JuN N - EUROPE AND ASIA
HE Russi and the German reports of the battle at Kerch, which ha --going_on_through the whole of this week, differ widely that it is difficult to form any Clear judgement as to what e military effect of the operation has so far been, or even whether is to be regarded as of purely local importance. That the Germans, o drove the Russians out of the Crimea and across the strait last
, are trying to do the same thing again (the Russians having tored their position in the interval) is plain. In such cases the ial advantage is normally with the assailant, who can choose his e and place, even though, as in this case, the element of complete rise is absent. In such circumstances it is natural that in the t instance the defenders should yield ground. The question is
much ground the Russians at Kerch have yielded, and whether their long-prepared defence-line to the west of the town of Kerch has been pierced. The indications are that it has, and if the positions lost cannot be regained the consequences may be serious. The German claims in the matter of prisoners and captures of war 'material, the result, it is alleged, of the encirclement of large Russian tortes, are formidable, but the Russian communiqué dismisses them summarily as false. The German declaration that the battle on the Ketch peninsula has been decided suggests by implication that the Russians (who insist that the withdrawal has been orderly) have been able to make a stand, for the Germans' object was clearly to have the enemy into the sea or across it, and the only reason for lopping their victorious advance before that was achieved must be that they were compelled to stop it. The situation will no doubt it clarified within a day or two. Meanwhile the fact that the Russians are advancing at Kharkov is important.
