Fog of war in place

Outlook is gloomy

Heavy loss against the Turks

THE ‘liveliness’ continues and there is again a big budget of news to discuss without, however, in the case of the eastern theatre, such a lifting of the ‘fog of war’ as enables us to see what is actually going on.

The movements it is possible to perceive ‘suggest’ this or that and there are ‘indications’ of various kinds, but daring indeed would be the observer who ventured upon the more than admitted surmise or sought to draw other than vague conclusions.

What seems to be happening in the east (there is no intention this morning of examining the situation in detail) is a fresh German offensive for the direction of the interior of Russia, with huge forces advancing on an extended front between the Neiman and the Dwina - northward towards Riga, eastwards towards Dvins (apparently now being evacuated), and southward towards Vilna (where also ‘precautions’ in view of emergencies are apparently being taken).

What is the real and ultimate objective?

Primarily, it may be presumed, Von Hindenburg still hopes to bring the main Russian armies into a decisive battle while the superiority in metal and munitions rests with him but then is the further possibility that at attempt is being made to reach Petrograd and thus score the most highly dramatic triumph of the war?

In the meantime, the situation certainly bears none too rosy an aspect.

The taking of Kovno, where the Russians have put up such a magnificent fight, would not, perhaps, mean the turning of the Neimen line, but the occupation of Vilna would. This latter achievement, indeed, from the military point of view, would transcend the taking of Warsaw.

The taking of the Piple works, it is suggested, has given the enemy subsequent operations against Kovno and with the fall of Kovno the menace to Vilna becomes much greater.

While it is well to realise that the immediate outlook is uncommonly gloomy we may take some comfort from the fact that the further the enemy advances the greater his losses and there is a likelihood of more ‘victories’ of the kind from which he will recover much more slowly than the Russians from their ‘defeats’.

Another despatch from Sir Ian Hamilton is published.

Nothing is mentioned as to the landing elsewhere - doubtless there are good reasons for keeping it ‘dark’ but he states that the general result of the fighting in the Anzac zone has been the trebling of the area our brave Colonials hold.

No further progress has yet been made near Ari Butnu.

It may be expected, too, that our losses here were very heavy.

The Turks were bound to oppose to their very utmost these new landings, for the enlargement of the day British forces and positions north of Gaba Tope menaces the flank of the Turkish position at Kilid Babr and the communications of the Achi Baba ‘Gibraltar’.

Events in this theatre are, however, now moving very rapidly and it is evident that the Anglo French forces are now strong enough to deliver the final blow.

Before August is out our warships may be in the Sea of Marmora.