The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1915. RUSSO-GERMAN STRUGGLE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 263, 11 August 1915, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1915. RUSSO-GERMAN STRUGGLE.

(With which is incorporated The Taihape Poet 'Aa "Waimarinu Newa.)

The feeling with regard to the Russo-German front i s very much relieved by yesterday's cable,s, for, if they denote anything it is that Russia is no fleeing, beaten rabble, but a fcrcg that can not only withstand the, specially prepared attacks of the Mannish hordes, but has still the spirit, power and determination to prevent what we would have; every reason to lock upon as disaster, and view with some, dismay. The cry has gone forth that Riga is safe, and this is tantamount to saying that the Russian army is safe, and ths.i- it is a force to be ‘dealt with in anyway but lightly and with disrespect. Advices not onlv declare, that Riga is safe, but they

suggest that Mitau has been recccunied, so that with the extreme light firmly held, it would be such a risk to attempt to reach Vilna (the only railway of retreat, and by which supplies ar e carried) that would probably

mean, decimation, or wholesale surren- • tier cl' the German Army that attempted it. Our. Ally has apparently made the safety of their communications as-I sured as the undoubted object of the Germans was—lt might bo said the, one object—to encircle tho Russians, •who might tarry at Warsaw in order to prevent it falling into German hands It v.as clear and obvious that Warsaw was a very secondary cobsiaoratica, 1 and,there is no more disappointed people on earth to-day than the Huns who | Pave been deprived of their prey by I superior Russian strategy. It was said *t the very commencement that the I Allies must make; the war one of attrition, and this is being carried out with a vengeance, and German losses in taking offensives to secure moral effect are such that time cannot be far away when her tired cut forces will have to bear the onslaught of new armies composed of the tyest fighting

me,n the world can produce. It is not believable, that Germany can concurrently find the men, munitions and transit necessary for such stupendous efforts as she is now engage,d in, and go on preparing for what i s going to overtake her in the West. Germany has no idea of following up a complete invasion of Russia, for she ; knows disaster awaits any such efforts. Writing in the Auckland “Herald”, LieutenantColonel Grace asserts that it is quite Impossible for the Germans to conquer Russia. The Emperor William should knew that full well. This vigorous offensive cf his in the East has merely for its object not the conquest cf Russia, but the tiring of Russia, the inducing of Russia to accept terras cf peace. He has called out his last reserves, elderly men of the Landsturm, and youths, and when he has made them food for powder there is nothing left for him but to submit to the invasion of his territory. In his desperation, seeing that all his attempts to conquer E~ancC| have failed, hp, now turns all his available fores against Russia, in the hope that some seemingly important success in that direction will hearten up his subjects and enliven his cause. But, as a matter of fact, he can only win the war by conquering France, while he holds Russia at bay, whereas he would ap- 1 pear to b e hoping to conquer Russia while he holds France at bay. It would seem that the Kaiser William is using his efforts very much in the wrong direction, not merely because there is little possibility of his achieving much which is material against Russia, but because the further he advances into Russia the; further his main force is from the point where th e issue of the war will be decided, and the more clearly he lays , his country open.to the blow which the armies of Britain, numbering probably three millions, will certainly strike in conjunction with the armies of France ’and Italy. For it must not be forgotten that the strength of the Allies is not in the East but in the West. Russia can put siv millions troops into th e held, hut the Allies of the West have a total of ten million troops at their disposal; therefore,the Teutons are outnumbered by two to one. In the matters of resources, finances, and the supply of munitions it is evident to the poorest intellect that the Germans are at such a disadvantage as to render their abominable cause quite hopeless. The German energy is very 7 grea The greater it is the sooner it will bo used up. To invade Russia may be spectacularly wonderful, but for the | norrra-s c V oh strategy can only hasten tho end. It is safe to say that but for his ?atal invasion of Rnss.a, Nape.]eon would have had no WUi i 100 For th 3 Emperor” William ao attack Russia with apparently all the force at his command augurs well for the fulfilment of th.. prayer winch all civilised verms offer for his speedy .„, VT) f,n. Tv-feats may he sustainec Thtochns*. whose armies may bo -„ r ,.o f i to r*treat outward, but such the German’ mav have r r uin vi.'Ha will in reality hast.-, th-ir final defeat, for with every corah success they must become weak?nd loos able to meat the terrible blow which inevitably will faT on them from the West, when they are too exhausted to resist it with success.