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Show INNER FACTS OF WAR TOLD BY KITCHENER Declares Russians Better Soldiers and Turks More Humane 'l'han Germans; Permanent Forts Not as Good as Scientific Trenches; Gas and Liquid Fire Failures. LONDON, Sept. 16, 0:10 p. m. 'Thc Germans appear almont to have shot their bolt," said Karl Kit.-bener. secretary for war, to-iav. to-iav. ''Their advance in lusia. whicb fit one time averaged liw miles a day, now has diminished to lesb thaD one mile a day. ' ' Karl Kitchener 'b statement WU made in a review of the war in the house of lords. "The response to the country's calls for recruits has been little short of marvelous.'' he said, "but the problem how to insure tho field force being kept at full strength is engaging our close attention, and will, I hope, soon re-cei re-cei e a practical solution. I do not for one instant doubt that whatever sacrifice may prove necessary will be uodertaUen cheerfully by our people." This was the only portion of Lord Kitchener '6 speech whn-h might be re garded at- a reference to the possibility nf conseription. Gas and Liquid Fire Called Failures. Regarding military operations the war secretarv said : "For the last few months the front held by the allies in the west has been practically unchanged. This does not mean that there ha been relaxation of active work on the part of the force in the field, for the continuous local lighting which has taken place all along the line has called for the display of incessant in-cessant vigilance. 'Meauwhile our positionn have been much strengthened, not only by careful elaboration of the system of trench fortifications that already existed, but also by a large increase in the number of heavy guns which have been placed along our lines. 'The Germans recently on several occasions used gas and liquid fire, and have bombarded our lines with asphyxiating shells, but these forms of attack, lacking, as they now do, the element of surprise, have failed in their object and lost much of their offensive value, owing to the steps taken by us to counteract the effect of these pernicious methods. Praises New Armies on Firing Line. "As new armies have become trained and ready to take the field, considerable reinforcements have been sent out to join Field Marshal French's command. j Vou will be glad to hear his opinion I of these troops, communicated to me. He writes: 'The units appear to be thoroughly well officered and com- I manded. The equipment .ifl in good order and efficient. Several units of artillery ar-tillery have been tested behind the firing Hue in the treucheB, and I hear very good reports of them. Their shooting has been extremely good and they are quite fit to take their place iu the line.' "These new divisions now have had the opportunity of acquiring by experience ex-perience in actual warfare that portion of the necessary training of soldiers which it was impossible to give them in this country, and which, once acquired, ac-quired, will enable them effectively to take thcir place in line with the rest of the British army. General French Gets 210,000 More Men. "With these additional reinforcements, reinforce-ments, amounting to eleven divisions (about. 210,000 men), Sir John" French has been able to extend his lines and take over from the French approximately approxi-mately seventeen miles of additional front. "Throughout the summer months the French have held their own along their extended line of the front, and in some places, notably near Arras and in j Alsace, have made substantial progress. (In the struggles around Arras early iu June they captured whole heights at Notre Dame de Korette, as well as a number of strongly fortified ullages around this high ground, thereby securing se-curing an area of great tactical importance, im-portance, in view of future operations. In Aleaee a number of dominating eminences emi-nences have been wrested from the enemy and have been subsequently held in the face of formidable counterattacks. counter-attacks. One particularly commanding summit which overlooks the left bank of the Khine in Ihih quarter and which had been the scene of continuous encounters en-counters for many months, after changing chang-ing hands many times, rested finally in possession of our allies. Tells of His Visit to Front in France. "French trenches along the entire front hae been developed and Ftroufcrthencd. nnd now e cry where re-cut re-cut a network of almost imprepoable fortifications. Of this T was able to latisfv myself during a visit lately to our allies, at the invitation of General .Joffre. when I was profoundly impressed im-pressed with the high state of efficiency and morale of the Presto army. It 'vas evident thut officers and men recognized recog-nized that the only possible termination termina-tion to the war was to inflict on the onemy a thorough defeat. Their resolution reso-lution lo do this was never firmer or more intense. "Our alliea' aircraft have been particularly par-ticularly active. Tbey have carried out numerous effective raids on a large scale, penetrating far into hostile territory. terri-tory. ''Turning to the eastern theater, the enemy, takiog advantage of their central cen-tral position, since early in June, have been employing a very large proportion of their forces in strenuous efforts to crush our Russian ally. In prosecution of these operations, which wc all have followed closely, the Germans, in addition addi-tion to their great numerical superiority, developed vastly