Italian success

Gradisca occupied

Gallipoli fighting: important positions occupied

Gains in the west

PERHAPS the most striking fact – (presuming it to be a fact) – in connection with the Russian victory on the Dniester, is conveyed in the statement, for which a Petrograd correspondent is responsible, that ‘the latest Russian success has been achieved solely with the bullet and bayonet – scarcely a shell has been fired in the past fortnight’.

This does not detract from the victory in anyway – adds to it, in fact – but it reveals the shortage under which Russia is at present labouring, and suggests that if supplies are not promptly available, the German offensive may be resumed with redoubled vigour until Lemburg is taken.

On the other hand Russian successes at various points, including the one very properly designated yesterday as ‘a big victory’, prove conclusively that the enemy has so far failed to achieve his great object and that the Russian lines are intact.

Had our Allies held on to the Permysl disaster this could scarcely have been averted, but they now hold a shorter and much stronger line, and we must hope that the Germans have been too long over a task they certainly depended upon accomplishing in much shorter time.

It has, moreover, been a terribly costly undertaking and it is stated that the enemy losses during the past six weeks have been greater than those of the preceding six months.

From all quarters the news this morning may be considered satisfactory.

The Italians continue to advance and in each direction have important gains to chronicle. On the Tyrol-Trentino frontier they have occupied Podestagno. On the Carnia frontier the opposition is apparently keener than elsewhere but vigorous Austrian attacks are brushed aside with a comparative ease.

Along the line of the Isonzo the operations have not as yet proved so difficult as anticipated but there may yet be developments which will test our Ally to the utmost.

At present the Italians are doing remarkably well. We now learn, as the sequel to Monfalcone, that Gradisca has been occupied.

An unofficial message records further successes in the Gallipoli Peninsula Maidos has not been taken, but the high country dominating that town is in our possession, while it is also stated that Anglo-French forces are within four hours of Gallipoli town.

There can be no doubt that these operations are being carried through with the utmost vigour and that nothing will be left undone to bring them to an early conclusion.

Fresh troops are apparently being landed continuously and we should soon have an overwhelming force on the Peninsula.

In the west the French continue to hammer away at the German lines and last night’s communique gives a fair indication of the effectiveness of the whole attack.