is contemplated by the Allies, but the guarantee is lioeded rather to create confidence in the minds of the Russian people than on any other ground. It may be taken for granted that the- Allies have no thought; of undertaking an ordinary military expedition in Russia. If intervention is practicablea comparatively small military force will suffice- to maintain order and to create the conditions in which it will be possible to render Russia the economic assistance of which she stands so greatly in need. The whole-hearted co-operation of at any rate a considerable section of the Russian people is essential to success, and the enterprise at best; can only develop gradually. But since one great cause of Russian disintegration has been the absence; of a stable central authority it seems by no means impossible that by providing a nucleus and gathering centre for the orderly section of tho population the Allies may set the forces of restoration and reconstruction in motion at first in Eastern Siberia and afterwards farther afield. As it can be envisaged at present the task is rather that of reconciling contending factions and defeating enemy intrigue than that of opening an ordinary military campaign. It has been suggested that the force landed in Siberia need -not consist of more than two or three divisions, which would include a large proportion of railway and other engineers to engage in various activities' of reconstruction. It is natural that the bulk of this force should be provided by Japan, though it is, of course, very desirable that as far as , possible all the Allied Powers should be represented in the expedition.

The somewhat theatrical protest of the Socialists in the German Reichstag, and their demand for "a clear statement on peace" are probably made with the full approval of the Government. Scheideman'n (now a. Court functionary) and his friends and supporters have made it quite clear that they are in all essentials the obedient servants of the Pan-German faction, and it would bo f oolish to regard their latest outburst as anything else than the second act of a peace offensive in which the first acf; was played by von Kuhljiann. It is fairly safe to predict that they will not press tho demand for a ''clear statement on peace," for .their aim at all times has bceii not to weaken their own Government, but to weaken and divide opinion in Allied countries.