The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1915. RUSSIA'S CRITICAL POSITION.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1915. RUSSIA'S CRITICAL POSITION.

The chief centre of interest in the wal zone just now is Galicia, and the main, point at which the operations are in the nature of a crisis is Grodek. Tile Russian plan appears to have been to collect strength on a line in front of Leraberg with Grodek for the main stronghold of the centre, and they have been completing their preparations in that direction. It is always difficult to obtain an accurate knowledge of the result of conflicts between the Russians and thair enemies, for the accounts as furnished from Petrograd and Berlin differ s o widely that it is necessary to read between the lines and obtain by analysis What should be madd clear by reliable reports of engagements. That the Russians were pressed back recently is admitted, and it seems as if Godek were to be made the supreme crisis of their operations. There is one thing in their favor—they know the ground, for they fought there one of the greatest battles oF the war on a front extending from Grodek to Ttawn. Ruska, defeating the -histrians disastrously after a four-days' engagement, and now they are usins the

same ground-in the liopo (if senirinj a victory over the Austio Herman hosts. .Wonliii- lo this week's cables the enemy attempted to force a passage r,f t.] H . Hrodck Lakes, but were driven hack. The (lernian objective is Lemiberp-, utii] apparently Ocncval von Maekonsen libs divided his forces mft n view to attacking Loniborg from two point'-. The TCuv.ian advantage in having a lake position, backed up by a large concentraiii.n of troops, is considerably in tlic'r favor, and if, is 'proibaldo tbat they re-

I ron-ms,. tliut tlio hatlle for wliicli 'tl«>y I have prepared at Oodol; must I>e <le- I j i iiivc. for it, menus that either they will ! low T.pinl)or<r and tlieir footing in f!a r jlicia or ilioy will inHU-l sneli a. defeat | on (he enemy that the Russian advance i will lie made po?sil>le. This "rent hattie .so with results is now in | progress. The enemy effected a crossi iei.' of the Diioisf.er ill ureat force, lint j v.hen Ihey eiinic lo oniei-.ro from the j j deeo u indies of (he. river they were I successfully repulsed, whilst at other points (he lsnssinns. progressed. On tile other hand we cannot ignore the superiority of the ficrman artillery—and this

m WW shells* of I tiigli explosive power fired from very greafc distances are tlio dominating factor. Tlio ■Germans are not only well Bupplicd with big guns and shells that level trendies out 0 f existence, hut they are well Served 'by their aerial scouts. Russia has a determined and well-equip-ped foe to meet in this crucial fight, and we may well ho anxious about the restilt. So far as position is concerned she has a decided advantage, and the issue will largely be determined by the strength of her forees, her equipments and the strategy brought into play. On more than one occasion when Russia has been pushed back and concentrated her forces on a locality chosen for the purpose she iias dealt the enemy a crushing blow. Throughout the campaign there has never been a time when sueh a blow was necessary as now. Knowing this, we may confidently expect her to maike a supreme effort to overthrow the enemy, -•■•'. pave the way for the advance that will so greatly help her Allies.