Progress of the War

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 293, 20 May 1915, Page 8

Progress of the War

AS LORD KITCHENER SEES IT. ALUMS' COMPLETE SUCCESS. APPEAL TO THOSE LEFT BEHIND. London, May 18. Lord Kitchener, in his review of the war, paid a tribute to t'lc bravery of the Canadians at Yprcs. The ordeal was one to try even the finest soldi.'rs in the world. The offensive at Aubers was iii pursuance of a plan concerted between General Jofl're and Sir John French. The fonvard move of our brave Allies had been a complete success. The. British attack was not attended with the tame immediate success, owing to tho Germans' elaborate arrangements to defend the lines after their experiences at Neuve OhapeMe <but the Britbi'i effort on the 1 loth drove Lack the enemy two miles. The action was proceeding. The British and French losses were heavy), but the spirit and morale of the troops, had never been higher.

There was a considerable concentration of German and Austrian troops in March and April south of Cracow, which dereloped active preparations against the Russian 3rd Army between Tarnow and Gorlice to the Rostoki Pass. This offensive was necessary owing to the Russian capture of the Uszok Pass threatening to give access to the Hungarian Plains. The Anatro-Gcrman offensive ooramenced on the night of the 20th, and there was a desperate ibattlc for several days, the German big guns overwhelming the Russians. Despite the greatest gallantry they were forced to fall back, fighting with their well-known tenacity. They retired to previously prepared positions, and are now holding a strong 1 line from the eastern Carpathians to Przemysl, thence along the Sun to the Vistula. Xha Russian counter-offensive in Bukovina had driven back the Austro-C-ermans to the Pruth. The German losses in killed and wounded were, undoubtedly enormous. The Russians captured many thousands of unwyunded men.

The British, Australians and New Zealandcrs co-operating, with the French in the Gallipoli Peninsula effected a landing in the teeth of great natural difficulties and skilfully prepared obstacles. The landing was a masterpiece of organisation, ingenuity and courage, which would long he remembered. Progress was necessarily slow, since the country was most difficult, but the Turks were being gradually forced to retire from positions of great strength, though the enemy was being constantly reinforced. General Botha had displayed military ability of a very high order, and confirmed the admiration felt for him as a commander and leader of men.

Referring- to the call for 300,000 men, he paid a tribute to the devotion to duty and cheerful acceptance, of hardships of those already in the new armies. Men engaged in the production of war material should not volunteer. He confidently appealed to the rest of the manhood of England to come forward and take a. share in this great struggle for a great cause.