PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2383, 12 February 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Highly important developments are reported in the Eastern theatre and indications are multiplying that the Russians have definitely passed the point where they had to content themselves mainly with repelling assaults west of Warsaw, and advancing through Galicia. It is now beyond doubt that their invar sion of East Prussia is an offensive in great strength and not a mere foray of light troops and cavalry. The retirement from Bukowina in the far south, reported by Mr. Martin Donohoe, is relatively unimportant in comparison with developments in more important sections of the long Russian line. To : day fighting on a big scale, in which the Russians appear ,to be more than holding their own, is reported on a forty-mile line along the East Prussian frontier extending east from Johannisburg, in the southern part of the Masurian Lakes region. South' of .the Vistula German attacks on' the front west of Warsaw have degenerated, into an artillery bombardment which may perhaps prelude a retreat,. While they are retiring from Bukowina, the Russians report important successes south of the Dukla and about midway between these points they have repulsed heavy Austro-German attacks launched against a position in the northern spurs of the Carpathians. The reports are silent concerning some portions of the extended line, but there can be no doubt that the Russians are imposing an increasing strain upon the Austro-German defence both in Galicia and north of the Lower Vistula.

In the fighting along the Southern frontier of East Prussia the Russians occupy a line, from Johan-" nisburg, a railway junction nine miles inside the frontier, t situated immediately north of one' of the smaller lakes at the southern extremity of the Masurian chain,, to Ohor--zele, a Russian town, two miles outside the frontier, and 42 miles west of Johannisburg. ■ Chorzele is 24 miles east-northreast of Mlawa, which has long figured as an advanced point in the Russian operations. On the Johannisburg-Chor-zele front the invaders have not only repulsed German attacks, but, according to the Petrograd correspondent of the Morning Post, are advancing.- A long stretch of the strategic railways of East Prussia is thus imminently threatened.

A brief referenoe to the extermination of almost the whole of a (German battalion at Lasdenen shows that the .Russians are also pressing tho invasion in the northern part of East Prussia. Lasdenen is 25 miles east-south-east of • Tilsit,: and ten miles inside the German frontier. In regard to both battles it is mentioned that the Germans brought up fresh troops so that apparently the invasion in this quarter is recognised as becoming serious. **/ * * Some descriptive details are given of the recent big battle on the Bzura, west of Warsaw, in which it is estimated that the Germans had tens of thousands of men killed and wounded in their blindly furious assaults during a poriod of six days. The Russians are stated to be still advancing westward from the con fluence of tho Bzura with the Vistula so that the German armies west of Warsaw, which are now keeping up the battle with artillery, are threatened by' an outflanking movement at the northern end of their line as .well as by the Russian approach to tho Thorn-Lowicz railway at Wloclawek on the Vistula. This railway is the principal line of communication serving the German armies in Central Poland and it is a vital matter to the German Commander to keep it intact.

Russian reports of victories south of the Dukla Pass carry a" straightout'contradiction of the recent claim by the Austrians-that they had prevailed over their enomies in that region, Although few details aro given the ttunsiua reports,. U- ac-

I cepted aa correct, show that the Ausare being driven back in the Hungarian plains, a dozen miles south of the Carpathians* The Petrograd official report states that in tho region of Svidnik and Bartfeld the enemy retired, leaving many prisoners. Svidnik is nine miles south-west of the Dukla Pass at its Hungarian end, and Bartfeld 'is fifteen miles west-south-west of Svidnik. The Russians ore also maintaining their offensive some twenty miles oast of Svidnik, in tho region of the Lupkow Pass, so that there seems to be no doubt that thfiy have gained a firm footing on tho Hungarian plain south of the Dukla Pass, in a line, extending about twenty miles east and as many west of that gateway through the CarpSr thians.

* i * * * On Sunday last the Russians repulsed with terrible slaughter an Austro-Gcrman assault ujaon a position on the northern side of the Carpathians at the Vereczke Pass, close to the Stryj-Munkaco railway, which runs from Galicia into Hungary. The Vereczke Pass, which is apparently identical with the Tucholka Pass, mentioned in some of the messages, affords a, passage through the Carpathians 80 miles south-east of the Dukla Pass and about seventy miles east-south-east of Przemvsl, the Galician fortress which still holds out against a Russian investment. Though the attack on the. Russian position was made in strong force and pressed with great gallantry it was evidently an enterprise of the most hopeless kind. Toe Russians are posted on elevated ground, in whioh they have the advantage of a screen of forest, and their guns command an exposed and snow-clad slope up which, the enemy had _to _ advance. In the circumstances it is not surprising that the attack culminated in disaster, The general position in the 1 Carpathians seems to be that the Russians, where they are not pressing through the mountains, are comfortably posted in strong positions on the northern side.

