Position under threat

German peril at St Mihiel

Austrian centre pierced

From what source the Command of the German auxiliary cruiser, Prinz Eitel Frederich, expected ‘relief’ to arrive is not clear but in any case it has failed him and he makes that the excuse for submitting to internment.

There was much talk of sudden coaling and a possible sudden dash for the open sea but had the attempt to escape been made it could not have succeeded, with British warships waiting and watching for their prey in such strength as to close practically every avenue. To all intents and purposes the seas are now clear of German raiders and despite the long miles many of their submarines can travel they are not likely to visit these waters.

Yesterday some reference was made to the recurrences of calculated lying in the Germans and Austrian official communiques, relating to both fronts.

Here is another example. It was reported from Berlin, the Germans had occupied Driegrachten and last night its evacuation was announced, the reason given being that the allies heavy artillery had smashed the place up. In truth it is a small area and the Germans were never really in occupation. They did not succeed in crossing the canal and all they did was to drive in some outposts, even this success was temporary in character.

Those and similar mis-statements by the German Headquarters Staff entitle us to place very little credence in any of the detailed statements emanating from Berlin, for even when a truthful or semi-truthful admission is made it is evidently designed to carry with it some piece of inventiveness which would not otherwise stand any chance of acceptance.

These little revelations of the German mind and method are really worth noting for they indicate a perplexity which in its turn suggests the anxiety which now exists in the higher councils of the foe.

The Austrians are showing signs of even greater levels of perturbation.

“Against the fine local successes that we have achieved must be reckoned the local successes of the enemy,” says the report to which was added, “and the former must be as little overestimated as the latter”.

This ostentatious assumption of a charming and confiding frankness will deceive no one and the further statement: “The Austro-German successes on the heights to the east of the Laborox valley have as yet weighed as heavily in the scale as to justify any expectation of a general decision, which in modern fighting matures extremely slowly.”

This can only be regarded as an effort to pave the way for the publication of bad news.

Since the fall of Permysl set the seal on Russia’s success in Galicia, Austria’s hopes have fallen very low.

No longer was the invasion of Hungary a risky undertaking and the use Russia is making of her released forces is already clear. The new vigour that Russia has been able to impart into the great struggle in the Carpathians and the wonderful measure of success so far achieved must gravely affect the enemy’s campaign as a whole.