RUSSIA'S TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1915, Page 5

RUSSIA'S TASK.

THE GERMAN PRESSURE. RUSSIAN REPORT. Received Sept. 17, 11.30 p.m. Petrograd, Sept. 17; A communique states: —We repulsed repeated attacks south-west of Dvinsk. The enemy north-eastwards of Vilna crossed to the left bank of the Vilna. We are falling back in the Pinsk region under pressure. Desperate fighting continues at Strypa, westward of the Tar-nopol-Trambovla line, the enemy clinging to the passages of the river. GERMAN REPORT. THAT RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE HAS COLLAPSED. Amsterdam, Sept. 16. A German communique says: General von Hindenburg is progressing in the direction of Jacobstadt. The attack is progressing north-east and north of Vilna. Our advance north-east of Grodno is being stubbornly resisted. The Russians between Janoro and Pinsk attempted to arrest General von Mackensen's pursuit, but we broke through the .enemy. We occupied the district between Pripet and Jasiolda, also Pinsk. The Russian attack in the south-eastern theatre has collapsed. THE DUMA TO ADJOURN. Petrograd, Sept. 10. M. Rodzianko informed M. Goremykin that the prorogation from to-day until November 1 was unpopular and would give rise to dissatisfaction to both Parliament and people, It was an unsuitable moment for provoking a conflict between the Government and Parliamentarians. M. Goremykin replied that the prorogation was unalterably arranged. TERRITORIALS CALLED UP.. Petrograd, Sept. 10. A ukase calls out the territorial reserve. PENALTY OF FAILURE. GRAND DUKE PAYS. Writes the military writer of the Dunedin Star:—The Tsar takes over the supreme command of the Russian forces, both on sea and land. The Gand Duke Nicholas has been appointed Viceroy of the Caucasus. This means that tie suffers the fate which usually overtakes commanders who have been defeated—he is superseded. His strategy has been marked by one or two notable errors. In particular, he erred in allowing his advance into Hungary to outrun Ms advance upon Cracow, with the result that a large fraction of his forces were cut off. But, on the whole, his command has 'been marked by energy, skill, and decision. A beaten general is not necessarily an unskilful one. The greatest generals of history have sometimes suffered defeat. A general's achievements must be gauged by comparison with his opportunities. 'So long as the Grand Duke had a reasonable superiority of force he was successful, in spite of the overwhelming strategical disadvantages under which he labored. The attempt of the Austrians to seize Warsaw in the opening days of the war was thwarted and turned into a crushing disaster for the enemy. Galicia was overrun, Przemysl was captured, and huge armies of the Austrians were made prisoners. Finally the Carpathian passes were stormed and Hungary threatened. Moreover, the Grand Duke showed resolution and ability in putting down corruption and promoting for merit only. To him the able body of men who now command Russia's armies owe their opportunities. Many of them are of such humble origin that they would have had no chance of high command under a less strong and far-sighted chief It is to his initiative that Russia owes the abolition of the vodka evil and a sober army on the outbreak of . war; while to the rank and file of the Russian forces he had become the Special Providence —the man who was everywhere and saw all things, the man under whose command the ultimate victory ot the army was assured. DEFEAT. But he fell upon evil days. The defeat of the Germans in the west turned their attention to the east front. They worked hard all the winter at the development of their guns and resources, and they also reorganised and trained the Austrian army. It was a very different Austrian army which cooperated with the Germans in the great blow from Cracow in the direction of Przemsyl to that which had been routed in the autumn. The Grand Duke now had to face heavy odds, and in particular an overwhelming artillery, over and above the heavy strategical handicap under which he labored. The result might have been predicted. The demand of the man in the street is that a general should be a "genius," and a genius in his view is a man who, strategically and tactically speaking, can square the circle or can convert two and two into five. But the student of war well knows that the ablest general will bo beaten when he is faced with greater forces directed with equal ability, and working with the advantage of strategical position. The powers that be can seldom discriminate. They lack, too frequently, the insight which would enable them to distinguish between the man of genius conducting a losing light against overwhelming odds and the mediocrity who is the author of his own misfortunes. Too often they sirpersede the able man when they should retain him, and keep the mediocrity in office long after it is desirable that he should have been removed. A MISFORTUNE. Thanks largely to the Grand DuKe, t»* Russian armies are commanded by a very able body of men. But the supersession of their chief is an unrelieved misfortune. Who is to replace him? Whom among the Russian leaders combines ability in command with that social position which is so powerful a factor in the maintenance of a general's prestige? The Tsar has himself taken over the chief command; but not to exercise it, surely, or this would spell disaster. The Grand Duke Alexis, we heard on September 2, has replaced General Yanuskevitch, as Chief of the Staff. With a Royal personality nominally in chief command, the real control is usually exercised by the Chief Of the Staff. But nothing is known of the abilities of the Grand Duke Alexis. He may be a genius or a mediocrity. Russia suffers the misfortune of having the leader of tried ability replaced in the ' very hour of crisis by an unknown man.