Secret plans

Russia preparing counter stroke

Brilliant French victories

Capture of a village

When you read in a German official statement that successes have been obtained at almost every point, it is safe to conclude that at some point a failure was written large in the actual event.

When moreover you read of 50,000 prisoners being taken, (50,000 being a favourite round figure with the Germans when they are constructing their bulletins) and no details as to how, when or where, you may take it that the wireless is being twanged without a copy of the music.

It is a noteworthy fact too that the German claims of great victories against the Russians were not put into circulation until Petrograd had published a statement as to a contemplated retirement and a readjustment of their plan of campaign.

Possibly it is true that the Germans moved a great deal more swiftly than the Russians contemplated and that large rearguard parties were captured, but we may safely credit the Petrograd official statement of the other day, that the retirement was for the most part being conducted in good order.

The warning as to a general falling back of the Czars armies was however, issued none too soon, but that calmly worded document should do much to allay fears that may naturally have arisen.

The Germans as we know have an excellent railway system, the major portion of which was constructed with a view to military purposes, and finding all obstacles gone and the pressure removed they have covered ground with a speed that has astonished even themselves.

Elsewhere it would seem that retirement is also taking place and telegrams to hand this morning show that the Bukovina has been evacuated and that the enemy occupy Czernowitz.

This would be disconcerting news if we had not had examples before of Russian strategy as well as foreknowledge of the present move.

It may be quite true that the Russians have at present no more than 3,000,000 men in the actual fighting line and that they have been severely handicapped by their unreadiness for the war.

It is also very likely the fact that they are falling back before much superior forces, but in the end it will be discovered that they are making a virtue of necessity in a sense which will be made clear to the enemy 'ere long, and that they have actually secured choice of ground for their matured offensive.

The Germans, as has been pointed out before, are rapidly advancing into regions where road and rail conditions will hamper them to a tremendous extent and when the reinforced Russian armies next call upon them, they will too late discover the trap into which they have been led.

It is confirmed that the Germans have gone beyond strategic lines and the battlefield is now in comparatively different country where the advantage of German mobility is lost.

The first day of the great 'blockade' has come and gone? So far the enemy has apparently attempted nothing in order to earn a response and we conclude they have drawn a blank unless we include a neutral steamer, the Norwegian Nordcap which struck a mine in the Baltic and was lost with all hands.