The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1916-01-12
THE WAR LAST WEEK
RUSSIANS ATTACK AT RIGHT AT
RIGHT TIME

ANA 141A
PRESSURE ON TUTONS
New York Times Reviewer Says Cen
tral Empire Must Meet Offensive
Balkan Affair and Egyptian At
tack are Thereby Halted by the
Russian Offensive.
The week just past has been mark
ed by the progressive development of
a new Russian offensive extending
along the Styr and Strypa Rivers
from the Pripet marshes to Bessa-
rabia. The crux of the attack seems
to be at present about Cznerowitz,
the capital of BukoWina crownland.
That the Russians would began an
offensive movement as the winter de-
veliped was fully anticipated, that
that this movement has been launch
ed against the Teuton right is en-
tirely logical from political as well
as military considerations.
IN the earlier days Of the war,
when Russia was. extremely active in
that vicinity, Bukowina itself was
apparently an object of but little at
tention. No serious attempt to in
wade it was ever made, although
fighting along the Pruth River was,
just about a year ago, almost con-
tinuous. Due, however, to the pres
ent political situation, this section
has taken on very great importance.
Cznerowitz is but a few miles from
the Rumanian border, with Rumania
is still wavering between neutrality
and a declaration Of allegiance to
one or the other of the belligerent
camps.
In the present military situation
Rumania holds the key to the entire
strategical position, whether the
Allies wish to strike through Bull
garia or against the Teutons. More
over, Rumania is in point of popula-
tion the largest of the Balkan States
and can put into the field a force
greater than that of any two Of the
other Balkan States combined. Were
Rumania to enter the war on the
side Of the Entente, all that the
Kaiser has gained as a result OF
forcing open the Orient railroad
would be Immediately placed in jeo-
pardy.
The political effect Of Russia S
new move is therefore apparent. Any
Russian victory in this section will
produce a. great moral effect in Buch-
Arrest, and should the victory assume
considerable proportions would weigh
heavily in causing the alignment OF
Rumania on the side Of the Entente
In addition to the political phase
of this new movement there are mill.
tary results to be achieved which are
of considerable Importance. Reports
have been current from the begin
ming of Teuton success in Serbia OF
an invasion of Egypt through an at.
tack on Suez.
During the last ten days it was
even reported that the necessary con,
centrations had been effected, pre-
VI
forces to the point Of attack. These
reviews have not placed very great
credence in any serious move in this
direction by any force Of which the
Teutcns were a large part.
There are, however, a large num-
Der Of Asiatic Turks who would bs
available for this operation, lacking
only the necessary artillery and am.
munition. This, it is within the
bounds of possibility, Germany could
have supplied. ..
Again there is the movement
against the allied position in Salon.
Xxi, preparations for which are SAID
to be now complete. AS will be
shown later, there are several rea
sons why:":it may with" reason be
doubted whether an Invasion oi
Greek territory for this purpose ha:
ever been the Intention of the Ger
man general staff. Such an invasion
could not be made by the Teutonit
allies, whether JBulgars or Turks, but
would have to,.be by Teuton forces
t:aloae. '. : ..
=, The Russian offensive between ths
Pripet marshes and Bessarabia has
however completely upset any plan:
the Germans may have formulated
for these two enterprises. The Rus
slams have begun a very serious
movement, with a large number OF
troops and guns-a movement fal
different and far more intensive thar
the sporadic effort of the French and
British in the west.
In spite of German efforts to keep
the centre of activity away from the
Rumanian frontier and in the Riga
sector, the Russians, having proved
to themselves that their forces on the
Drina were able to hold the Germans
back without weakening any other
section of the front, have launched
an attack on an enormous scale at
the very point the Germans did not
want to see it some. For political
if for no other reasons, Germany can
not let this movement succeed, but
must use every available resource in
men and guns to defeat it.
There will be no strength, no sup
plies for either Mesopotamia OF
Saloniki. These are at least second
dTy uGluS anu GILL OlS ouDoloAoIi- :. ~
operations in either, no matter the
degree of success attained, can bring
final success to German arms as long
as the armies of France, England,
and Russia have their present capa-
bilities. >, When, therefore, an attack
in force comes not in a subsidiary
territory but at crucial. point one
of the two really vital theatres. Ger
many must act to repel: it, and, act
with all her force. -. :'
To consider the direct" o5erations
themselves, the sector of most severe
fighting is in the vicinity: Of Czner-
WITT. The Russian line: t:sthe be-
ginning: of this: latest 9eIelopment
extended along the east .banE of the
Strypa River down to- the 'Dniester
and along the north bank Of the
Dniester to a point just east of Zal-
eszczyki. Then it curved toward the
south, and east into Bessar2kia.
The Austrian troops occupied a