Impression satisfactory

Progress everywhere

Good work on French right

There is as yet no confirmation of the report that Cracow has been burned by besieging Russian boots and it is as well that yesterday’s statement was offered with a caution.

That progress is being made in Galicia is at the same time clear.

There can be no doubt either of the battle equal to Russia’s great advance and that fighting on a big scale is proceeding in Western Poland.

It would appear, too, as indicated yesterday they the Germans having destroyed railways, roads and bridges during their retreat from Warsaw and Ivangorod have been able to not only check the Russian pursuit but to strengthen their own position and they are now stated to be in considerable force.

Yesterday’s German wireless news repeats the claim to big victory on this region. It is now represented that the Russian losses amounted to a whole army corps or 40,000 men but it is added that the victory to be over estimated until it is known whether it has compelled the Russians to retreat or brought their operation to a standstill.

In East Prussia the Germans have been forced back on the Gumbinnen-Angenburg front, Gumbinnen it may be added is 70 miles east of Konigsberg and 20 from the Russian border. Angenburg is about 30 miles south of Gumbinnen.

For the present the Russian advance is not likely to be rapid but if the Germans are expecting any assistance from General December they are trusting to a broken reed.

The German Eastern armies are outnumbered as they have so far been outfought and as Russian strategy has so far been the best displayed in the war, we may expect it to so continue until the basis for the late Lord Roberts optimistic forecast is fully revealed.

With any kind of luck the Russian armies are pretty sure to winter in Silesia and the refugee problem in Berlin apart from its political effect, will become increasingly difficult as the days roll on.

Nearer at home our own army continues to fight with extraordinary valour and confidence and in the attack by the Prussian guard, it is generally believed we have seen the culmination of effort on the part of the foe.

Last nights bulletin was highly encouraging. It described the general situation as satisfactory and said that during the last two days we hade made more or less, progress at every point where we had attacked.

Welcome progress has been made by the French at St Mihiel where they have entered, but not wholly taken the village of Chenvoncourt, the only point of importance still held by the Germans on the left bank of the Mense.

There are rumours of revolution in Turkey and it is even stated that a body of Turkish troops have crossed the frontier with the purpose of helping the Russians. There is however no official confirmation of these statements.