NOTES ON THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2269, 1 October 1914, Page 4

NOTES ON THE WAR

An unofficial message from Paris states that the Gorman llight Wing in France has at last been broken, and an appearance of truth is.given to the statement by the further assertion that automobiles are being requisitioned for the purpose of pressing homo the pursuit of the fleeing enemy. This is the news we have all been hoping for, but the fact that it lacks official confirmation makes it necessary to receive it with caution. It would, indeed, be great news if true, for it would mean that not only the German llight, but probably the whole German forces,

would be compelled to fall back boyond the French frontier. In that event, the Northern Army would no doubt endeavour to take up the posi; tions which we were told some days ago were being prepared for it along tho River Sambre, in Belgium.' While it would be unwise, to accept without further .tvidenco the news of the breaking of the German Eight Wing, the official news is in itself highly satisfactory. From the position as set out in thie official message the Allies' Left would seem to have carried out a clever encircling movement by means of which they have enveloped the extreme end of the German line in the North. The message states that the Germans at this point are surrounded. This does not appear to be quite the ca-se, but they are to all appearances hemmed in <on three sides north of the Vise'; that is, on the North, the West, and partly on the South. The line of retreat of this particular section of the German forces is thus narrowed,, and the troops are liable to attack on both flanks as well as on their front. It' is impossible to tell how strongly this attack can bo pressed home without knowing tho exact position and strength of the forces and the nature of the country, but it is obvious that if tho information now to hand is correct, the German position north of the Oise must be extremely critical. Further news on this point will bo eagerly awaited.

The fact that it is now officially admitted at Budapest that the Russians have invaded Hungary _a,t several points affords confirmation of the recent reported success of tho Tsar's forces in Galicia. Hungary was the next step, after Galicia, the ltussians pursuing tho fleeing Austrians through the passes of the Carpathians. While these successes are highly gratifying and must exercise an important influence' on events in the Eastern theatre of weir, chief interest centres for the moment in the happenings further north, where tho Russians, under General Rennenkampf are in contact with the German forces which crossed the border at Suwalki, bent on the invasion of Poland. Here the Russians appear to be pushing back the enemy, but the main forces have not come to grips, and until they do the progress of'events hero must continue in doubt! There is a hint that a German force is advancing to the assistance . of the Austnans in Przemysl, which the Russians are besieging. The position in the East thus appears to do that tho Russians are driving back the Germans along the Russo-German frontier North; a second force, after repeated successes, is .besieging Przemysl in Galicia; while a third force has advanced through Galicia, driving the Austrians i berore it, and has now entered Hungary. The Austrian casualties since tho war started are now stated to have totalled over half a million—a terrible toll.

The difficulty that is being. experienced in running down the German cruisers still at large in the Atlantic and Pacific, and the depredations of the Emden in the Indian Ocean, recall the case of the famous or infamous Alabama, an_ American Confederate cruiser which for nearly two years during the Civil War pursued a successful career of destruction and was finally engaged and sunk by the United States sloop-of-war ICearsargeoff tho French port of Cherbourg, on June 19, 1864. Many people still living remember tho Alabama and her work. Built by Messes. Laied, of Birkenhead, she was a bai'quentine-rigged steamer, with a propeller which could be lifted out of the water, when she was sailing. She was only of 1040 tons displacement, 220 feet longhand her steaming Speed was IIA Knots, so that she was slow even for her day. Before the Alabama left Liverpool the Northern States had warned tho British Government that the ship was intended for the_ Confederates, and after some official delays, instructions were issued she should be detained. Meantime, however, the Alabama had been allowed to slip away to soa, and no serious pursuit was attempted. She shipped her armanent from two British ships at the Azores, and there Captain Lehmes, holding a Confederate commission, assumed command. Cruising during the next two years up and down tho Atlantic, round the Gulf of Mexico, down the coast of South America, round Cape. Horn to a point not very far from Australia, up to China, pas}; Ceylon, and back along the same course, the Alabama captured 68 vessels and sank a gunboat. Fifty-three of tbe ships wero destroyed, nine were ransomed, two were released, one was used as a cruiser, and in four cases tho cargo was taken out and destroyed, but the ship not harmed. The Alabama, was eagerly hunted by United States warships, and a swift ship, the Vandei'bilt, was specially_ dispatched to look after her, but it was not until the United States Minister in France telegraphed to the Ivearsargc, lying at Flushing, that tho Alabama had run into Cherbourg that the enterprising raider was finally brought to an engagement. The fight in the Channel lasted, for three hours, and when the Alabama had been sunk some of her crew were saved by the English yacht Deerhound, whose owner had taken the opportunity to show his children a naval battle.

Matters at sea are very different nowadays to the days of the Alabama. • The for instance, could do without coal. She could be converted at will into a sailing ship. Then again, her pursuers had not the advantage of wireless telegraphy to keep them posted, and, moreover, the available i naval resources of Great Britain and her Allies ill conducting the pursuit of the German raiders are vastly greater than were those' of tho United States in tho 'sixties. Apart from the fact that the German raiding cruiscrs will now have difficulty in obtaining coal, and that an intercepted wireless message or a message from a merchant vessel may at any timo afford tho pursuers a clue, commerce is to-day better organised than it was iu the days of tho Alabama. In view of all the circumstances, it is improbable that even the enterprising Emden will succeed in emulating tho Guryev of thy jsucccsaful and detested - • '