THE
THE WORLD WAR
HALF A YEAR OF FIGHTING"
A Pointed Analysis of the Struggle.
5.
HONG KONG TELEGRAPH
II. Prospects of Peace.
it
a
EXTRA
HONGKONG, SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1915.
a
Bung
marches of. Germany againat in across the Carpathian Tasion. Finally, since in the first ary and on the frontiers of advance upon Warsaw, the Rus. Bukovins. siuna had been compelled to reCoincident with the German tice from all western Galicis to advance the Austrians undertook the Sar, give over their thrustamist ambitions operation to into Hungary and their advanco clear their own territories. While upon Cracow, the Germans might an Austro-German army moved hope that the new invasion would east from prove equally useful to their ally the Nida, forming the right Cracow toward In the closing days of December wing of the German army in the German advance continued Poland, two other armies, one and under pressure the whole cuming north through the western- Russian line went back. Lowicz, most passes of the Carpathione, Skierniewice, the Breslau, Freak the other moving east from Crane, fart and Thorn railroads west of along the eastern foothills of the these cities, were surrendered and Carpathiace, were directed at the the Russian army at last took extreme left of the Russians, with rot behind the Bzura, which the design to strike the Rassian outers the Warsat north of So- nk in front and rear of the chara and some
twenty odd moment, somewhat as the mites west of Wargan. At the Prussian armies had arrived same time the Russian stmies, the field of Sadown 1885. which had been approaching Finally it was arranged that the Cracow from the north, moving Przemyal garrison should take along the Ivangorod Cracow rail- the field and operate in the rear way, in their turn retreated east of the whole Russian front in the ward, aatil they stood behind the Galician field of operations. Nida, which enters the Vistals north of Tarnow.
|
two
Russians
Gorman colonies which had been losses in this your cannot be made
But there were other considers- ased as the base for German good, save by the now class com- tions. Should Italy remain neutral, attacks and intrigue in South lug to the colours in 1017 and Dalmatia might go entire to the Africa, in East Africi, cald be lovies from her colonies.) New Survis, the whole Adriatlo intolerable. Nor coald Britain Now Germany may be reckoned cost from Istria to Cait ro, with ahoalho her sword until German to have had 6,000,000 men its hinterland populated by supremacy in Constantinople, available for servicein July, 1914; Slovenes, Croats, Servians might which had struck at King 600,000 more will be supplied by be usited in a new southern Slay George's millions of Mohammed- the combined classes of 1910 and state, nearly as large as Italy, an subjects in India and Egyp, 1917. German losses in the first henceforth a rival on the Adriatic, had been ended. Finally the six months may be ofimated as rival supported by Russia. Or prolongation of the war extended 1,8.0,000. At this rate, 1,800,000 the victorious alliance baving the period of prostration of her will be removed permanently uquered Germany, and seized only rival in the commerce of from the German linse in each of Austrian lande, might conclude The following is another of slowly but steadily consumed by the world. Every casualty at the first two years of war. Thus, to keep the bulk of Austria intact, the nories of War articles coa. her enemiss as one eita. an arti- of the Cerasus in battle with the at the opening of the third, Gr-less the northern hall fall to iter tributed
Trough or Russians was a victory many will still have 3,000,000 many, and Italy would lose might to the Amerioli, o'nka, leat by leaf.
To balaces this, Germans could for England, since it destroyed sien to draw on. Bat her losses even find the victors her rivals in Review of Reviews By Mr. Frank H. Simmonde :-). still point ti conquered lands and more of the artisans, the skilled thereafter will be definitive, be the Mediterranean and the naar Six months after the outbreak provinces. In Poland, in Flan workmen of German industry. cause she will have exhausted her Est inviting her to evacuate of the world war the qutstanding ders, in Champagne, ber lines Every day the war continued reserve. As to Austria, she has thofes, yield to Greece and face was that peace stems as held, her counter-attacks regained Liverpool and Glasgow gained lost more than 1,000,000 already Secria Valona, Darazzo, the Al- distant, almost more dialant than lost trenches regularly. In Alsace, new advantages over Hauburg in her many disasters. She may banian regions on which Italian it did in September. Yet if the along the Aino, in Artois and and Bremen, British ships extend-still have 1,000,000 in the fisid, troops were already taking root. close of the conflict remained still | Belgium, Anglo-Franch ated the area of conquest, while but a year hence, two years house, In the great day of liquidation boaten German ships lay idle in New she can hope for uo more and her Italy might find hereeif isolated, a subject for speculation, it was tacks were speedily
East ond
west York and Lisbon, or ia bome resourosa, too, will be completely friendless, unless she shared in now plain that the issue had been down
exhausted. "determined in September and that Germany was still a matol for ports.
