PROGRESS OF THE WAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9092, 10 July 1915, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

Vienna' contributes a satisfactory" version of the eastern stoiy-. It begins with the repulse of numerous attacks, and the repulses were all bloodyNevertheless these repulses ended in a “withdrawal of our troops” to the heights north of Krasnyk, a retreat of perhaps 20 miles. This was because the Russians have brought up “super--ior forces for the protection of Lublin.” The Austrian account means that the German staff recognises that the Russian strategy, which aims at the protection of Warsaw and / the towns leading to it from the south, Lublin and Ivangorod, and has prepared vigorously for that protection, has at last fairly met the enemy’s advance, that it has caught it with its communications extended, that it has forced it back and is striking it bard.

“Tho Times” comment thus stands corroborated ,by the enemy officially. The essence of this comment is that the importance of the Russian rally is very great. So was the importance of the rally made by the Allies on the banks of the Marne.

The Austrian account offers the comfort of a- counter-balance, reporting th© storming of certain Russian positions west of the "Vistula. This cannot refer to any positions in the Russian rear west of the Vistula, because the Russians, after inflicting a heavy defeat on the enemy at Opatow, continued their retreat only to coordinate .their line with the Russian line caste of the Bug river. But as that lino has turned and assumed the offensive the reason for the-retreat of the Russian army of Poland, which has proved its superiority, no longer exists. . ' '

Far more likely is it that the German troops west of the river made an attempt to cross to the assistance of Maokensen's men hard pressed by the attack of “superior forces brought up for the defence of Lublin,” and forced back on the heights north of Krasnyk, and that the vigilant Russians threw forward a strong force to bar their road.

Now, if the‘ western Germans had crushed this force and got over to the aid of their friends on the east of the Vistula, this report- would have announced a great battle -with a great victory for “our arms.” The storming of certain positions looks as if the troops seeking to restore the battle at Karsnyk were barred, and after driving the Russians from portions of their position failed to get through, and had to fall back. That is a quite feasible explanation of a statement which otherwise has little significance. As' to that, the obvious intention is to give the idea that the victorious Germans pursuing the enemy west of the Vistula. But the Russians being stronger are not, as we have said, forced to retreat. Moreover*, if they were they would not be holding positions until they got to the neighbourhood of Ivangorod, far in their rear, where the most defensioie country is.

The Austrian report goes on to state that the situation on the Bug is unchanged ■ What situation ? Some days ago the enemy was advancing briskly from the Vistula to the Bug, driving the Russians, taking prisoners and much booty, according to his florid bulletins, addressed to tflie exulting public of Berlin and Vienna. Clearly that situation is not unchanged. Yesterday the enemy had ceased to pursue and was repulsing attacks. If the situation is still Unchanged, then he is still repulsing ; and as he admits a retreat of his repulsing line near the Vistula, the probability is' that the situation on the Bug may not remain unchanged for lon £- . ...

In conclusion Vienna reports that the hostile attacks on the lower Lipa front were repulsed. Here is again the admission that the Russians have turned on the Sokal-Dniester front as well as on the Sokal-Vistula front. Yesterday the admission was of a Russian ovfensive between the Dniester and the Pruth. that is below the junction of the Lipa. Therefore we have it from the enemy that the Russians are" attacking the two Austro-German fronts, from the Vistula to the Bug, and the Bug to the Dniester and the Pruth. Wo may take it, then, that the enemy’s advance has been stopped by the Russian armies, strengthened by, reserves and by munitions. .

The news from the Dardanelles is very interesting. Firstly there is no sign of the seven submarines, or any thing to make one believe that anybody is thinking about them. Secondly, it is made clear that the great attack of Monday week was the most serious thing the Turks have yet attempted. Its consequences are said

to be discouragement among the Turkish troops, and the demand in Constantinople for 15,000 hospital beds, the losses on Monday being set down at 25,000.

But the best news from that seat of war is the report Sir F. Treves has made of tho hospital arrangements. Clearly there is nothing whatever to support the alarmist/Article in “The Times,” which was cabled out so fully. Tho groat surgeon has seen all the hospitals, including the hospital at Mudros, close to the field of battle, and of everyone of them he speak' most highly. He supports his praise with the important statement that many beds were unoccupied. This shows that the first hospital rule of war is being systematically observed, the rule which orders that all cases must be passed on as quickly as possible to the final stages, so that there is always room for the fresh casualties of battle. It is a rule obeyed, according to the accounts of all observers, by the hospitals of the British, French, and Russian armies. Probably it is the same with the German andT Austrian hospitals, hut we have not the same evidence as we have of the others, and cannot therefore say. Of the Australian Red Cross work Sir Frederick, speaks as magnificent, and of the Australian doctors —we feel sure he includes the New Zealand division -—ho says as much as can possibly be said in favour of any man, namely, that they do as well as their comrades of tho fighting line in the field.

Nothing, more comforting has been cabled to us since our brave troops left our shores. All of us were elated by the glory they have won, but the certainty that those who go down in the rude shock of war receive all the tenderness of prompt, skilful care possible, finds us all fervently thankful. The casualties' were unexpectedly heavy, wo must remember, and the conditions of collection before the wounded can reach Mudros are exceptionally difficult. No wonder there was a rush at first—just as there was in France after Mons. But no one condemned the R.A.xVI.O. then, and it was wrong of anyone to condemn it now. However, the rush was heroically met now, as then, and everything is in the best order. Our splendid hospital ship will take up her running in the best coir pany.

Mr Ashmead Bartlett contributes a fine, clear description of the battle of the 28th and following days, of which the main point is the use made of his artillery by Sir lan Hamilton to prepare the wav for the infantry attack. Wo can see from the account that the Turkish resistance is getting weary and disturbed.

The “Figaro” tells a suggestive story of the submarine, that sank the Carthage transport off (Jape Holies, described as a submarine of the latest type. It says that the submarine engaged the patrol boat Holland, and was outmanoeuvred and submitted to heavy fire, some of it at 25, yards, during which the submarine “disappeared in a cloud of thick smoke.” This is virtually a claim that the submarine was sunk. Was this the German submarine that got our battleships the other day? The story seems to suggest that it was.-