SITUATION AT THE FRONT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 75, 25 September 1914, Page 7

SITUATION AT THE FRONT

REPORTED TO BE UNCHANGED CROWN PRINCE'S ARMY HARRIED AND FORCED TO RETIRE i_ THE LOSS OF THE BRITISH CRUISERS RUSSIAN OPERATIONS SUCCESSFULLY DEVEOPING It is officially announced from the French capital that the situation at the front is unchanged. There is an opinion held by French officers that the enemy would have retreated before now but for the conditions of the roads rendering it impossible to transport his heavy cannon. In order to extricate themselves from a remarkably awkward position the Germans "are fighting like desperate men." The Crown Prince's army has been greatly harried, and, after fierce fighting, in which the fortunes of war varied considerably, was eventually compelled to withdraw further eastward, leaving behind a large number of guns. Further details of the loss of the British cruisers Cressy, Aboukir, and Hogue are now available. The chief gunner of the * Cressy says that he actually saw five German submarines, and that one was hit twice; the German account is that only one submarine was in action, and that she returned undamaged after accomplishing her destructive work. It is alleged that the parent ship of the German submarine flotilla flew the Dutch flag, and that no effort was made by the Germans to save life. Bussian operations around Przemysl are developing successfully, and the capture of an armoured train with quickfirers is reported. In north-west Poland the Germans are said to be almost quiescent, but they are not forgetting the need for fortification of several important positions. It is - estimated that out of a total of 42 army corps the German war authorities are utilising 22 in the eastern theatre of war, no fewer than eight of these being employed against the somewhat small force commanded by General •Bennenkampf. In Africa — particularly in Damaraland — the Germans are very active. At one point in East Africa they were repulsed after sharp fighting. The news that General Botha, the Prime Minister of the Union, is to take supreme command of operations against German South-west Africa .will be read with pleasure, for the ex-Commander-in- Chief of the Boer Army has considerable military skill.