Unbroken line

Russians stronger than before

Gallipoli struggle

Grand assault launched

YESTERDAY morning, if a Mytilene message is correct, a combined general assault on the Turkish positions in Gallipoli Peninsula began.

As, however, there is an understanding that no official news can be communicated until an operation, or a set of operations had been carried through (successfully or unsuccessfully). We may have no authoritative statement as to the result of the attack before Monday next.

The task set for the Allies is a very difficult one as everyone knows, already strong positions are rendered additionally powerful by the land conformation and no attack can be pressed home without heavy loss of life.

It is true, too, that the flower of the Turkish army has assembled here and troops are also being drawn from other fronts with a view to preventing the forcing of the Straits and to save Constantinople.

On the other hand the Allies have lately been considerably reinforced and, whatever truth there may be in the Mytilene message, the time is both opportune and ripe for the grand assault.

It is necessary for the sake of Russia, it may be desirable also from the point of view of Italy, it is also important for this country in the sense that we want cheaper bread.

The latest news from the Austro Italian frontier regions is that our new ally is at last up against real obstacles, and the suggesting is that further progress will not be made rapidly.

Hitherto the fighting has been of a “preparatory character” – Rome calls it no more than that – but, whatever its nature; we are assured that it is still ‘developing to the advantage of the Italian forces’.

Near Tolmino, on the left of the Rover Isonzo fighting is proceeding with dash and stubbornness against Austrians who are strongly entrenched and well supported by heavy artillery and in the Carnia region by the Austrians are unsuccessfully attempting to capture the Monte Croce Pass.

There is still some obscurity as to the effect of the recapture of Permysl on the Russians, but undoubtedly very much depends on their ability to check the further advance of the victorious foe.

So far it would seem that the Russian line remains unbroken and is gradually stiffening and the taking of Permysl must have contained for the enemy some elements of disappointment.

They evidently expected a six-figure haul of prisoners and tons upon tons of valuable material. Probably they will yet make a claim of this kind, but it will be largely unfounded.

Mr Edgar Wallace writes in very interesting fashion on the position as he regards it – and Mr Wallace has been more consistently right in his estimates than the majority of ‘military correspondents’.

‘The German,’ he says, ‘is in a desperate hurry. He cannot afford to rest his men, for a lull must be fatal to his chance of success. He must, however exhausted his troops may be, press on to his military objective, because his enemy is fighting for time and every day of inaction gives him a material advantage. The Russian is in a much better position now than he was a week ago an for my part I do not anticipate a very lengthy occupation of Permysl by the enemy troops.’