On verge of victory

Gallipoli may shorten the entire war

German failure in the East

THERE is a tendency in some quarters to compare the fighting in Gallipoli with the trench warfare in France and Flanders and to speak dispiritedly of ‘gains of a few hundred yards’.

This attitude is created by a curious misreading of the situation, for it must be remembered that, while in the west the taking of one lot of trenches means but another lot of trenches to be taken, here in Gallipoli we are very close to the ultimate defensive position.

It is perfectly true, as Mr Winston Churchill said, that only a few miles of scrub and hill separate us from a great and decisive victory.

When Achi Baba and the Spurs on either side are in our hands three parts of our task is completed and soon afterwards the big guns of our warships will be trained on Constantinople.

The penultimate chapter has, however, to be written in blood, for the final obstacle, is (next perhaps to the landing itself) the greatest.

Last Friday’s effort, it must also be admitted, was not the success newspaper headings seem to suggest, but it is known what was wrong, and the foundation has been truly laid for the great general assault which is now not likely to be long delayed.

Our losses - in ships and men - have been heavy, but the end to be attained is worth all it is likely to cost.

It may revolutionise the situation on every front and shorten the war to an extent not dreamed of by the general public when the Dardanelles operations were first entered upon.

The dismay (for there was dismay) aroused by the recapture of Premysl by the Austro-German forces is slowly giving way to the old feeling of trust in the Russian general staff.

There is no mistaking the trend of events in the main Russian front. It is clear now that the enemy offensive had lost its weight and impetus.

On the other hand the Russian offensive along the lower San, between the Vistula and the Wislok confluence, is certainly a movement of great importance.

In the Stryj district, also, it is difficult to distinguish Jack and his master. The Russians do not appear to be retiring at all now and the breakdown of the enemy’s offensive on this sector would probably mean the holding up of the movement on Lemberg.

When the enemy is advancing his difficulties are growing, for with few railways and bad roads the German is manifestly at a disadvantage.

Briefly the prospect of a real and far-reaching Germany success, even in Galicia, has already gone. Moreover, it is now too late, as the situation elsewhere is changing with a rapidity which must be particularly disturbing to the enemy headquarters staff.

It seems almost incredible but appearances certainly point to the conclusion that only towards the last did Austria really believe that Italy would take up arms.

In any case very inadequate provisions were made to stop the new foe’s advance and if forces are detached from the north the enemy there will make the most of the opportunity against the weakened front.