preponderating artillery artil-lery which enabled them to force the Russians from their defenses. Thinks Russian Soldier Superior to German. "The German objective was evidently to destroy the .Russian army as a force in being, and thus set free their troops for action elsewhere; but, as iu the case of many other plans arranged by the Geman staff during this war, there has been a signal failure to carry out the original intentions. "In the history of this war few episodes epi-sodes stand out more prominently, more creditably, than the masterly manner in which the Russian forces, distributed along a line of 750 miles, have been handled while facing violent assaults from an enemy greatly superior In num-I num-I bers, especially of guns and munitions. The success of this great rear guard action ac-tion had been rendored possible by the really splendid fighting qualities of the Russian soldier, who in every case where actual conflict has taken place has shown himself infinitely superior to his adversary. These lighting qualities of the Russian army empowered her able generals ami competent staff to carry out the immensely difficult operation of retirement of the whole line over some 100 to 200 miles, without, allowing the enemy to break through at any point or by surrounding their forces to bring about a tactical position which might have involved surrender of a considerable consider-able portion of the Russian armv. Trenches Better Than Permanent Forts. "Thus we see the Kussian army remaining re-maining today intact as a fighting force. It doubtless has suffered severely from (he hard fighting to which it has been i subjected during the recent months, but. jth" German forces also ha. I to pay a heavy toll for their advance into Rus-I Rus-I (Continued on Page Two.) INNER FACTS OF WAR TOLD BY KITCHENER (Continued from Page One.) Ifiifl, and who will venture to say until the present grips are relaxed which I armies suffered more? "It must not be forgotton that Rus sia, with her vast territory, always has been able ultimately to envelop and annihilate an-nihilate large invading armies. In this I she certainly is no less capable today than she was a century ago. As regards the net result, all that the Germans can place to their credit is that at an euor mous sacrifice, thev have captured certain cer-tain fortresses. But our recent experiences experi-ences show that the best fortifications and practically the only ones that can effectively resist the new machinery of war are those which can be quickly dug deep into the soil. Such trenches today form better defenses than the most carefully care-fully fortified places of which the engineers engi-neers until lately were so proud. "The Germans appear almost to have shot their bolt. ' Their advance into Russia, which at one time was carried out, at fln average daily rate of ap proximo proxi-mo tely five miles, has now diminished to less than one mile a day, and we see the forces whieh they boastingly described de-scribed as defeated and broken troops flying before them, still doggedly and pluckily fighting along the whole line and in some places, indeed, turning on the jaded invaders and inflicting heavy losses. "The Russian army, far from falling out of the fighting lists, as Germany fondly hoped. Is still a powerful and undefeated un-defeated unit, and the determination and I confidence of the troops, fortified by the Increasing supply of munitions, have risen in proportion to the strain imposed upon them. In tit is momentous hour of si ress. bis imperial majesty, the czar. . has taken executive command of his armies in the field. The enthusiasm created cre-ated by his step will serve to concentrate all the energies of his officers and men on driving back the invaders and preventing pre-venting t hem from reaching any vital portion of the empire. v German Gains Barren, in His Opinion. "To sum up. we may fairly say that while, the Germans have prevailed by sheer weight of guns and at immense cost to themselves in forcing back the Russian front, no tiling but barren territory terri-tory and evacuated fortresses have been gained. Thus their strategy has clearly failed, and the victories they claim may only prove, as military history has so ofien demonstrated, to he defeats in disguise.'" dis-guise.'" Dwelling on Italy's part in the war, Earl Kitchener said: "The achievements of the Italian artillery ar-tillery have been truly remarkable and the manner in which heavy pieces were hauled into almost inaccessible positions on lofty mountain peaks and in spite of great difficulties, evokes universal admiration. ad-miration. The Italian army now occupies occu-pies strategic positions of first-rate importance. im-portance. The gallant conduct of the infantry in-fantry of the line in action has impressed im-pressed upon the enemy the great military mili-tary value of the Italian army, while the bold feats of Alpine troops and Ber-saglieri Ber-saglieri when scaling- rugged mountainsides mountain-sides were marvelous samples of successful suc-cessful enterprise. "On the Gallipoli peninsuta, during operations op-erations in June, several Turkish trenches were captured and our own lines appreciably advanced and our positions po-sitions consolidated. "Considerable reinforcements have arrived, ar-rived, a surprise landing on a large scale at Suvla bay was successfully accomplished accom-plished on August 6 without any serious opposition. "At the same time an attack was launched by the Australian and New Zealand corps from