THE WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16399, 2 June 1915, Page 8

THE WAR

NOTES ON THE CABLES By Shbapnkl. THE ENEMY'S AMMUNITION SUPPLIES. If the report from Russia is only approximately _ near the truth—that the Germans, in fofoing the Russians from tho Donajec, have consumed such immense quantities of ammunition that they aro now unable adequately to support their infantry, it is good news for tho RLSsians and the Allies. A formor report, received about tho time tho Germans wero approaching tho San, mentioned that the enemy's artillery fire was becoming less intense. It was suggested in these notes prior to that time that the intensity of. tho German effort was of such a naturo that the enemy was incurring the risk thati it would outrun its supnlies and booome exhausted. The advance of the Germans _in ' Galicia recalled the advance upon Paris, when the Germans made such use of artillery from Namur to the environs of Paris that they gave the Allies 110 rest, and were literally blasting their \vay through. Even there, though the method and plans of the invasion were marvellously well planned, the slackening cf the artillery fire was observed, and the supply of shells was, to all appearances, a factor that troubled the ,German generals. By the use of the railways boln'nd them, however, that deficiency could bo soon remedied from Germany. In Galicia the conditions are very different. There are only two railways by which all supplies to the enemy can be forwarded from Silesia. The Russians in their retreat would in all probability have destroyed the railway bridges behind them. Though % this would havo • hampered tho German munition supply to some extent while they were forcing the retreat, tho deLays created! by the destruction of parts of the railways would soon be overcome by tho German engineers, and, if the amnvunition supplies «it Cracow "were sufficient, the •dearth of ammunition at the head of the advance would soon be overcome. The advance has now been halted for some time, and still the Russians report that the artillery support -of tho German forces on the San is weakening. On these grounds wo may assumo that there is , a considerable amount of truth in the statement that the • Gerjnans 'have exhaust&d their supplies of ammunition at Cracow, and, he it noted, at other fortresses also. _ There ran be doubt that, well organised' as Germany is. and that though much of her ammunition supply was long prepared, the pressure of the Allies on her huge armies is causing a depletion of her stores at a rate th it is bound to tell, and we may presume tint tho boasts of Herr von Jagow to tho contrary, the German military authorities are not without anxiety orf this head. THE .FIGHTING IN GALICIA. The Petrograd reports of the campaigns in the eastern theatre are reassuring. ■ The Russians have not concealed the seriousness of the Austro-German effort and all it means to them and to the Allies, ind with the consciousness of its gravity they are making gigantic efforts to bring about, the ruin of the enemy's great hopes respecting the recovery of Galicia. Five or six weeks was the time the Germans gave themselves to clear Galicia. After that they expected to be able to attend to Italy if she entered the war against them. They also promised that, after inflicting a decisive defeat on the Russians, they would leave a small forco to hold them and return to the work of crushing the Allies In the west. They have, however, miscalculated the Allies' resources and ability. The Russians have now assumed the offensive all along the line. North of Jaroslav ( they have driven, across the Lubaczovka the Germans who crossed the ban at Sieniawa. This means that the bridgehead which the enemy obtained at Si.eniawa has been destroyed and that the' German' fhreat in that direction has broken down. The Germans are now retreating upon Jaroslav across the San. They oannot retreat further 'up the right bank of the San, as the Russians are between them and Przemysl. Further success on the part of the Russians in this region will relieve Przemysl from the danger of envelopment from the north. At present tho Russians operating to the north of that fortress are freed from a flank attack on their right. South-east of Przemysl, whero AustroGerman forces had driven their furthest thrust, ,the Russians are more than holding their opponents at Bolechov and Dolina and eastward of the latter town they have compelled' the enemy to abandon their position on the right bank of the Svitza. In Southern Poland the Russians are still succeeding in forcing the enemy back on tho Upper Vistula between tne Pilitza and that river. In this region the Russian forces, if gTeatly reinforced, can do work that will compel the Germans to withdraw from the San front.