the struggle. Thus in January, For all her foes, the orsahing Thus, as the third year of the Italy, too, seemed about tɔ juin all that had happened since the ber enemise, but east and west
Unfortunately for the Austrians Battle of the Marne had in fact the moment for victory had pase of Germany was patently more war opens not more than 4,000,- the enemies of Germany, when
the design, which if realisable been the natural consequence of ed, irrevocably passed, east and profitable than pesos on any but 00) Austro-Germ 103, the last the great earthquake cams, bring- In their new positions the Rus- would have mant complete dis- For Germany, line, will confront 6,000,000 Rusing losses as terrible a battle and sians occupied a line resembling aster to the Russians in Galicia, one more decisive battle of the west German operations more and their own terms. world. On fields and hills but more teeded toward the defensive, still the conqueror in Belgium, in sians, British, and French, helped for the moment prostrating the the string of a mighty bow, form- was beyond their power. Instead little distant from the plain where What Gottysburg had been to the northern France, in western by some hundreds of thousands of nation.
ed by the Vistala behind them, of waiting for the Austrians to Roman civilisation turned back South, the Marno was now prov Fuland, still unbeaten in the field, Slavs and Belgiane, behind whom Yet for Roumania, for Italy, the string perhaps 150 miles long, carry out their plans, the Russiana Attila, the German bid for world ing to have been to Germany, indeed superior in achievement, it will stand Russian and British fast resided that profit in the As the north, where the main before Cracow fall back behind supremacy, the Kaiser's chance Nowhere in January was there the was impossible to lay down her reserves of at least 4,000,000 Great War for them was die Ruasian and German armies faced the Donsiso at Tarnow, detached to play Napoleon, weza abolished, slightest sign of new promise for arms, aurronder her provinces, This means, with every discount coverable only through the defeat each other, the Bzara, flanked by all available reserves from this
In the opening month of the German victory and what was her fleet, her great hopes, her for the roughness of the estimate, of Aaria, realisable only if they long
stretches of morasses, front and sent them south to meet war there was a chance, a rai true in January had been true in splendid dreams, ber legitimate that some time in the third year, participated in the struggle. Tóf swampa, offered de: the Austrians oɔming north acro 18-
rights in some cases, in advance. while Russis and Britain are still
Together faly and Boumania fensive adv atages surpassing the Uarpathians, reinforced by the chance, that Germany might the earlier monthe,
Bali a year of war had given of actual defeat. For her, too, able to keep their armies at their could put 1,000,000 troops in the those of the Yder in Flanders. To the troops lately drawn from destroy France before Russia was
force Russia to make terme history one more decisive battle, peace on any terms obtainable present point, Aastra-Garmin hold, fully equipped, trained. the south the Nids was a cou Servis, with such from up, before England was ready and for Europe, conceivably the great- was certain to be expensive forces will begin to decline Boutad Them would
aland siderable military obstacle, B-sequences, then, faster of the Continent as est in permanent meaning since bond anything but the conse- rapidly and a tremendous ad- adequate reserves to maintain tween these two rivers, the table
standing on the defensive the France of Napoleon, renew. Waterloo. In that battle it had quences of complete disaster. vantage of numbers will bolong these armies at full etrangib. land dividing their waterbeda ward Oracow, the
Austris, Belgium, Servia might to the enemies of Germany. Suob With Savian troops they could was cut by the Pilica River flowing promptly defeated the Austrian the duel with the British Empire been decided that Europe should
abandoned still be European and Lot Prus-long for pelca ca sny reasonable is the statement of what may be bereckoned upon to occupy all the east to the Visiala and thus army coming north from Hungary that France had precisely a century before. After sin, At the Mirae, France had terms, but Eugland, Frases, Rus-called the mathematics of mur- Austrian resources and leave Bus perpendicular to the
Kassian drove it back sorosa the southern The Battle of the Marne the chance saved herself and Europe; after sia, they at last had Germany der.
