Eastern strategy

Still on both sides

Crushing German reserves

Bulgaria’s doubtful position

Now that the official information is available it is clear that the German offensive on the Borzinow front has spent its force and that Warsaw has nothing to fear.

The enemy throughout the six days of desperate effort displayed the utmost bravery which in itself is the best tribute that can be paid to the Russian troops opposing them, especially as our allies were in inferior numbers.

The German losses were exceedingly heavy but the close student of the operations in this quarter will guard against taking an exaggerated view of what happened.

One authority points out that on one section of the front the Germans mustered about three of four rifles in the yard and the attack being confined to such a narrow area that the effect of the whole line would not be so pronounced as some might think.

With the increase in Russian numbers and the development of the Russian plan the centre of gravity has shifted elsewhere.

In East Prussia and Northern Poland events are developing rapidly.

It will be noted that the Russians are re-occupying ground which they abandoned and that this advance is being made in such force as to suggest that the Russian reinforcements are considerable.

The success of the Russians in East Prussia could make the German position in Poland untenable and might even make withdrawal difficult.

Hence we beat the German Generals’ great and costly effort to create a diversion.

The attempt to read the riddle of Russian strategy

Briefly the Russian advance seems likely to develop crescent fashion with the envelopment of the Austro German armies naturally following. This, if correct, would suggest an ambitious effort almost too great when one looks back upon the extreme caution that hitherto Grand Duke Nicholas has displayed.

Caution and extreme aggression however sometimes meet and the cautious General is not necessarily devoid of imagination.

It is clear too that the Russian right wing are gaining ground in the western Carpathians.

They have advanced through the Dukla Pass and apparently through the Dapkow Pass as well.

On the other hand the Austro German forces appear to have made progress on the western mountains and it will be necessary for the Russians to check and pull back this movement before their larger scheme can commence to take more shape. In any case the Germans have their hands so full that their projected final offensive in France may go astray.

How are they to spare the men for the western augmentation? Clearly the Russians have done the Anglo French forces an immense service.

There is not much in the latest reports of the western operations to call for remark. Evidently we are experiencing the lull before the storm.

A significant item of news this morning is that Germany has paid to Bulgaria a further £3,000,000 of the £20,000,000 loan concluded between the two countries last year and another £3,000,000 is to be paid within the next two weeks. It is difficult to believe despite the many rumours that we are to find an active enemy in Bulgaria and yet what else can this German bribe signify?