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Show PROGRESS OF THE WAR. j Widespread activity along the entire line from the North sea to Switzerland marks the feeling-out process which precedes pre-cedes the big offensives. Already it has been fairly well demonstrated that the English will continue their drive in the Sommo sector and both sides are prepared for that. The Germans are worried to discover just where the French will strike and now, apparently, they have about made up their minds that the blow will be delivered in the Champagne country and westward thereof there-of as far as the Soissons sector. The Germans have been testing the French lines in those sectors for several sev-eral weeks. In the last week between the Butto du Mesnil and the Maisons de Champagne there has been severe fighting, with variable results. The French appear to be exerting considerable consider-able pressure and have made some material ma-terial advances, but nothing that could bo characterized as a big offensive. There have been numerous slight changes of position with the balance perhaps slightly in favor of the French at last accounts. While the French have been aggressive aggres-sive in the regions west of Verdun the Germaus have been attacking at Verdun, Ver-dun, taking some valuable positions and hundreds of prisoners. The situation as it can bo described in very general terms is about this: The English are driving slowly forward for-ward on the Ancre and the Somme, the movement being to the east. The French show some intention of driving northward north-ward iu the Champagne and westward thereof. Thus the French and English would be moving at right angles, the purpose if that method of attack has really been decided . upon being to maneuver the Germans out of the salient sa-lient which has its apex at Soissons, the point of the line nearest Paris. At Verdun the Germans show signs of pushing an offensive as a counter-blast to the drives of their foes. The Teutons are not quite satisfied that they have determined the points where they will be attacked. They have some fear that the French will attempt a great drive down Lorraine or Alsace way. Consequently there have been raids in those sectors to feel out the French lines. It is assumed that the first fighting on a gigantic scale will be in the west, with perhaps an Italian drive to help things along. But Von Hindenburg has always had his eye on the eastern front, where German arms have won their greatest successes. He regards the Russian Rus-sian front, especially the Russo-Ru-manian front, as weak in spots. It is likely, therefore, that as 600n as weather weath-er conditions will permit the Teutons will inaugurate an offensive on the eastern east-ern front, with the Russians countering at some other point on the line. Some fighting in the Rumanian theater has given the Teutons possession of several heights. The co-ordinating movements of the English and Russians in the adjoining Bectors of Mesopotamia and Persia continue con-tinue to be interesting. The English are attacking the Moslem along the Dialah river only six miles from" Bagdad, Bag-dad, while the Russians are driving the Turkish divisions in Persia westward toward the border. These divisions are in a critical position and may be cut off if the English have a sufficient force to contain the Turks at BagdaJ and send an army around to the northeastward northeast-ward of the sacred city to the rear of the Turkish array in Persia. The Russians Rus-sians seem to be attempting a somewhat similar feat, for they are moving a force down from the northeast. The Turks can either slip back through the noose or can send reinforcements to prevent their flanks from collapsing. The Turkish defeats have been due not so much to a lack of men as to inadequate in-adequate munitioning. They are unable un-able to manufacture or transport much ammunition, owing to the dearth of coal, and Berlin is a long way off. Food is scarce, the A.rabian populations are disaffected, the Armenians the most industrious class in Asia Minor have been massacred or driven from their homes, and a general paralysis seems to be creeping over the Moslem world. Only Germany can save the situation sit-uation by sending aid. ' The Germans have centered much of their submarine activity in the Mediterranean Mediter-ranean and have sunk some rich cargoes. In the last few weeks they have sent to the bottom 32,000 tons of shipping. Many of the vessels have had supplies for Italy and Saloniki. The entente powers have ceased to make daily reports of vessels sunk by the enemy's submarines, confining themselves them-selves to a weekly report. The accuracy of the reports cannot be doubted, but they . are not always complete. The total to-tal tonnage sunk in February, according accord-ing to tho daily reports, was not more than 423,000 tons, but it has transpired that the real total was about 430,000 tons. President Wilson has ordered American Ameri-can merchant vessels armed, and it is said that naval gunners will be instructed instruct-ed to fire on submarines without awaiting await-ing an attack, inasmuch as the Germans have announced that they intend to sink American ships without warning. The French torpedo boat destroyer Cassini of the Mediterranean patrol service ser-vice was sunk on February S, Paris has announced. The captain, six other officers and 100 of the crew perished. Berlin reports that the Russian armored ar-mored cruiser Rurik, of 15,190 tons, struck a mine in the Gulf of Finland and was badly damaged. The Belgian relief steamer Storstad, flying the American flag and carrying corn from Buenos Aires to Belgium, was submarined by the Germans. |