sia free to conosateste against front.
railway line which follows the had vanighed. Week by week, the Miroe the problem was how within their power, not immediate- For Americans it will be inter-Germany, Toe Lalian feet would Since the Russian flanke rested Carpathians from Silesia to Roa month by month, Russian, British, long it would take Europe to con- ly, but ultimately. In allesting to recall that this is pre bring new aid to the Allied ships upon the Vistula and the wings manis, beat down a sortie from French military power developed, quer Germany, and in January respects January conditione pisely what happened to the South holding the Suez Canal, bombard were covered by the Bzura and Przemysl, which word from increased. On January 20, Ger- was unmistakable that as yet resembled the situation when in the third year of the Civiling the Dardanelles, bookading Nida rivers the centre alone soon to co-ordinate with the other Europe marched against Napoleon War. Up to this time the Bath the Austrian warships in Pols and seemed vulnerable. Yet at the Austrian movements. Finally, many held less of France that on Europe had made no progress. September 1; instead of a 100,-
still unconquered in 1813, but at had been able to meet invasion Cattaro.
outset the German assault rolled having disposed of two of the It was natural then, in the sixth last conquerable. 8, six months and halt it with numers unequal for Austria, for Germany, the up against the Bzura position, three hostile moves, the Russians 000 British troops, the advance guard of a fresh million were month, the war having fallen to after the first declaration of war, to their opponents but equal to entrance of these two fresh in huge losses to the assailants were again throw their forces back already in Flanders; Freuch complete des flock in Poland as the prospect of peace was alight, their task. Bat in 1804 the tagonists would be a final sign reported by the Russians, who across the Dunajec and began to troops were breaking ont in in Uhampagne, that the whole a war aot of strategy but attrition," Readcorn of the Confederacy," as that the war had been lost, might dug themselves into the ground advance west toward Orasow
should qusider the possibility a war such as Grant waged against Jefferson Davis termed the young bring them to surrender ia ad as the French and British had in again. In the period between the Bit of peace, weigh the prospect of the Confederacy from the Rapidan men, had been ground up and the vance of exhaustion, might compel Flanders. A mild winter turning For Austria this latest of her dis tle of the Al:rns and January, opoing battles, murderous but into Appomattox seemed inslust-end came quickly thereafter. Austria to make a separate pease the Bzura marshes into endless astere was terribly embarrassing. 1916, Germany bad made ibres decisive, byun arrangement able.
IV, New Factors,
and leave Germany to her fato, awamps served to increase An invasion of Hungary now seem III. War by Attrition.
Singe every indication of battle Here in January was the single the German difficulties. Napoleon ed inevitable. Hungarian ingistence great campaigns. On the Year honourable to all. Yet, this done,
Since a war of attrition aesmel field and military statistics alike hint of early peace, peace through had been ruined by an early as upon the defence of this frontier the very flower of her troops bad it was only less plaid than the some down under the eyes of the fact that there coull be no im- inevitable, the natural enquiry pointed towards three years was more war, pesca prediosted on sian winter, a csatury before, but promptly produced the resignation Kaiser in a frantic attempt to gain meliste military decision, that was in January: How long will in January, it was inevitable that new disasters to the two Kaiserá now General January, blowing of Count von Berchtold, Foreiga the French coast cities, to grasp any other solution was indiscover it take to roach exhaustion? the attention of the world should and their Turkish ully, but mild, sending raina, not frosts and Minister, whostill favoured a cam
Again, since it was now clear turn to the only possible influence recently the fos of Italy and still now, paralysed the transpors of paign to recover lost laurels in the eastern shore of the Straits of able. Daver, to get within re.ch of the The reason was simple. For that Austrian resources were fast which might shorten the period the menace to Italian as well as heavy German artillery.
