Progress all fronts

Good work on French right flank

There is as yet no confirmation that part of Cracow has been burned by besieging Russian hosts 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 sequel to Russia’s great advance and that fighting on a big scale is proceeding in Westen Poland in the region between the River Vistula and Warta.

It would appear too, as indicated yesterday, that 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 a big victory in this region.

Russia loses 40,000 men

It is now reported that the Russian losses amounted to a whole army corps, or 40,000 men, but it is added that the victory must not be over-estimated until it has known whether it has compelled the Russians to retreat or brought their operations to a standstill.

In East Prussia the Germans have been forced back on the Gumbinnen-Angenburg front though they still hold the passages through the Mazurian Lakes.

Gumbinnen, it may be added, is 70 miles east of Konigsberg and 20 from the Russian frontier. Angenburg is about 30 miles south of Gumbinnen at the northern outlets of the Mazurian Lakes.

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 in a broken reed.

The German Eastern armies are outnumbered as they have so far been outfought and as Russian strategy has so far been been the best displayed in the war, we may expect it so to continue.

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

Army fights with valour

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 night’s bulletin was highly encouraging.

It described the general situation as satisfactory and said that during the last two days we hade more or less made progress at every point that we attacked.

There are rumours of revolution in Turkey and it is even stated that a body of Turkish troops have crossed the frontier for the purpose of helping the Russians.

There is, however, no official confirmation of these statements.