There is no news from the front which extends from Stanislov to Czernovitz, but it may be taken for granted that in con-, sequence of the efforts required from the enemy between the Stryj and the San, the forces operating on this, front against the Russians are either easily contained or else are being driven back to the mountains. FIGHTING NEAR SHAVLI. On the extreme right flank of the Russian battle line, in the provinces of Ivovno and both sides are increasing their forces. The Germans hold Libau, and tho Russians are attempting from the neighbourhood of- Shavli to push the Germans towards Memel and across the Niemen. Their purpose is to shut up as many of the Germans as possible in Libau, where, owing to the danger of the threat, it is fairly certain lhat the Germans are pursuing their buccaneering tactics of industrial and mercantile spoliation, and shipping the goods to Dantzig or Stettin. To the south of Shavli the Germans have been defeated at Savdenik, on tho Dubissa. This town is on tho left bank. Tho Russians made great captures of men and material of all sorts, but further up the river the Germans, being reinforced, renewed the offensive, and the Russians, evidently surprised by the strength oi the attack, had to fall back to the right bank of the stream. Here they made a stand, and tho offensive was stopped. It may be ex pectcd that the Russians will be continually reinforefcd from Vilna and Petrograd, and that' the fighting in this region will gradually increase in volume and intensity.

A CHANGE ON THE YSER. The scene of activity in Inlanders appears to have shifted from the' east of Ypres to the east of the Yser, between Steenstraate and Dixmude. The Allies have forced the fighting here, and, since the German forces, as has already teen sug*g«sted. seem, to have been weakened, the cables aro able to report this morning that the enemy's lines have been broken at several points. In consequence of their in' ability to hold their trenches, the Germans are adopting new tsictice. They are applying a lesson learned from the Boer war and are making use of every village, farmhouse, or clamp of trees, and are fighting I determinedly so a 6 to inflict as much, loss as possible on the advancing forces of the Allies. From this it would seem that the artillery of the Allies has made the German trenches very unhealthy places to live in. Reports of the effects. of high explosives have repeatedly been given in the cablea. Men have been buried alive, and those surviving the effects have been so shaken that they offered very feeble resistance, or ncne at all, and readily o-ave themselves up. The new tactics of the enemy seem, also to be part of a policy which -will compel the Allies to destroy every house, chateau village, and town in Belgium; It seems to agree with the reported conversation of two German officers in Belgium. "Wo will have to retreat soon," said one. "Yes" replied the other, "but we will leave the OOUnt ? r a , desert -''' Th e only way to counteract the destruction that is soing on in Flanders and the north of France is to attack the Germane heavily in the Champagne, and threaten the. Mense Valley, or invade Germany through Lorraine 'and Luxemburg. To attempt to drive the Germans out of Belgium from the Flanders front would bo costly in life to the Allies and would entail the destruction of evervthinsr throughout the length and breadth of the land. Still, for obvious reasons, it is necessary to relieve the coastline of Belgium of the presence of the enemy, since Germany is now using it ns a i, aso f or marines and submarine supply ships. Up to the present the offensive on the Yser has been in the hands of the enemy. Now tho conditions are changing, and the offensive is coming from the side of the Allies. That is an encouraging feature of the present fighting. THE ITALIANS' CAMPAIGN. Tht Italians are makinir a good showing, and aro introducing intelligence and varietv into their proceeding?. Their destrover fio"tilla has bombarded Montfalcone, at tho head °f .^l 10 C'"'f of Trieste, and one of their dirigibles has done useful service in blowing no -a munition depot in tho naval yards at Pola. Tho Italians have already entered the Trenjrino along tho Adige valley, and are ad- , stancing from Ala njpoa Rover ea. To the

eastward they have made themselves masters of the Aavig-o plateau, and are clearing the way towards Lenico, which is not far from -Trent, I'hey appear to be making' great use of their artillery, for the cablo reports indicate that the Austrian forts aro being simply pulvcriei'd. Judged from the 110mbcr of points at }vhich tlie Italians aro attacking, they must hnvo very largo forces in Venetin and Friuli. They are certainly taking advantage of their opportunities while Inc. Austriaiis have their main forces tied i ,l n ." ,ciiltios in Galicia. Tlie offensive in lulving passed to the/ Russians, the Aus tr inns cannot- now withdraw any troops. Aor will the Germans permit, anything of k'nd to happen while General von Mackonsen s armies are in jeopardy.