PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2440, 20 April 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Much the most important item of news concerning -the main Eastern campaign transmitted to-day is the Russian statement that ten German army corps (nearly <100,000 men) have reinforced the Austrians defending the Uszok Pass. Accepting this as correct—and where affairs of magnitude are concerned Russian reports have as a rule proved reliable' —it follows that the Austrians, so far as their own resources are concerned must bo in a particularly desperate plight. Attention will be arrested not so much by the magnitude of the new German effort, as by the magnitude of the Russian success which has mase that „ effort necessary. Drawing so large a German force to the Carpathians the Russians have at once rendered an immense service to the Allies on the Western front (by reducing German resources available for that theatre), and taken a great forward stride in their own campaign. Massing great forces in the Carpathians it is unlikely that Germany can undertake a new offensive on any other section of the Eastern line, and this at once places her in a most unfavourable position. Hitherto the principal aim of the Germans has been to reach Warsaw, from the west or the north, and so paralyse Russian communications through Poland and a great part of Galicia. An effort to roll back the Russians from the Carpathians promises no such itrimsdiate reward. At best (from the German standpoint) it must involve a long and toilsome campaign demanding the employment of enormous masses of triops. Such a campaign in the Eastern theatre it has been the constant aim of Gelmany to avoid. By successive efforts she has sought to cripple the Russians and pen them behind a defen sivc line. If she now findii it necessary, in order to safeguard Silesia, to concentrate great armies in the Carpathians, then the honours of the campaign are with the Russian's. Even if their progress through the mountains should be blocked this would be more than balanced by the necessity imposed on Germany of making supreme efforts in defe'iee on both fronts simultaneously.

As yet the Russian offensive along the mountain-line does not seem to have been seriously checked. On the contrary, they claim that they have almost surroundod the Uszok Pass and are capturing now heights daily in tho country round about. Attempts are still being made, by the Austrians to titrn tho Russian leftwing by a northward advance from the mountains in the longitude of Stryj. and Lemberg, but ncrc also the Russians appear to have a firm grasp upon the situation.

The loss of the British submarine El's at the Dardanelles is no light niisfortune, for she belonged to a class of fine occan-going submarines of considerable range and powor. So far as'the British Navy is concerned the "E" class boats are inferior only to the very latest submarine craft, projected or under construction when the war began. They are of 800 tons submerged displacement, and have a surface-speed of over 1G knots' and a maximum speed' of 10 knots when submerged. Capable of travelling under water for a distance of 140 knots at 8 knots an hour, their armament consists of'four torpedo-tubes and two 3in. quickfiring guns on high angle mountings. Strangely enough the four British submarines lost since the war begun all belonged to the highly efficient "E" class. E5 struck a mine in the North Sea in November last, while pursuing a German raiding squadron. li 3 and the Australian AEI (also of the "E" class), were lost at sea, their actual fate being unknown. It is a sufficient testimony to the seaworthiness of thc-"E" class submarines that the two Australian boats ; accomplished the 13,000-mile voyage from Barrow to Sydney under their own power and without convoy.

While Britain has lost'four submarines (including the AEI) Germany is reported to have lost something like a dozen, including tho U29, one of the latest and best boats in her flotillas. Although thero is some conflict of authority, and difference of opinion on thc_ point it is not unlikely that Germany's losses may have more than balanced additions to her flotillas since the war began. At that period she was credited with possessing 37 submarine:), while Britain had 82 and 22 building. Eight British submarines of the "E" class wore stationed at oversea naval bases the outbreak 'of hostilities.

FnoM the official reports it appears that .the El 5 was lost on Saturday last, and there is no reason "to suppose that on this occasion the report is bslatcd. She was engaged at the time in reconnoitring-a .mine-field off Kephez Point, 14 miles from the Aegean entrance to the Dardanelles, on the Asiatic side. At Itephez Point the strait narrows to a width of slightly over two miles, and is traversed by strong currents which make navigation difficult, and no doubt account for_ the fact that the submarine was driven ashore, Reports so far received do not state what became of the submarine, but assuming that she is within reach of the Turks her officers would probably see to it that she did not fall into their hands "in a state fit for service. In any case Kcphcg Point is under the guns of the' Allied Fleet for it is four miles nearel' the Aegean than Kilid Bahr and C'han a k (the principal fortresses guarding the Narrows) which were heavily bombarded' a few weeks ago.