the At)2ac position, and a strong offensive was delivered from Cape Helles in the direction of Krithia. In tlds latter action French troops played a prominent part and showed to high advantage their usual gallantry and fine fighting qualities. "The attack from Ansae, after a series of hotly contested actions, was carried to the summit of Sari Bair and Chnnuk Bair. dominating positions in this area. The arrival of transports and the disembarkation disem-barkation of troops in Suvla hay was designed to enable troops to support this attack. Unfortunately, however, the advance ad-vance from Suvla bay was not developed quickly enough, and the movement forward for-ward was brought to a standstill after an advance of about two and one-half miles. Pays High Tribute to Australasian Troops. "The result was that the troops from A nsac were unable to retain their position posi-tion bn the crest of the hills and, after being repeatedly counter attacked, they were ordered to withdraw to positions lower down. These positions have "been effectively consolidated and. now joining join-ing with the line occupied by the Suvla bay force, form a connected front of more than twelve miles. "From the latter post Ion. a further attack at-tack on 1 he Turkish intreniiments was delivered on the 21st, but after several hours of sharp lighting it was not found possible to gain the surnmlt of the hills occupied by the enemy and, the intervening inter-vening space being unsuitable for defense, de-fense, the troops were withdrawn to their original position. "Since then comparative quiet has prevailed pre-vailed and much-needed rest has been given to our troops. "In (lie course of these Operations, the gallantry and resourcefulness of the Australian Aus-tralian and New Zealand troops frequently fre-quently has formed the subject of eulogy In General Hamilton's reports. "It is not easy to appreciate at their full value the enormous difficulties which have attended the operations in the Dardanelles; Dar-danelles; or the fine temper with which our troops have met them. "There is now abundant evidence of a process of demoralization having set in among the German -led, or, rather. German-driven Turks, due, no doubt, to their extremely heavy losses and lo the progressive pro-gressive failure of their resources. It Is only fair, to acknowledge that, judged from a humane point of view, the methods meth-ods of warfare pursued by the Turks a'"e vastly superior to those which have disgraced dis-graced their German masters. "Throughout, " the co-operation of the fleet has been intensely valuable, and the concerted action between the sister services ser-vices has been in every way in the highest high-est degree satisfactory." Of the fighting in Mesopotamia, Earl Kitchener said scouting parties had shown that the Euphrates was clear of Turks for a distance of sixty miles. "Since this victory," he added, "there has been no further fighting on the Euphrates, Eu-phrates, Tigris or Karun rivers. Climatic conditions in this theater of war have rendered the operations extremely arduous. ar-duous. "As I have informed your lord ship, some of the new armies we have prepared pre-pared and equipped for the war are already al-ready in the field, and others will quickly follow them. The response to the country's coun-try's calls for recruits to form these armies has been little short of marvelous, but it must be borne in mind that the provision, of men to maintain the forces in the field depends to a. great degree on a large and continuous supply of recruits. re-cruits. Provisions to Keep Up Armies in 1916. "The provision to keep up their strength during 1916 has caused an anxious anx-ious thought, which has been accentuated accentu-ated and rendered more pressing by the recent falling off in the numbers coming forward to enlist, although every effort has been made to obtain our requirements require-ments under the present system. "I am sure we all fully realize that the strength of the armies we are sending send-ing out must he fully maintained to the very end. To fulfill this purpose, we shall require a large addition to the numbers of recruits joining. The problem of how to secure an adequate supply of men and thus insure the field force being kept up to its full strength Is engaging our close attention and will, 1 hope, very soon receive a practical solution. "The returns of the registration act. which will shortly be available, will, no doubt, give us the basis on which to calculate the resources of the country and to determine the number of men available for the army, after providing for the necessary services of the country, coun-try, as well as those of our munition works. "Whatever decision may he arrived at in the full light of the facts before us, must undoubtedly be founded on military requirements for the prosecution of the war and the protection of our shores, and will he the result of an Impartial inquiry- as to how we can most worthily fulfill our national obligations. "Although there has been a falling off in the number of recruits, I do not draw from this fact any conclusion unfavorable unfavor-able to the resolution and spirit, of the country. On the contra V, T think now, as I always have thought, that the manner man-ner in which all classes have responded to the call of patriotism is magnificent, and I do not for one instant doubt that whatever sacrifices may prove necessary to bring this gigantic war to a successful conclusion will be cheerfully undertaken by our people." |
