PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2475, 31 May 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Satisfactory progress is being made by the Italians in their frontier campaigns to the extent that they are apparently free to advance from their northern and north-east-ern borders and take up positions in which they will be able to meet the enemy with advantage. The forward movement of the Italian troops during the past week has evidently been slow aud cautious, as is strictly natural considering that they are advancing towards the defended/antfl fortified lines of an enemy whoa; powers, in this particular theatre, have not yet been put to the te.vt. No great extent of territory has yet been invaded, and the Italians fire probably nowhere much more than about half a dozen miles beyond their own frontier. Even this limited advance, however, may be o'f the utmost value on account of the fact that portions of the Italian frontier (notably where it marches with the Trontino) are decidedly weak from the military point of view. It is too soon yet to assume that the AustroGermans will not attempt t-fy> invasion of Italy, but their continued failure to launch any such bold stroke becomes more suggestive day by day. Before the war in the West was a week old some of the Liege forts had fallen, _ and the German armies were pouring into Belgium. The Italian campaign is just upon a, week old, and it caniiot be regarded as a fact altogether without significance that the initiative so far has been definitely with the Italians. In the north, at least, the initial advantage of position is with the Aus-tro-Germans, and the fact that no big battle has (at time of writing) been reported points to a lack (temporary or otherwise) on their part of the resources necessary to prosecute the campaign with vigour. Possibly, the stroke is only delayed—a Petrograd message states that the weakening of one section of the German line in Galicia is interpreted to mean that a proportion of the Austro-Ger-man troops have been withdrawn for service in the Trentino—but the Italians must needs Have improved their position and prospects to some extent in their almost unrestricted advance from their frontiers during the past week.

In their eastward advance _ into the territory lying _ immediately north-west of the Istrian Peninsula, the Italians have reached and occupied the town of Gradisca, on the Isonzo River,_ seven miles east of the Italian frontier, and six miles north of the Gulf of Trieste. Apart from replying for a few hours to a heavy bombardment of the Gradisca fortifications, the Austrians did not resist the entry. It has been thought likely, on slight information as yet, that the Austro-Germans in this region would make their stand on a defensive line along the Isonzo River, which runs south to the Gulf of Trieste after pursuing a course roughly parallel with the AustroItalian frontier. The poor defence of Gradisca is rather against, tho supposition, though the Italians, on. present reports, have still to effect a crossing. The Italians report also that thc.v have occunied the island of Grado. There is a town of this name on the point forming the north-west-ern extremity of the Gulf of Trieste, and there are several small islands within a few miles, one 'of which is doubtless referred to. Though the particulars supplied are meagre, they indicate that the Italians are preparing to press the invasion of Istria with vigour.

Judging from one brief message, Italy is well prepared in the factor of artillery. It is stated that her new 75-millimetre gun is remarkable for precision, and that a battery of these weapons silenced a Bavarian battery of 12-inch guns at Flitsch (on the Isonzo River, 45 miles north of the Adriatic), killing many of the gunners. The 75-millimetre gun has a calibre of about three inches, and even assuming that the German guns were of antiquated type the achievement is a notable one, The Italian field gun is of equal calibre with the famous Froneh 75, which by unanimous consent is regarded as the best contemporary field quick-firer, and no doubt is similar in type._ The message mentioned is interesting as showing that German troops' are arrayed against the Italians on the north-eastern frontier, as well as in the Trenfcino, where they are more conveniently in touch with bases of supply. Tlieir presence so far to the east implies that it is considered necessary to stiffen the Austrian forces all along the line.

There have been a number of raids by torpedo craft in the Adriatic during the last few days, and incidental encounters, but a somewhat more important naval engagement is now reported. The Helgoland and Novnro, two fast Austrian light cruiscrs, completed last year, accompanied by a small squadron of torpedo craft aiid supported bv submarines, bombarded the batteries at. Pprlo C'orsini (an Adriatic port about 70 miles south nf Venice) which protect the mouth of a canal, and engaged an Italian which was set on fire in the uiioctval wotsfct »nd ""as eventually sunk by its owa commander;

after the ammunition supply had run out. An Italian squadron then came up and drove off the intruders. ' It is claimed that an Austrian submarine was sunk, and that several of the other hostile crait were badly damaged.

In submarines Italy probably enjoys a considerable preponderance of strength over Austria, more particularly as several Austrian submarines are believed to have been destroyed sinco the war began. Italy last year had twenty small submarines in commission and eight large boats of modern tvpe in course of construction, which have probably been completed by this time even if their number has not been increased. Austria only had about six submarines in commission, all of them small, but five larger boats were being built to her orders at Kiel. These may have been added to the German flotillas instead of beiDg delivered to Austria.

Little news of the Dardanelles campaign is available to-day. A passing reference by Sir Geo. Reid, in a spccch, indicates that General 13irdwood, who commands tho Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, w : as recently wounded in the head, though not seriously. The campaign at the Dardanelles seems to be one in which the generals commanding on both sides are taking risks with their .soldiers. It was reported the other, day that the enemy commander-in-chief at the Dardanelles, General Liman vox Sanders, had been wounded, and he appears since to have been temporarily superseded in -his command.

