The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, JUNE 26, 1916. WAITING FOR THE HOUR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 69, 26 June 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, JUNE 26, 1916. WAITING FOR THE HOUR.

The great Russian- offensive continues steadily to advance and the belated efforts of Germany to stay the Austrian rout are all unavailing. In this theatre it is rather remarkable to note that just prior to General Brusiloff's brilliant advance the armies of Russia and the armies of our enemies were in practically the same positions as they stood about the middle of September last at the close of the great advance: The German armies in the East had their left on the Gulf of Riga and their right on the Pripet. The Austrians continued the line to the southward with their left on the Pripet and the right on the frontier of Roumania. A few troops of each Power stand in the line of the other, but in the northern or German section there is now posted only one Austrian Army Corps, while the German contingent with the Austrian armies was, until the retreat began, limited to a few divisions. Thus broadlv speaking, the Germans hold a-bout four hundred miles of front from the Gulf of Riga to the Pripet, and the -Uistrians were responsible for the rest of the line. The German front is h e ld by idxmt forty-eight divisions of infantrv and ten of cavalry, to wind. we nwiSt allow an aggregate strength of about 1,200,000 men, assuming strengths to be maintained, and a combatant strength in rifles of a little over half this number. The military correspondent of the London Times recently computed that the German and Austrian armies on the Russian fronts had about thirteen hundred men per mile over the front as a whole, and that there was no reserve in the hands of either the Army Commanders or of Marshal von Hindenburg, whose oont rol extends over the whole front The situation is aggravated by the act that the Germans have no natural hue 0 f resistance upon which to base their defence. They failed to win the Dvina lino in the north, and were forced back ~e hind the Oginski Canal in the south.

They make what use they can o the lakes and marshes, but natural obstacles are on the whole wanting. Nearly all'the region where their troops are placed was laid waste by the Russians ? tlieip retreat, and .hers nnsorab e quai .ter fl for troops. The length ol the f ron t and the comparative sparseness of the forces holding it, have naturally I foci the Germans to concentrate upon (important localities best fitted ior defence, and to hold the mtermeduue ; .spaces lightly. It is a lino of fortihed f i pUts which the Germans hold and thej whole force is spun out thinly It ». I at least helpful to know that the di- ! visions which formed H.ndeuburgsre-I I serve have heeu or aro being callously ( at Verdun and Wort Hoinnu\i \ !

and tlio situation cannot be at nil pleasing to the Germans.; They may, it is suggested, produce new reserves by new formations from the interior, but there is no sign of them yet, and most of the Allied staffs frankly disbelieve in their appearance. Reserves certainly exist, and still in large numbers, but new German formations have not been brilliant in this war, cadres are running short, and it is no profit in the long run to form now divisions at the expense of maintaining veteran troops. Germany, in effect, has reached, and from military pride has overstepped, the culminating point of victory. "Now, it is our turn,"' condudes the Times' military expert, "but we must not imperil our success by; premature attacks before we possess the superiority of numbers and armament necessary for a crushing victory and for a continuous offensive., Whether 1916, 1917, or 1918 will give us this superiority it is for the Allied staffs to decide, but history will never, forgive us if, out of sheer impatient and war weariness, we hazard a liant future and an assured victory by. engaging upon a general offensive before our hour." The civilised worldj waftfe the hour, and believes that it is. at hand.