PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2518, 20 July 1915, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

German heavy artillery and troop concentrations, operating in a combination which has never been available in equal mass and power to tho Russians, have so often won a partial victory in the Eastern theatre that the enterprise which seems now to be well under way is calculated to excite a. incusing of unewinewt,

new offensive are not likely, however, to understate the successes gained by the Kaiser's forces, and whatever the immediate position in the Eastern theatre may be—and it is by no means a pleasant one—it should not bo overlooked that Germany, taking the war as a whole, is faced by a greater and stronger array of enemies than at any time since the struggle began. The fact that the enemy offensive in the Eastern theatre is widespread is not in itself alarming. On the contrary, the wide distribution of the German armies,—from the Baltic Provinces to south-eastern Poland, is a distinct element of weakness, jeopardising the aggregate success of ;thcir designs. It was an important factor in the late success in Galicia that a close-packed and enormous phalanx of men and guns was repeatedly hurled with shattering effect agains't the Russian lines. Such tactics cannot be adopted over a wide area, and the nature of the country fronting the Russian battleline at most points is such as to impede any rapid transfer of force from ono section to another of the attacking front. * * * *

On present evidence, the greatest danger to which the Russians are exposed is that of a powerful attack intended to open the way to Warsaw from the north and west. That they are being attacked meantime on various sections of their long front is more or less beside the point, for the enemy is bound to concentrate his main attack upon a limited section of its length. Russian messages, as they have been for some time past, are markedly modest in tone. At time of writing, however, official reports from Petrograd, while they lend no support to the idea that the situation in Poland is critical indicate that Warsaw is menaced (perhaps more seriously than on any previous occasion in the present campaign: An _ uriofficial message, presumably originating with a correspondent, declares that the Russians would not make peace even if they lost Warsaw, but would retire to the Volga if necessary, fighting all the way and inflicting losses on the enemy. This _is no doubt intended as a reflection of, Russian spirit and policy and in no way as a prediction of events. The same message mentions that Russia expects to receive a large consignment of heavy guns before the summer is over. All who have followed the progress of the campaign will realise how important such an acces-, sion of strength is to Russia. Lack' of heavy artillery and inadequate means of transport have at all times been her two great handicaps. At present the Russians are fighting so far back in their own territory that their transport disabilities arc to an extent shared with the enemy. If in addition they were placed upon anything like a-i equality where heavy artillery is concerned there would be little reason to be uneasy about tho future fortunes of the campaign. Meantime matters undoubtedly present a more or less orjticaJ aspect for the time being, particularly in Poland north and west of Warsaw. It is a costly business for Germany, and even assuming that Warsaw falls, tho gain from, a military point of view may not be proportionate to the losses i suffered both in the wastage of men ancl material. But this political cffect on tho Balkan and other neutral States may assist to justify the colossal effort "that is being made. The developments of the next few days will de-servo the closest interest.

Opinions as to the developing strength of tho Western Allies can only do based upon occasional fragmentary details, but sorno of these details are suggestive and even impressive. For instance, it has been stated by the French War Minister that the production of field-guns in France (the famous "seventy-fives") has been increased eleven-fold, the production of big guns eight-fold, and that of maohine-guns fifteenfold. ■ Considering that France, unlike Great Britain, _ took the field in the first instance with a big army and with artillery availa"blo in something like proportion, an enormous production of artillery at tho present date is suggested in the figures quoted.

News from the Balkans is conflicting. Following upon the statement that negotiations between Bulgaria and Turkey have collapsed—the latter country being heartened to resist territorial demands by tho German successes in Galicia—it is now reported that Bulgaria has allowed consignments of benzine and other war material to pass through to Turkey. It is not easy to believe tho second story if tho first is true, but in any case Rumania is more likely than her southern neighbour to stop consigned to Turkey from Austria or Germany. Suoh Consignments would first have to pass through Rumania. * * * »

News from the Dardanelles to-day is brief but satisfactory. In conjunction with the Navy the Allied forces have made a series of attacks on Turkish positions, all of which are reported to havo met with success.- From Italy, too, the news is good. Tho campaign there moves slowly, but the Italian forces are gradually improving their position by securing control of the mountain passes which are a possible source of danger should the Austro-Gcrman forces bo in a position to assume tho offensive and seek to invade Italy. Wo are told that the Italians, are already preparing for a winter campaign, which may be taken to indicate that they are not impressed with the idea that tho end of the struggle will bo reached for some time to come.