MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1916. RUSSIA'S RECOVERY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2659, 3 January 1916, Page 4

MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1916. RUSSIA'S RECOVERY

TBe vigorous resumption of the Russian offensive in Eastern Galicia, taken in conjunction with other unmistakable signs of renewed energy, shows that Russia's wonderful resiliency is once more making itself felt. The tremendous German onslaught of some months ago/forced the Russian armies back, but could not destroy them. Russia received a heavy blow. . Her losses were very great, Dut her powers of attack and defence remained unbroken. The Germans were unable to push their successes to a decisive point, and now that they have been compelled to relax their pressure the Russian rebound is beginning to tell. The _ news to hand at time of writing regarding the latest battle in the East is brief, and the result of the engagement is not known. We are told, however, that the fighting was of a most violent character, and an Austrian account supplies the decidedly interesting information that the 'Russians employed three divisions and 200 guns on a front of three miles, and that the actual battle was preceded by "a preliminary bombardment of thirty-six hours. _ This concentration of guns and big expenditure of shells is a proof that Russia is again well supplied with munitions, and that her n industrial reorganisation for war purposes- x is bearing fruit. The Tsar's armies were beaten back, not bccausc the German is a better fighting man than the Russian, but because the Germans possessed an overwhelming superiority in guns and ammunition. It is stated that when the war began Russia had only sufficient munitions for six months. Enormous difficulties had to be overcome before the war industries could be placed on a satisfactory basis. But the position was resolutely faced, and a tremendous, effort was made to increase the output until it was sufficient to meet all requirements. Tho Government has done its best to follow Britain's example in this matter, but Russia's manufacturing industries are not nearly so highly developed as those, of Great Britain. She has been hampered owing to financial difficulties and lack of an adequate supply of machinery and skilled labour. But energy, organisation, and determination have done wonders, and with the help of Japan she has succeeded in replenishing and vastly augmenting her stocks of guns and ammunition. The disastrous position in which Russia found herself as regards her munition supplies when she was called upon to face the great German onslaught was in a large measure due to the secret machinations of Germany before the war commenced. The German canker had done its work only too thoroughly. German financiers, acting in co-operation with German Consuls in Russia, obtained control of some of the niost important branches of Russian industry. They got hold of some Russian banks, and through them made agreements with Russian and foreign shipbuilding firms, which had the' effect of greatly retarding the growth of tho Russian Navy. Secret influences were also set to work with the object of delaying the execution of Government orders by the gun and powder factories, and of controlling produce specially needed by the army. The country is infested with German spies, who have done their utmost to stir up tiulustvial strife. Quite tho manager of one.

<h the German-Russian banks was arrested on a charge of high treason, few months ago the Duma set up a, Commission to inquire into this form of German intrigue. A large amount of documental evidence has already been produced to prove that firms under_ German influence have lessened their output since the commencement of the war, and are working much slower than in times of peace. A most instructive insight into these nefarious schemes is given by_M. de Wesselitsky in his book entitled The German Canker m Russia. In a letter to the London Times this writer supplements the disclosures made in his book by reference to the discovery of further plots. He states that startling revelations have been made on the origin of simultaneous fires in several munition factories which took place just when munitions were most needed by the Russian Army. Facts like help us to realise the enormous difficulties with which the Russian Government has hati to contend. Russia's recovery is one of the greatest wonders of this altogether wonderful_ war. Germany has watched it with amazement and dismay. - In discussing the possib'ilij ties of peace the Hamburger Volhszeitmg recently remarked that an agreement might bo arranged with Britain and France by means of exchanges and compensations without fear of future complications. "But there is Russia, who is reasserting herself with stupefying rapidity, in spite of the great losses she has suffered." After the fall of Warsaw the Kaiser exclaimed: "My destructive sword has crushed the Russians. They' will need six months to recover. The war drama is now coming to a close." Six months have not yet elapsed since those words were uttered, yet the Russians for some time past have been giving their enemies blow for blow, and now we have fresh indications: that another forward movement on a large scale is not far off. Instead of being the beginning of the end of tho war drama, the fall of Warsaw was merely one of the closing incidents of the first act.