The frontier

Russians invade Germany

Allies advance in the west

Enemy’s attacks weakening

An observation made in the street this morning to the effect that the enemy is beaten but it takes along time to prove it is about as near to a bullseye as the amateur marksman can expect to get when he is not permitted to get a clear view of the target.

As has been pointed out more than once there is apparently a portion of the line on the allies’ left wing, in the La Bassee neighbourhood, where the position is occasionally if not continually critical, and when we get good news from this point we may feel assured that all is well, that the German effort has finally failed and that henceforward our work will almost be wholly on the offensive.

Yesterday afternoon’s official communique was a pleasure to be in a position to give to the public without waiting until today. Official messages from the weekend speak of continued progress and of an apparent slackening in German efforts.

Reports received at Amsterdam state that British patrols are now only three miles from Bruges and rumours persist that the Germans are retreating towards Antwerp.

The outstanding item in yesterday’s news is that the Russian cavalry have entered Germany, it is claimed that between Thorn and Cracow 16,500 men and many guns have been captured.

The enemy are at last forced to admit their reverses to the east. Vienna newspapers record a grave defeat of the Austrians on the San, and it is stated that more than 100,000 wounded have revived in the capital during the last few days.

Steady progress

Germans’ new move

There may be truth in a suggestion that men are being withdrawn from the German lines in the west for service in the east. This statement is somewhat in conflict with the news of the fresh German offensive understood to be developing around Ypres but it is certain that something on a large scale will have to be done in the direction of stemming the Russian invasion.

Much has been said of the great reserve strength of the principal central nation but her resources are not inexhaustible.

In theory the German is fighting for his national existence and what we are likely to see in the immediate present is not a real weakening of the attack in the west but a more deadly and violent offensive maintained up until the last possible moment.