The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. THE ROAD TO BERLIN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 173, 26 March 1915, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

THE ROAD TO BERLIN.

(With which ia incorporated The Tai hape Post una Waimarino News.)

It is doubtful whether there was anything the Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia desired in connection with the war more than the fall of Pvzei'tisy).. While an immense enemy army, fully equipped, held effective possession of that great stronghold in his rear the Russian army could not be sure of its communications in the Carpathian operations or of its movements to the westward, down the Galician plains past Cracow, even with lavish expenditure of men and munitions sufficient to completer invest that city. But with this fortvessed place in Russia's possession to operate from as a military base both projects will in all probability be within reach. To prevent the enemy hampering their rear in their efforts to get through the Carpathian mountain passes a large investing army had to be provided, which, of itself, would probably have been powerful enough to fight its way through and with large stores of munienings from Przemsyl removed, rapid -advances on both sides of tions and food supplies safe in a new and advantageous centre we may expect to hear of further the capital of Galicia, there does the mountains. A very doubtful situation has been solved for Russia and a severe blow has been dealt to Austro-German hopes in that direction, for in advance past Cracow into ►Silesia is claimed by great military strategists to be the only possible and logical road to the heart of Germany. With the possession of Lem.bi.irg, the capital of Galicia, in their posthere apears to be no very great obstacle to stop a rapid inarch upon. Cracow, and then they have possession of the highways and railways to Berlin. With Przemsyl in the hand-; of Russia, the Austrians and Germans must make a readjustment of their'plans so far as this part of. the eastern battlefield is concerned, and it must be admitted that these absolutely necessary changes cannot but weaken Ger-

man positions in other directions. Russia has yet all the reserve power and energy to effectively deal villi other fortresses of the Przemsyl type should they stand in her way, while the Aiisiro-Ger-man compact, though it r.as still a very large army, it is an army with a deteriorated morale, lacking initiative to rapidly adjust, itself to reverse after reverse of a serious nature that it is so 'requently meeting with; This (impact forced the war because it considered its prey was mi; repared, but Russia, like the o or Allies, is putting up a magniiit tut fight a fight that will loom largely in the written history of this great war.