On the main fighting front in the Western theatre, from Arras to Flanders, slow but unbroken progress by the Allies is reported. On the approach to Lens, the French have captured a strong earthwork stiffening the German lino, and the British also continue to press forward in the vicinitv of La Basseo. Small gains by the Allies are reported in the Argonne forest, on tho Lorraine border, and in Alsace.

The names of several ships are added to-day to the list of victims rit the German pirate submarines. One ship, the Argyllshire, engaged in transport duty, was torpedoed off Land's End, but contrived to make port at Havre. Had she been sunk she would have been the first British transport (so far as information goes) to meet this fate as a result of submarine attack. The immunity of transports is perhaps the most remarkable tribute of all to the efficiency with which the Navy has discharged its onerous responsibilities since the war began. So many merchant ships, torpedoed by German submarines, have survived the attack and reached port, as to make it plain that the Germans employ a different torpedo in commerce raiding to the one which has brought swift destruction to a number of British warships. The German wartorpedo is known to be an instrument of enormous power. No doubt lighter torpedoes are used in com-merce-raiding, partly from motives of economy, and also because a submarine capable of carrying six or eight torpedoes of the largest size can carry a larger number of smaller ones and so be in a position to attack more ships before returning to her base.

In Galicia, the Austro-Germans appear to be concentrating their strength in an increasing degree upon thp effort to encircle the fortress of Przemysl. _ This is the broad feature disclosed in the latest message describing the grim struggle that is being waged by armies, each numbering a million or more, to tho north, and to the east and south, of the fortress. On the banks of the llivcr San, north of Przemysl, the Russians have both gained and lost ground. In the region of Radymna, ten miles north of Przemysl, the Germans have progressed to the south and east on both banks of the river. Radymna on past reports is the most southerly point at which the Germans have forced the passage of the San. Sieniawa, twenty miles further north, is at the northern extremity of the AustrO|-German front where it has been carried to the eastern bank of the San. Here the Russians have inflicted a smashing defeat upon the enemy, taking Sieniawa by assault and capturing 6000 prisoners, six heavy guns, and as many field-guns. Sieniawa stands on the eastern bank, and the Russian victory means that the enemy at this point have been driven back to the western side. Tho Germans admit a defeat of "weak divisions" on the western bank and the loss of six cannon. Matters have taken a somewhat similar turn east and south of Przemysl. - The Russians admit losing ground east of Husakow; that is to say, at a distance of about 15 miles east-south-east of Przemysl, where the Russians are defending a short front flanked on the south-east by the Dniester marshes. The Aus-tro-Germans have set themselves to blast a passage by an unsparing use of artillery, backed by enormous masses of troops, and they are meeting with some success. Very heavy fighting is also in progress along the front of about 70 miles which runs east and south from the neighbour-, hood of Husakow to Dolina. A Vienna message asserts that thq enemy have broken the Russian line at Stryj, towards the eastern end of this front, and that the Russians are retreating, but the Russians themselves tell a very different story. Admitting that their line was pierced near Stryj, they state thatthe attacking force which accomplished the feat was destroyed, and that a Russian counter-attack was crowned with success. As the Russians describe the position, the enemy are gradually losing whatever ground they have gained between, the marshes of i the Dniester and Dolina.

Since they frankly admit loss of ground at vital points and are confirmed, though grudgingly, _ by the enemy in reference to the victory at Sieniawa, it may be reasonably supposed that the Russian reports are an accurate presentation of facts. This being granted, the position seems to bo that the Austro-German offensive is practically at, a standstill along the greater jjart of the long battle-front in Galicia and at some points (Sieniawa especially) has suffered an enormous loss of driving power, but that it still constitutes a serious menace where the attempt to encircle Przemysl in the north and in "the south, is concorncd. That tho Russians resisting the investment of the fortress are fighting with splendid determination is evidenced by the slow of the Austro-Gcrmans in (spite of _ their enormous superiority in artillery. It. cannot be token for granted, however, that the defence will prevail. Hopeful auguries arc to be drawn from'th*? Wakening of the enemy in other aeotiona of too front, but tha

possibility still remains that the detences of Przemysl may be put to test of an assault or siege. In concentrating upon the immediate approaches to Przemysl the AustroGevmans are not necessarily beat only upon capturing and garrisoning' the fortress as a preliminary to retreat. Striking at Przemysl they are also striking at the Russian communications, for the place covers the railway from Lemberg which is the most important line conveying supplies to the Russian armies in Galioia. Taking a wide view of the war and giving duo weight to such factors as the successful activities of the Western Allies and those of Italy, the situation in Galicia. is very far from being desperate, but in its immediate aspect it remains threatening. Much is to be hoped from the dogged pluck with which the Russians aro fighting against odds, particularly as regards artillery, but it is not certain that the Austro-Gennan drive in Galicia lias yet reached its limit.

In the Baltic provinces the Russians have had some important buocesses against the German invading forces, though they are apparently not prepared as yet to detail a sufficient number of troops to definitely make an end of the invasion. On some sections of the Poland front opposite East Prussia, the enemy has continued his experiments with poisonous gas, and other suggestive activities are reported, but it seems impossible that the Germans can oontemplate any big enterprise in this region, at all events until the tension in Galicia has been relaxed by decisive victory or defeat. So long as they continue to press the attack in Galicia., the Germans are likely to find their energies and resources fully absorbed, as far as the Eastern theatre is concerned, but if they retreat in Galicia, they may attempt another stroke in Poland.