PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2416, 23 March 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

An absence of news to-day from other parts of the main theatres of war serves to give prominence to the renewed activity of the Russians in East Prussia and the adjacent districts of Poland. Although the real battle in the Eastern theatre is being fought much further south, in Galicia, wliere Austro-German armies are still resisting the advance of the Russians .on Cracow and Silesia, the ne.\y invasion of East Prussia is likely to very materially affect the progress of tho campaign. The posi-' tion disclosed, indeed, suggests that the Germans have definitely passed the point at which they were able to confine the war in the east mainly to alien territory, and _are_ resigned to the prospect of continuing the contest, so far at least as the northern end of their line is concerned, upon the soil of the _ Fatherland. Although it is fortified and could presumably have been placed in a state of defence, the Baltic port of Memel was resigned to the Russian invaders after a comparatively slight resistance, and the occupation is more than likely to be followed by a Russian advanoe south and west, involving a lasting occupation of German territory. Late developments bear witness in striking fashion to the remarkable powers of recovery possessed by tho Russians. Only a few weeks ago they were hurled back into Poland practically _ all along the East Prussian frontier before the irresistible driving force of a- German offensive, which it was conjectured at the time might even strike south to the Vistula and so menace Warsaw from the north. •* * * * Already this temporary check to the Russian arms has to all appearance been completely overcome. The German offensive has died away and East Prussia is more dangerously threatened than ever. Memel, almost at the extreme north of the province, is not the only point of eiltry. The Russians have also crossed the northern frontier about 60 miles southcast of Memel, and they are fighting on or near the southern frontier of the province, near Hysynieci, a Polish village situated a few miles away from the East Prussian border, on a line extending due north from Warsaw. Between these northern and southern points the armies of the Tsae seem to be again sweeping in towards the eastern frontier of East Prussia, through that portion of Poland wher.e the German offensive of a month ago achieved its maximum effect. It is, of course, a factor in the situation that the forward movement of tne Russian armies in north and south threatens the security of the German forces which are still thrown forward in Poland opposite tho central lake region of East Prussia, and may not improbably compel them to retreat. The northern invasion_ in particular is likely to develop into a dangerous flanking movement threatening the communications of the German armies immediately to tho south. Allowance must be made for the fact that the Russians have at all times freely resorted to sudden_ feints and rapid incursions by mobile troops to distract the attention of the enemy from more purposeful movements in progress elsewhere, but the present indications certainly arc_ that the invasion of East Prussia is being pressed more determinedly than ever. A permanent Russian lodgment in East Prussia,'even though forward progress continued slow, would of course mark the opening of an entirely new phase of the Eastern campaign, and would supply evidence of the most positivo kind that .the Germans are already feeling severely the constricting pressure of the mighty net which the _ Allies are drawing around them in East and West and on the sea.

A choice sample of German inconsistency is furnished in the protests lodged against the Russian bombardment of Memel. The facts, as stated by the Russians, are that they were fired upon when they entered the town, both by the garrison_ and by civilians, and thereupon retired and Iwmbarded the place into submission. This appears to have been the sum total of the offence. At any rate it is not: suggested in available reports that the Russians copied the methods of brutal terrorism to which the Germans have resorted so freely in Belgium. Nevertheless the Germans are Tond in protest. Evidently on their part approval of a ruthless policy goes hand in hand with a desire for tender consideration when invaders enter their own country.

Contempt rather than apprehension will be aroused by the recent exploits of the German Zeppelins. It is true that in the raid on Paris which has followed the bombardment of Calais the giant airships succeeded in injuring a number of people and doing a pood deal of damage to- property, but H'yhiovfiiiienlj of this kind are absolutely. insignificant ia oom-

parison with what aeroplanes have I repeatedly accomplished during the last few months of the war. To see the facts in true perspective it is necessary to remember that the Zeppelins were boomed before the war | began as battle airships—Dreadnoughts of the air. It wais predicted that they would introduce new terrors into naval warfare and spread destruction far and wide. Obviously those, claims have not 'materialised. The lesson of tho war so far as it has gone is that the aeroplane is an incomparably better figihtiug machino than the giant airship. Exploits like those of the British aviators who raided Cuxhaven and the German posts on the Belgian coast have set standards of aerial warfare which the Zeppolins have never even approached, and the latest attack on Paris will' do nothing to restore the damaged reputation of the latter craft. At best it was a feeble stroke considering the force employed to deliver it. From the reports of the incident it appears that only the accident of misty weather protected the airships from an attack by the French aeroplanes, which they might have found it hard to resist. It is possible that the Zeppelins still have unsuspected powers to disclose, but on their showing up to tho present time they are unreliable, as instanced in the accidental destruction by which several of them have been overtaken, and feeble in attack as compared with the aeroplanes and seaplanes, which have accomplished so much both in scouting service and in attacks on fortified positions. * tt # *

From the official statement issued by the Admiralty it is clear that the defences of the Dardanelles have not yet been broken down, and it is frankly admitted that the loss of ships prevented last week's attack being pressed as it otherwise would havo been. These honest admissions make it all the easier to accept tho statement that the power of the warships to overcome the defending forts and batteries has been demonstrated, <and that the Strait can be opened at no greater cost than was anticipated in tho first instance. Meantime operations are hindered by unfavourable weather, in which seaplanes, the eyes of the fleet, are reduced to inactivity.