Servia. German troops, too, had hated English man's home. A France, who had suffered most of failing and new drafts were being of world auffering, that which British empire in Africa.
Little by little it became clear to be brought to Hungary to meet frat sttempt to seizo Warsaw, to the Allies, that is of the greater fend Bungary as well as 0.33ow, tion, if they should enter the war. upon Formen armies to de- might be exerted by neutral as
that the German invasion had the Russians, slowly but steadily crush Russia, Trance being nations, peace without Also was the real problem became: How Of these nations, Roumsaia sad operations of January were with Russia had succeeded in bringing snow-filled passag toward the East and west alike the military again becu halted. Once more working their way through the indestructible, had failed before upthinkable. More than this, the Polish capital. A accond for forty years the French people long can Germany continue to Italy: were the most interesting out real results. In France a new up reserves in time to offset the Hungarion Plain. offensive into Poland, after great had lived under the shadow of wo Franco, Russia and England because it was becoming plain Allied offensive was beaten down advantage Germany derived from But if the fresh defeat brought victories and terrible losses, bad German attack, Pence now rastor
with equil or sufficient numbers that self-interest and popular at its very inception and a Ger strategio railways. By mid- internal difficulties and abrest in ed it would still be a mano13/ to prolong the war? odme to a halt before the Bzors.
sentiment in each were drawing man gain on the Alene emphase January the German attack had the Hapsburg Empire its effect Six month at er war had begun but Feanor, having done her part, er had said that the strugle For Roumonia the case was an still able to hold her conquered Finos, tust is from the Hasion was still more considerable and Early in the war Lord Kitchen- them neuror to the battle lines.. ed the fact that Germany was shifted from the Bzura to the upon external political relationa Germany was still fazod by three and Russia and England now might last three years. What mistakable. In Bukovias and provinces in France and Belgium. right to the Russian centre unfavourable. The Austrian ad great nations, their military force coming on the field in now seemed a mere rough estimate Transylvania 2,500,000 Ranman- In the East the German drive for Mausime the Russian left on the will gaining in numbers, their was passed. Could her allies, examined by the few statistics you of dusrion or Magsar uastore, the Bzura and the subsequent trian army moving east from git back into Buköring, which wholly unsbaken, their armies strength, the hour of reno pies, becomes far more significant inne suffered under the tyranpy Warsaw came to a dead stop at Vastuta severely defeated an Aus urned back, Russian troops were deficiencies in artillery, in with her own help, crush Germany available, which show the wastage These provinces were contiguous defeat of the Austrians in Galicia Cracow and began to attempt to had been won and lost before machinery, all but made good. completely, there would be for of war Bach advantage as her prepared. Franca tho promies of at least a
to Rodmanis, were indeed lost demonstrated thus it had failed in
by Russia. This time the con- Thue it seems fair to estimate proviness of the Roumanish its indirect as well as its direct pass the Nida, moving west 'ness had given her, the credit generation of security, time to
In sum, the January fighting quest was complete and Bussisn balance in her favour, was now build up her great colonial at Germany has now in the field world, Austrian disaster bad purpose. So far aereal advantage in Poland had developed into a troops approached the Borgo Pass exhausted empire, organise her
3,000,000 men, France 2,000,000, brought Basgian troops into was discoverable in the Jandary complete deadlock. By her new leading into Transylvania, In the same period her Austrian armies, thus restore the balance Austria 1,000,000, Rusis 3,000, Bukovica and to the marches of round it lay with the Allies, not invasion of Poland, Germany had For Roumani: this new Russian ally had three times, been beaten between her population and Gur-900 England at no distant dats Transylvania. Kassian diplomsey in their campaigns against Gor cleared her own frontiers, she had riumph posed a grave problem. almost to her kaces by Rasian meny's. For France, the real will have 1,000,000 on the Oon held them out as prospective many, but in the Russian opera- rolled the Russians back three Half of Bukovina, all of Trans- victories, was now facing an iu promise for peace was found in the rat, Servis and Bago may bibes to Roumania, but if Roum- tiongagainst Germany's two allies, quarters of the way to Wurearylvania belonge racially and vasion across the Carpathiana into war,
be reckoned to have 250,000. anis remained neutral, the chance Turkey and Austria, for both of but she had not destroyed their linguistically to Boumania, In Hungary. Twice, too, the Hupe-.