Possidlv the Paris Figaro has anticipated events in reporting a frontier conflict between Austrian and Italian troops, but- it seems impossible any longer to doubt .that the. two coin? tries arc. oh the l brink of war, From the Italian point of

view the time is ripe for action, and with a population agog for war ancl a Government beat on territorial gains at Austria's expense there can he. little question as to the outcome and result of the tension which now marks Austro-Italian relations. As yet defmito indications, as distinct from mere expressions of opinion and the unconfirmed report published by the Figaro, ire confined to news of military preparations and activities on both sides of the frontier, but these in themselves' are highly suggestive. Numerous predictions of an early Austro-Italian rupture arc supplemented to-day by a Renter message, which states that AustroItalian negotiations have failed. All available evidcncc, in fact, goes to support the view that Italy is alive to the need for action, and is prepared to support her claims in war.

In the circumstances no other decision seems possible. The Italian Government must be well aware that it cannot get Istria and the Trentino without . fighting for them, and the choice lies between fighting Austria now, in co-operation with Russia,- or fighting her single-handed later on. Italy, in fact, has a golden opportunity, not likely to recur, of regaining lost territory and the strong land and sea frontiers which alone will, guarantee her future security and prosperity as a nation. It may be expected that she will go to war because sho will serve her own interests by doing so, and sacrifice her future if sho does not', but from the broader standpoint of all the nations concerned Italian intervention would be an unqualified blessing, hailed with relief and. satisfaction- by all except Germany and Austria—and Turkey if she has any thought to spare from her own immediate woes. Italy's entry would be welcomed' not alone ae an important accession of strength to the Entente, but because it would to a great extent solve the' problems of the Balkans, and pave the way for a satisfactory and lasting settlement of the frontiers of southern Europe.

No very unusual developments in the Western theatre are reported today, but the French have gained some further ground in Alsace, the Aisnc Valley, and Lorraine, localities in which great ovonts have lately been in progress. Although British casualty lists continue to . arrive with regularity, remarkably few details aro given of the fighting in which tho casualties are being incurred. A Berlin official message does something to fill the gap, for it admits that the Germans were dislodged from a position south-east of Ypres by a British attack. The affair' appears to have, been'one of some magnitude, for it is added that the battle continues. Why events of this kind should be passed over in silence by the British recorders, or reported after lengthy-delay, is something of a' mystery.

Though it resulted sin somewhat serious loss of life tho attack by. a Turkish torpedoer upon the British transport Manitou, in the Aegean Sea, .turns out. to have been a less disastrous affair than seemed'possible frpm the" Admiralty report published yesterday. Instead of a hundred men being drowned, 24 are known to have been drowned and 27 are missing, while tho transport herself is undamaged. The fatalities occurred; in connection with tho lowering of boats, an Operation evidently made dangerous by the rough weather obtaining at tho time, but ordered, presumably, in anticipation of the ship being struck by a torpedo. * * * ■

Reference to tho Manitou, in a late message, as a French transport indicates that the vessel was carrying French troops, when . she was attacked. She is British-owned and registered. v#, * *

The Times's naval correspondent, stating his . belief in the reported movements of German warships off the Norwegian coast, adds: "'Movements of the German Navy arc never purposeless." Quito so. The chief purpose of the German warships in the North, Sea has so far Been to Lombard defc-Dceless towns, kill women and children and old men, and evade tho British ships, even when it comes to ignoble flight.

» » * * The German Socialist newspaper Vorwacrts remarks: "We would welcome any influence that would bring about, an agreement with England. This is not hard to believe. ■

The Sultan of Turkey has threatened to abdicate. Evidently ho is beginning to sympathise' with the policy of the Entente.