HOW GOES THE FIGHT?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11756, 21 July 1916, Page 1

HOW GOES THE FIGHT?

i NOTES ON THE WAR. | THE POSITION ANALYSED. I CHRISTCHURCH, July 21. Tho most striking item of news this morning, though not .necessarily tho most important, is tho report that Russian cavalry have crossed tho Carpathians and aro operating on the Hungarian side of tho passes. No precise information is available concerning the raids, for they aro likely >to be nothing more than raids, and' it is not even stated by which pass the Cossacks penetrated into Hungary. A similar )x>lioy was adopted in the first Russian invasion of Galicia, and it undoubtedly proved profitable. The eastern passes over the Carpathians fell early into Russian hands, and almost from tho outset excursions across tho mountains seem to have been undertaken. In September of 1914 the Russian patrols were as far south as Maramaros Sziget, which means that they must have crossed the valley of the Theiss and destroyed the Hungarian railways in the region. , The object of these raids was primarily to break the enemy's lines of communication and at tho same time to afford effective cover to the larger operations in Galicia, If the Russian advance had' developed as the Grand Duke planned, it would have been necessary for him to cover his left flank by a simultaneous movement along the Carpathians on the southern side of tho ranges, and possession of the Theiss valley would have been essential. A serious invasion of Hungary was not in contemplation at that because, the-Russian objective was Cracow, and tho operations that were reported in the regions of MaramarosSziget—which at. one time seems even to have been held 'by the Russians—and Munkacs were apparently intended; to prepare tho way for future movements. No effective opposition was encountered, though tho panic of the Hungarian ■; population must have disturbed the Austro-German councils; and at a later date the threat of similar raids on , a { larger scale led to important political I changes', in the , Dual Monarchy and | equally important changes' in .the | enemy's plans. The raiders..scein, to_ have busied* themselves destroying railways and -bridges, laying waste standing crops and commandeering horses." An immediato effect was a rush of refugees ; to tho south, and, as both Austrian and i German agents were active acquiring i | horses in Hungary for the armies,, their | operations were rudely interrupted. lb is stated that thousands of horses were drivon into Transylvania, and that it' was many weeks before the horse business could -be--resumed:-" *....,..... It was early last year that the Russians' overran the Bukowina.' Only ono division was employed" in "this work, and .tho' Austrian troops covering" the' Crown Land "appear'to havo been no more numerous. The .advance, was rapid, even more rapid than it lias been this year, and'in the course of a fortnight tho. Austrians. had been forced back south ! of Kimpolung, where they remained ! guarding, the extreme southern" pass of'' Borgo, which, by the way, never passed into. tho possession of the Russians. The whole movement seems to havo been political in intention, tho aim being to prepare the way for effective Rumanian co-operation. Rumania, however, remained out df tho quarrel, one very sound reason for her policy being that she had no means of meeting heavy de- j mands for ;nilitary equipment and mu- j nitions. The immediate effect of this Russian occupation of the Bukowina was the organisation of a powerful force to protect Hungary, against invasion, and the late winter and spring of last year, it will bo ■ remembered, .were marked by a tremendous struggle in the Carpathians, ending with tho breaking of the Russian front on the Dunajec and Biala in Western Galicia. It is probable that the raid into Hungary now reported lias been made, by way of tho pass west of Kirlibaba, which is held by tho Russians. There is a road leading by the Strol Pass, a comparatively easy . saddle between heavily timbered ranges, to Nagy Bocsko, on tho railway north from

Maraniaros-Sziget. : This' railway leads over tho Jablonitsa orVDelatyn Pass to Kplomeiv and ;-it -is highly probable the Russian '.cavalry ,have .pushed rabidly from Kirlib'aba and . cut the tine. The 1 importance ,of • tlie- incident cannot - be : estimated ."at .the; moment, because there is. no precise information 03 to" the' position in .'the-: Delaiyn' district, where a- ;good .'deaUof .fighting has been recorded from time; to .time. It seems to show, however,'; that-the Austrians have' not endeavoured to send reinforcemehts : by this railway, for if a small cavalry, force could cut • it t]io lino cannot;have 'been;,strongly/guarded. However,, earlier'in tho war the Austrians committed tho same' blunder of assuming the. safety of. lines of communication ~ allowing ■ the'. daring. Cossacks to exercise -W important influence on the course of ; operations at times.. ■ ',■:'.' .".. .The German enterprise .of sending, a submarine .across the Atlantic seems ;at present-to bo merely,;tho extravagant spectacular-wusto of a,ship that.might bo useful' in warfare,.but.it may havo some sound basis. The voyage appears to havo been well advertised, for at" tho end 'of May' the. New York' ,: Evening Mail/' which .'is said to be in German

hands, : announced that. the HamburgAm erika - lino had completed arrangements for. a regular submarino service between .Hamburg, and. New York, the first -vessel , of the series 'arriving • in .American; waters'-.about-. July 4. The •announcement added that the new merchant submarines had been built on a scale largo' enough to allow them to carry.'twenty rave torpedoes, and this space".was'to be- used tor cargo, passengers and. mails. ; The vessels would 'be armed-for defensive-purposes with a oin gmi.-.similar to those- mounted in British,- French- and Italian liners, it was --..expected' that by August 8 five of these sup'ersubmarincs would bo operating • regularly. They would leave Hamburg and go north of Scotland or through'the'Channel'as conditions warranted, and would make the voyage in about.-'ten days, a sustained surface speed of 14;-knots being guaranteed. • It was planned to enter New York by way of Long Island Sound, taking advantage of tho three-milo limit and tho stretch of water botwen Montauk Point and Capo Cod. Each submarine,, according to the "Mail's" information, is 450 ft long and 45ft beam, and carries a crow, of sixty men. The navigating bridge when tho boat is running

;on the surface is 30ft' above the water line. Above the main hull is a superimposed deck,, and above this a. third deck and the navigating bridge. Tho superimposed deck has portholes like an ordinary passenger steamer, and it is on this deck that the.passengers will be accommodated. One thousand pounds sterling will bo asked for a single i : arc. •At this price several passages have been booked by business men. l<'uel will be carried sufficient for a voyage 'of G2OO 'miles. The cargo will- consist of drugs, chemicals and jewels. The chemicals, it is calculated, will pay for the voyage, as atrophine, which sold before the war for half a cent a grain, is now bringing 20 cents a grain, while other chemicals are selling for £'2o an ounce.