As for Russis, all her Czars had erned her supply of men, is fer by Russia, Transylvania left to
Now as far as Russia is oon might be lost, Bukovina annexed whom the month was disastrous, armies, she had not taken Warsaw, them live 2,500,000 people speak burg Emperor had seen splendid dreamed of for centuries was in
Taking up the Polish campaign she seemed no longer to have any ing the Roman tongue of the armies ignominiously routed, die sigue, Constantinople, the denyinary enloulation inex the Hungarians. Bere she could fret, it will be recalled that in this real chance of taking it, she had East. To possess these provinces stroyed by the hated Serbs, who strastion of Turkey, of Austria, stible. She can keep her Eur strike with complete safety Rou-magazine for last month I de- not even served her ally in had long been the dream of Bou in their turn were preparing to with the resulting Russian he open, fomias 3,000,000 for thece mania had to settle with her Bul- ecribed the advance of the Ger- Galicia materially, since new mania's patriots. Both wers Low flow over the Danube into gemony over all the Slave, over years, despite losses. As to Bog-garian neighbour whose vineyard mans from Thoto, their victory di aster had come to Austrin at to be had by joining Rawin Hungary.
the Balkans, the mastery of the land, her ability to maintain an she had raided in the Second at Lodz, their renewed effort to the very moment when the Germen against Austria, Victorious or Around the world the German Continent, all these were cesured army of 1,000,000 on the Con- Bilkan War, but in January this push forward along the railroads advance to Warsaw was going defeated, Ragein wenld hardly hopes had equally proven vain, if Germany asuld be crushed, all tinent indeficitely and despite detail seemed arranged,
to Warsaw. To capture Warsaw forward most formidably.
Oonsent to see them Houmanian The Turk: bad sullared disaster, these wore in jeopardy if Ger losses ia equally to be accepted. As for Italy, her stake was even meant to lay hands on the most
It is different with France. the Holy War had fallen to empty many should escape now by pre available military population way are peopled by Italians. Along in western Russia, to seize the west At the moment when yon Hin- dew Austrian defeat revived the Her larger, Trieste and the Trentino important road and railroad centre Disaster. the cont of conqueat. Thuishe unless Roumania paid her share of nothing, the South African montare peace. Eagland and revolution had flokered out as an France were now fighting to makad be reck ned at 4,000,000. Of the Dalmatian opast the ruins of bank of the Vistula and make denburg had launched his second talk of immediate Roumanin n abortive rovell, with no other per the Czar master in the Near East the she has already lost 1,000,000 Venetian and Roman empire are this river the military frontier of drive ng linet Waraw, Russian tervention, and in late Jenner manent consequence than to in such aid could hardly be had death, capture, "disose or hickly strewn and the coast towns the Gorman army, thus holding troops were on two sides of Ora- while Rossin's Rou sure the loss of German South-west again, bat, Germany orashel, wounds. Half of this number bear Italian names and have Russian armies more than a hun cow and were reaching toward the from Bessarabia wore fru Africs. In Asin her colony had who could veto Russia's will in may be reckoned as permanently Italian populations. To take these dred miles from Silesia and oath to cut it off and surround it, with the Roumanian disappeared into Japanese honde, Europe,wia Asia Minor, at the Inst. At this rate, France will be proviteza from Austris has long Posen; it meant to take up & Save for Grgcow, with its environs, path in the Pacific ber islands were Golden Horn and on the Billio? reduced at the opening of the been the dream of Italian states position many times more ad- and Przemysl now closely invent trance of f lost irrevocably in Africa her For England peace that spared third year of war to 2,000,000 men. Nb, at last, thelohande vantageous than that al
along the ed all Galicie wo Russian to be prop remaining colonien were being the German fleet, restored those with her allies the will then had come
Aisue and insure the eastern hands and Russian troo have 6,000,000 men. But her
Alsace.
uative
made
V. In "Poland.
VI. Another Austrian
rasce into Galicia having
been