The retirement of the Russians from Bukowina, at the eastern extremity of Galicia. does not necessarily imply that tney are unable to withstand the pressure of the enemy in that quarter, and may mean only that they are able 'to concentrate their strength to better advantage further west. Bukowina no doubt affords a gateway into North-East-ern Hungary, but they have already invaded Hungary through the Carpathian passes. nearly two hundred miles further west, and fighting as they are oh a front having a total length of some seven hundred miles, they cannot afford to scatter their armies too far afield.

The advance into Bukowina may in the first instance have been undertaken aa a feint, to distract attention from the offensive which has now reached the point of invasion further west, or it may have been intended as an encouragement to Rumania to enter the war as an ally of Russia. Indeed, it may be that Russia. made this move with the expectation of Rumania joining in, a - stop which possibly has been checked by Bulgaria's latest move. At its height the Russian advance through Bukowina penetrated to within a mile or two of, the point at which the frontiers of Galicia, Hungary, and Rumania meet. The whole of the Rumanian frontier marching with Galicia was thus screened by the Russian armies end if Rumania had entered the war at that time she would have been able to concentrate the whole of her military strength in that 'section of her western frontier which abuts on Hungary. This, of course, assumes that Bulgaria, Rumania's southern neighbour, could have been trusted to maintain a neutral attitude which latest developments suggest is extremely doubtful. The withdrawal of the Russians from Bukowina cer-, tainly suggests that Rumanian participation in the war is not in immediate prospect, a faot which may be attributed to Germany's financing of Bulgaria. If this is the case then Germany can claim to have scored even though it may be only temporarily. ■ * *' . * * A new turn is given to the Balkan situation in a message from the Daily Express correspondent at Nish, .in Servia, which states that Austria, under German instructions, is preparing to attack Rumania. If there is any foundation for this report it can only be assumed that Germany and Austria are convinced that Rumania is determined eventually to enter the war on the side of the Entente and that they hope to neutralise the effect of this development by precipitating a conflict which would almost necessarily involve the whole of the Balkan nations. ,■ * * * # Activities reported in the Western theatres to-day . are limited to the Argonne and the region further west. At Bagatelle and the Bois de Bolante, in the Argonne, heavy infantry attacks by the Germans have given place to the artillery duel whieh goes on almost unceasingly along the whole Western line. The Bois de Bolante is a wood lying about 14 miles west of the western Verdun forts. Bagatelle appears to be in the same immediate neighbourhood. East of Pont-a-Mousson the French are apparently fighting on or ' near the German frontier, for they report easily repulsing an attack upon an advanced post east and norths of the forest of Parrcy, which is situated on the Lorraine border, south-west of the German fortress of Metz,

An interesting contribution to the controversy on neutral trading is made by an American journal of standing, the New York Outlook. Recognising that Great Britain has imposed stricter limitations upon neutral trading than were imposed in previous wars, it holds that tho United States cannot reasonably object to this on grounds of principle. The Outlook does not profess to know whether the United States has really a reasonable ground for protest concerning some instances of seizure of merchantmen on the high seas. "It is certain, however," it remarks, "that if the United States wore at war, we would do all in our power to see that nothing contraband should reach tho enemy; and certainly we have no moral right to insist that Great Britain should do what we, wero we in her place, would refyso to do." The conclusion reached by-the Outlook is precisely that upon which the rigorous British-search of American ships is largely based: that a neutral country cannot justly protest against methods which any Belligerent may take to prevent contraband reaching an enemy unless it (the neutral) is ready to assume the responsibility of insuring that the contraband is shipped openly aud : honestly..

Still more interesting from the point of view of people outsido America is the emphasis laid by the Outlook upon the contrast be-, tween the silent inactivity of the United States when Germany grossly violated The Hague Convention ana its instant protest when its own commercial interests were, or appeared to be, threatened. Upon this matter the Outlook speaks in the following decided terms:

"The important point, however, is this: When we had an opportunity to protest with regard to the open violation of The Hague Convention concerning neutral territory, ire held our' peace; but now, when questions of American commerce arise, »e protest. Belgium suffered, and we said nothing; our trade sailers and wo spoak. On questions of honour and Obligation we keep silence; we raise our voice only wJien dollars are involved. And this matter is more disturbing because the only protest that we launch is against those who are fighting oui battle for liberty and democracy. To those who regard their nation's honour as important as its material interest this incident brings some sense of humiliation, and it brings disappointment to those who felt that they had reason to expect from the present Administration an exhibition of idealism."

No doubt the Outlook expresses the view of a considerable section of intelligent public opinion in the United States and its outspoken criticism is a. satisfactory indication that the somewhat ignoble foreign policy of the Democratic Administration does less than justice to the conception of "the duties and responsibilities of a great nation harboured by the American people.