The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1916. MIGHTY RUSSIA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 77, 7 March 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1916. MIGHTY RUSSIA.

Nowhere in the great conflict is better work for universal freedom being accomplished than on the Russian fronts. Animated by a splendid spirit of unity and patriotism, and entirely in accord with Britain and France Russia continues to deal terrific blows on" the enemy. General Ivanoff some weeks ago said regarding the Czar's armies: "We can go on as long as we are wanted. Our technical services are constantly improving. Within a year our output of munitions w ill have doubled. It does not matter so much where the fighting line extends, because the outcome of the war will be settled, not by the occupation of territory, but by the destruction of the enemy's armies and resources. We are resuming the process of attrition on a larger scale, undeterred by the mud, and are calmly and patiently confident in our strength, and in the readiness of the country to endure any trials that may come. At the samel time we doubt not for an instant thai our Allies share our views, and will exert themselves to the uttermost to utilise the wonderful technical resources and determination of their people to vanquish the inveterate Teutonic foe." A London Times correspondent reminds us that only a year ago the, whole Russian army was reduced to { one shot per gun per day. The t' 011 ", trast between then and now in the ) matter of shells affords cause for the heartiest congratulations to the Allies, i Moreover, the magnificent armies as-, sembled on the AustroCerman front

are evidence of the recuperative power of Russia—a power which the Germans boasted they had broken. The Germans declared that the Russian army would remain inactive at least for six 'mouths; they deceived themselves/ I and the mistake lias cost them dear. ■ While Russia was supposed to be crip- | pled, the enemy reckoned that there ! would be sufficient time to send fifteen to twenty divisons from the Russian front to conquer the Balkans, and return in time to hold the Czar's arm-

ies in check. So confident were they on this point that neither the AngloVreneh offensive of 25th-29th September, nor the sharp lessons received' by Rindenburg in Riga and Dvinsk sectors, notably at Platonovka in the beginning of November, could persuade them to reconsider their plans. But Russia, ever mindful of the interests of the Alliance, made ready to strike hard to the south. The utmost secrecy was observed regarding the movements of troops. But, as in the case of France and Flanders in September, the Germans got wind of what was going on. Immediately they began to withdraw their troops from the Dan-' übe, and rapidly they returned leaving the discomfited Bulgars and Turks to do the best they could on German promises. Russia has inflicted enormous damage on her foes. "On a conservative estimate,' three or four millions of the inhabitants of Galicia migrated eastward before and during the retreat. The population of Lemberg alone fell from 300,000 to 30,000. These Galieian millions were safely shepherded through the south-western armies, thanks to the admirable care and forethought of General Ivanoff's staff. Something like two millions of

working men and farm hands were thus added to Russia, not counting the prisoners of war. Thanks to them Russian industries are thriving, and agriculture prospers; while, on the other hand, the enemy is hard pressed for labor, and is actually resorting to forcible and illegal employment of Russian prisoners of war to act as drivers of transport and stretcherbearers, because the whole male population, including old men, have been conscripted. Naturally the strain on the great Generals who direct affairs is tremendously heavy, and once again General Ruszky, Commander-in-Chief of Russia's northern armies, has broken down in health. His successor, General Kuropatkin, may be expected to do great things. His Writings on the mistakes made in Manchuria have had a good deal to do with the reorganisation of the Russian forces and the avoidance of errors in this present war. In a very early period of his career Kuropatkiri made a reputation in Turkestan. He was unfortunate in -Manchuria and fell from favor, but as to-day he -is but sixty-seven and has such wide experience to guide him, he,: may brilliantly recover all be ever lost m military leputatibn when Ightin? against the Japanese. j