Allies’ steady progress

Austria and peace

Persistent rumours

From Warsaw this morning comes the intelligence that there are renewed reports of dissatisfaction between Austria and Germany.

It is stated that the Austrians are insisting that all their regiments serving with the Germans should be returned for the purpose of Austrian defence.

It is also said that in Vienna the question of Austria breaking away from Germany and going for an independent peace is again being discussed.

These assertions must, of course, be received with caution but it has to be admitted that they relate to matters within the range of general possibilities.

The failure of the Austrian war loan, the Serbian revival and victorious advance, to say nothing of the relentless pressure of the Russians, all assist in the formation of a public opinion favourable to giving up the struggle and to seek for terms which would not be given at a later stage.

If, as recent events suggest, Italy actively participates in the war, Austria would not avoid seeing that the game was up and if the new year dawns with Germany waging the fight alone then its last phase would be in sight.

Again in the news from the western front the most important movements recorded are in Alsace where the French have made a substantial advance along the line from Thann to Altkirch.

The continued progress raises hopes which it would be indiscreet to commit to paper.

There has been some determined fighting in Belgium and the effect of the allies’ artillery is again noticeable. The evident superiority in metal is telling its tale and it is not surprising to learn of the optimistic feeling prevailing with regard to the position generally, perhaps more particularly in Flanders.

The feeling, it is learned, partly has its origin in the fact that the Germans have hastily removed their wounded from Bruges towards the interior. British patrols have been seen in the region of Roulers and in the woods of Hule, which is the nearest railway station to Roulers.

There are other indications of preparation for a retreat and the fear entertained by the Germans of a possible attempted landing on the coast is shown by the consolidation of certain defensive lines. It is also being reported that work proceeding on the forts beyond Liege, obviously for the purpose of covering the German retreat.

They may wait too long.

The fighting in the Miawa district of Poland still goes well for the Russians, according to official messages from Petrograd, and despatches claim success along the whole of the front in that region, while yesterday it was announced that the retreating Germans were still being pursued.

In the Lodz district the Germans are apparently being held well. Desperate attempts have been made by them to penetrate the Russian lines but these appear to have been beaten off with great slaughter and the loss of many guns and transports.

An official bulletin from Vienna admits defeat in Serbia at last, in recording heavy losses they announced that new steps would be taken to repel the enemy.