The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1914. PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 105, 26 September 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1914. PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

According to the statement of a prominent American who lias resided in Germany for many years, the British are hated with an intensity bard to describe. It was never supposed that England would be a factor in the fight. The Germans, adds the American, are -working day and night at their naval bases altering merchantmen into transports, and are also working unceasingly on Zeppelins. The bitterness of the feelings of Germans towards the British can easily ba. understood. British intervention has spelt failure instead of victory for the German arms. It has also meant

tho absolmte destruction of her mercantile marine, built up at great exertion and huge cost, and the loss of !ier transmarine possessions. Further, it will mean the drawing of the talons of the German eagles fov all time; at least that is the determination of the British nation and her tAllics, and with it the reduction of the German Empire's status and the transference of her stolen provinces to their rightful owners. The Germans may toil hard and unceasingly in transferring merchantmen into transports, but the probabilities are that instead of conveying German soldiers to Britain they will be conveying British soldiers across the Channel, lor service against Germany—that is, of course, if the transports ever emerge from under the guns of the fortresses where they lie at present iu security. To attack England, they must first meet and vanquish our fleet, ah extreme improbability. The Germans are having just a little more than they can manage in stopping I the invading Russian hosts and the victorious Allies in France. The fighting along the Aisne is of a terrific nature, but the outstanding factjis that the Germans are being gradually pushed back. Tho lighting is described in a French official statement as having the characteristics of a fortress war, the exceptional power of the artillery on both sides imparting special value to temporary fortifications. The advance, therefore, is not rapid, being only from G25 to 1250 yards a day. But there are indications of an early retirement of the whole German line. Indeed, it is officially stated that the Germans would have retreated before now but for tho condition of the roads rendering it impossible to transport the heavy cannon. It is not surprising to hear that the Germans are fighting like desperate men. It has been a' case of fighting for their very lives since they broke through the Sambre and invaded France. The sacrifice of men must be appalling. The German officers have throughout tho war »ot spared their men, hoping by their weight of numbers to carry the day. But they have met an army quite as resolute, quite as efficient, and as well served in artillery and as well led as themselves. They have been playing a losing game, and the fact should by this time be impressing itself on the minds of the rank and file, if not on the officers of the German forces. Before long we may expect tojiear of a new move on the part of tho Allies. It should come from the north-west, from Belgium. We have been told of a new army of secret composition ready for service at a point unknown. We also know that another British army of 100,000 is ready, and that the Indian force of 70,000 men and the Canadian contingent of 31,000 men arc due. Is this army going into Belgium to strike at the German communications? Probably. With the Belgians, they would form a considerable army and be able to deal the Germans a deadly blow. The Allies are pressing the Germans' left flank remorselessly, whilst on the other side the French are more than holding their own. Here the French have not sustained a check, and perhaps that is the reason for dismissal o' the German General von Diomling, reported in this morning's cablegrams. In Austria, the Russians have captured Jaroskw, which is regarded as of the highest strategic importance, giving as it docs the Russians a base oF action on the right flank of tho Austrian armies. The Russians have practically command of Galicia, and soon f/hould be able to move on to the Austrian capital. An important piece of news is that which refers to the capture of tho Galician oilfields by the Russians. This stops the Germans' supply of petrol, which is essential to the mobility of the German forces, owing to the enormous wastage of horses. The war has been going for seven weeks —and the; Germans are not yet in Paris. They were to be there in three weeks from the opening of hostilities, but tho British interposed, and upset all the careful calculations of the German war lords. Little wonder that I the German populace want to " smash England to pieces." The country that is going to be "smashed to pieces" is not England; it will of a certainty be Gernianv.