PRZEMYSL AND THE EASTERN CAMPAIGN.

Southland Times, Issue 17468, 24 March 1915, Page 4

PRZEMYSL AND THE EASTERN CAMPAIGN.

Przemysl proved a very hard nut to crack, hut the Russians have brought a six months' siege to a successful issue. Whether the Galician fortress has been closely invested without a break since October is doubtful. Nothing was said in the cables (o indicate that the siege was raised at any time, but, I/)iidon newspapers of January dates stale definitely that operations against Przemysl were interrupted in December. However, that may lie. it is certain (hat Hie investment was accompanied by continuous and strenuous fighting. Why Przemysl was so difficult to reduce is not clearly understood. It was defended by ring forts in the usual way. hut from the experience of Liege and Antwerp we know Hint these defences Would not have held up the Russians so long, and the probability is that the Austrians adopted at Przemysl tho methods which the French have adopted at Verdun and Belfort, and defended the stronghold with earthworks at a sufficient distance to keep the siege guns off. The Russians could only carry the lines by hard fighting and progress was slow. Tho garrison made frequent sorties, hut without success. The greatest effort was made just before the surrender. It was an expiring effort. It failed, and, as in previous efforts to heat off Hie attack, the Austrians suffered very severe losses, it is estimated that the garrison consisted of 80,000 men in September, and at the end only 25,000 were left. The victims fell not only to Russian arms hut to hunger and disease. The lall of Przemysl will greatly strenthen the hands of the Grand Duke Nicholas. The fortress was a source of danger, even when invested, on the flank and rear of the armies operating against Cracow. It was a strong cover to a number of the passes over the Carpathians. and the siege necessitated the employment of a large army in a fixed position. The Russians will now be able to move towards Cracow with greater security and the’ containing force will he released for other work. The capture of Przemysl. following upon the occupation of Memel, is an effective reply to von Hindenhuigs partial successes, and the moral effect both in Germany and in Russia will he excellent from the Allies’ point of view. It looks as if the surrender of Przemysl will clearly mark the beginning of a new forward movement on the part of the Russians. The Grand Duke Nicholas will certainly make another strong bid for Cracow and the German frontier, and as the J-on-don Times’s military correspondent states that the German offensive has failed badly the assumption of the offensive hy the Russians in Poland must he near at hand. The Grand Duke's object in taking Memel la doubtless to draw men away from other parts of the German front pre-

juratory to delivering an attack, and when he does attack In Poland the fact that Przemysl is in his hands will enable him to move more rapidly and more freely. The whole character of the Eastern campaign may be changed if an event that seems to be imminent occurs—we mean the declaration of war by Italy against Austria, and, ipso facto, against Germany. The reports now coming from Rome are consistent only with the conclusion that Italy is on the brink of war. The German and Austrian Consuls are withdrawing, the transport of merchandise to Germany via Switzerland has been stopped, the identification plates which soldiers wear In the field have been served out, and Austria is massing troops in the provinces on the Italian frontier. Italy stands to lose so much by Inaction that she can hardly keep out of the war, and it she joins the Allies it is possible that some of the smaller Balkan Powers will follow suit. The first consequence of Italy’s decision to make common cause with the Triple Entente will be the closing of channels through which Germany must have obtained enormous quantities of foodstuffs and raw materials since the war began. Then Austria will be put In a hopeless position. The military correspondent of the London Times asserts that the Servian army is still unbroken and formidable. Austria is overmatched by Russia alone: she Cannot withstand Russia in the north and Italy and Scrvia in the south, while if Roumania in the cast also seizes the opportunity Austria-Hun-gary will be in the hands of her enemies in a few weeks, if Italy put her two million men into the field Austria would be compelled to choose between two alternatives—either to submit to conquest or to sue for peace, and it may be presumed that she would fake the latter course and leave Germany to tight her own battles. Of course, it is not certain that Italj has made up her mind. There was a time, months ago, when the declaration of •war by Italy was hourly expected and it did not come, but there is little room for doubt that the die is cast, and the news of the next few weeks should be full of interest and full of encouragement.