DOING WELL

Evening Star, Issue 15910, 16 September 1915, Page 8

DOING WELL

RUSSIA’S COUNTER-STROKE. MORE BLUFF. INTRIGUES. [By Ceiticus.] If only the enemy could b© persuaded, to conduct this war along the strategical lines laid down for them by the wax correspondents and military critics, the difficulties of the Allies would be solved at a stroke. Rome, indeed,- has “authoritatively learned” that the alleged AustroGerman scheme to force a wav through Serbia to the release of the Turks is all bluff. This is an interesting commentary on the relative weight of authority and logic in military matters. The mere fact that the suggested scheme was unqualified nonsense counted for practically nothing; but the futility of the proposal can be seen at once when it is denounced bv some so-called authority. No sooner is one nonsensical scare knocked on the head than' another crops up. The latest wild-oat, measure with which the enemy-are orhlited is one-dis-covered at Paris. We are informed that the Defence Department announces that large numbers of German troops and heavy howitzers, together with large stores of ammunition, are being transported from Poland towards France. This is believed to presage a great attempt to smash the Franco-British lines. So that, though the enemy have their hands too full in dealing with Russia to attempt the invasion of Serbia, they are nevertheless able to undertake the titanic and all but hopeless task of breaking the line of the Allies in the west. This sort of thing scarcely merits refutation. GOING STRONG.

; The best commentary on such reports is provided by the latest Russian communique, which, if trustworthy, contains news of important developments. It will be remembered that wo have had several more or less vague claims from the Austrians to have crossed the Goryn river in the neighborhood of Dcraino. To-day Petrograd reports officially that the Russians have themselves- crossed the Goryn in the Devajno district, and. are driving back the Austrians. In the Derawno and Kievan districts the Austrian offensive has been stopped by a vigorous counter-stroke, and the Russians, advancing westward from Kievan, took no less than 13,000 prisoners. All this is of supreme importance, as it indicates that the Russians are taking the offensive, and that successfully, along the whole lino to the south of the Pripet river. Kievan is 16 miles to the north-west of Rovno, and about 12 miles due south of. Derajno. The enemy have- been ejected with great loss, including 2,000 taken prisoners, from two villages to tho west of Wysznewec, which is situated on the upper reaches of the Goryn river, 28 miles north of Tarnopol. Further south the Russians have captured 140 officers, 7,300 men, on© heavy and six light guns, and much booty, and the enemy are being pursued westward ; while on the Sereth front fierce but indecisive fighting continues, the Russians having captured 2,755 prisoners on the ’2th inst. Altogether- a most instructive commentary on the alleged intention of the enemy to take up the offensive in the west. THE CENTRE. Little is said by the Russian communique as to the position ol affairs in the centre, and this implies that they are not doing so well in that quarter. Particularly fierce fighting is reported in the Podbrodze district,' to the west of Slonim. As this is to the east of the Zelvianka river, it is evident that the Gorman claims to hare forced the passage of that river were correct. With the progress of the- enemy's offensive in this region, the position of the Russians in the Skidel district, to the north-west, and to ill© west of Grodno becomes very salient, the more so as the enemy are progressing in the direction of Lida, the railway junction, 55 miles south of Vilna, and about the same distance north-east of Grodno. With the enemy progressing in the centre, and tho Russians progressing to tlie south of tile Pripet, we shall soon, if the progress continues, be faced with a pretty example of mutual outflanking. The resulting strategical position will be modified by tho' fact that the two areas are divided bv the Pripet river and the great Rokitno 'Marsb.es. These will in large measure protect the flanks of both armies. IN THE NORTH. ‘The Times’s’ correspondent at Petrograd reports that the seizure of a portion of the Yilna-Dvinsk railway near Sveutziany was the result of a cavalry raid, and not of a general advance. But in view of the fact that the Russian communique admits that German pressure continues in the lake district to the west of that town, it- is evident that the main advance cannot be far behind. Moreover, Hindenburg is claimed to have captured 5,200 prisoners and 13 machine guns to the north-east of Vilna.

The Germans in this region arc attempting an enveloping movement upon Vilna, both by the north-east a-nd by the south. -The best chance of General Russky to defeat the move lies in a vigorous counter-offensive from the RigaDvinsk sector. But though the Russians claim to have repulse! the enemy repeatedly to the west of the. JacobstadtDvinsk line, there are as yet no signs that they dispose of a sufficient force to undertake such an offensive. Probably the reinforcing of the southern flank has drawn too largely on the Russian reserves, The ‘Daily Mail’s’ Petrograd correspondent announces that the "experts” are of opinion that the Germans are now merely seeking positions which will enable them to dig themselves in, so that they may turn their attention to the west front. Unfortunately the Germans have all along showed an exasperating unwillingness to 'follow the courses marked out for them by the “ experts.” They are fighting to win, and to dig themselves in at this stage would be to renounce all hop© of success. Therefore we may rely upon it that they will continue to push on towards Petrograd, Moscow, and Kieff so long as they are able. They will only consent to dig themselves in when they are beaten back. Weather conditions are now hamperin'/ the enemy all along the line. BLUFFING STILL. Doubtless rt-ho action of the Russian Staff in preferring to reinforce their southern flank rather than the northern was due to their desire to keep in. touch with Rumania, whose intervention mightchange the state of affairs at any moment. ‘ The Times’s ’ correspondent at Sofia, whose reports on the diplomatic situation, it may be remarked, have not been conspicuous for reliability, announces that the relations between the Rumanians and the Ausfcro-Germans have reached a critical stage. This, however, has happened so many times during the past few months that it is no longer a cause for excitement. A large stock of war material intended f(jr the Turks is said to be held up on the frontier, and tho enemy are credited with demanding permission for the passage of munitions, and also of troops, through Rumanian territory. The enemy have perpetrated some remarkable blunders of policy, but there is little probability of their being so foolish as to provoke a war with Rumania by demanding permission for the passage'of troops That they are doing a good.deal of bully'mg and bouncing behind the scenes, in the-hope of securing the passage of munitions, may be taken for granted; but they will bo careful to avoid forcing matters to a decision. The intervention of Rumania at this stage would result in their being immediately hurled out. of

Galicia, with the complete ■ collapse of their plan of campaign ; and they know

The Jerque for’ the liberation of Bessarabia, which has been started in Rumania," is obviously' a German move. Its prosperity will fluctuate with the fortunes of war, and little will be heard of it after the Allies' get the upper . hand. A report from Athens that a collision between patrols has taken place on the Rumanian-Bulgarian frontier is probably untrue. As to, a report from the same source that a partial .Rumanian'mobilisation has taken place, it may be pointed out that Rumania has been partially mobilised ever since the beginning of the war. BUNGLING INTRIGUERS. The diplomatic scandal in America is a typical example of the results -produced when bungling intriguers try to play the gam© of statesmanship. M. Dumba, the Austrian Ambassador at Washington, and his agents have been endeavoring to stir up strikes among the employees of the munitions manufacturing firms with the object of embarrassing the Allies. A certain amount of mischief has, indeed, been caused to the Allies, but a much more harmful effect has been, produced upon the fortunes of the enemy. M. Dximba has asked for leave of absence to enable him to report to Vienna, personally, which means that he ds recalled. The result is embittered relations between Austria and America, the latter country becoming imbued with a deep distrust of the enemy. -The harm to the Allies has been trifling. This is an example in diplomacy of what is known in strategy or tactics as sacrificing a major for a minor advantage. A statesman, before embarking upon any given line of policy, always asks himself if he is likely to gain more than he will lose by it. His insight is shown in his ability to weigh the chances accurately. The surest mark of the mediocrity playing at statesmanship is a mania for trying to bo clever when there is no necessity for cleverness—when it is only necessary to leave things alone. The result is usually a mess like the above.

President Wilson is said to have declined to discuss the Arabic incident with Germany on any basis of arbitration; while officials consider that the position can only be cleared up .if Germany forgoes her attacks on merchantmen. That has been the view taken hero all- along. So long as the attacks continue, so long will such incidents be liable to recur. Count Bernstorff is said to be demanding that the instructions given by the Admiralty to our merchantmen to ram the submarines sliall bo recalled as a condition of Germany’s agreement to warn merchantmen before sinking them. But he omitted to give any reasons why Britain should go out of her way to render things easy for her enemy. As to the inference drawn by the Gormans that the Hesperian must have been sunk by a mine because she was struck near the stern, there is no reason why she should not have been struck there as readily by a torpedo as by a mine; while for the statement that there was no German submarine in that neighborhood we have only Germany’s word. Sho has only her past record to blame if people “like not the security.” THE ITALIAN FRONT.

From the Italian front there, is little news. The correspondents are therefore, making copy by describing the wonderful feats of the Alpini, some of which are probably true, but no doubt the bulk bcr ra *'^ er to the realm of romance than of history. The ‘ Daily Chronicle’s ’ Rome correspondent relates how the Italians in the Pieve-di-Cadore sector had encircled what ho calls “a strategic mountain” (meaning by that, probable? a mountain of some tactical value), airbnt the northern side, where the enemy’s entrenchments were backed up by a wall of precipitous rock. At- <iawn several hundred Italian volunteers lowered themscues by means of ropes, and discovered the trenches, empty, the former occupants being at a distance engaged in bridciim a chasm for the bringing~up of supplies! The Italians remained quiet in the trenches, and ambushed the enemy when they returned, completely annihilating them. Austrian -attacks with the aid of gases and burning liquids are officially announced as having been repulsed in the Plezzo Valley, which is along the upper roaches of the Lsonzo; while the Austrians claim to have repulsed the Italians at loimino.- There are, the usual untrustworthy reports of strong German reintorcements.