THE EASTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 18 July 1917, Page 4

THE EASTERN FRONT.

Brusiloff has achieved the quite unexpected in the capture ,of Dolina. The great Mackensen was sent with German reinforcements to prevent this first step to calamity and disaster. It is now difficult to see how the fleeing Austrians are going to avoid capture or annihilation. With Dolina in Russian hands they must take to the most difficult Carpathian routes, where they can be overtaken before getting out of danger, and where it is almost certain that no big gun can be taken. Dolina is tiie only exit left to Ermolle's armies from Galicia to Hungary and that is denied them, and we may shortly hear of huge captures of prisoners by the men under General Korniloff. The loss of Dolina also indicates that Mackensen has not been able to shield Bothmer's extreme right from the wedge that was driven between it and Ermolle's left, and it will indeed be the most unexpected happenings that can save it from considerable punishment, which may also result disastrously. It seems certain that Lemberg must very shortly fall to the marvellously victorious Russians. With a hope of raising Russian nervousness Germany is circulating reports that she is preparing a huge diversion at the other end of the line, in the Riga region, but Russia has lost all fear of German offensives, she knows the sting has been taken out of German tales of that description. Russia is holding her own along the whole seven hundred mile front, and in the most important region she is beating the Austro-Ger-mans into mincemeat. Roumania has jointed up her forces, and the combined armies are once more fighting their way through the Dorna Vatra, on the Roumanian frontier, leading on to the Hungarian plains, and should Korniloff have sufficient forces to follow up through the chief pass from Dolina, as well as press on to Lemberg, we may soon hear of revolution in Austria, or an unreserved withdrawal from the war. It is proved that Germany cannot take a serious offensive anywhere at this stage; her forces have gone down, while those of her enemies have millions more to draw upon. Germany can no longej put up any great effort in Roumania, and it is not unreasonable to look forward to soon hearing of the victorious Russians with the waiting Roumanian armies, pushing the invaders right out of Roumania, while Sarrail marches north to engage Ferdinand of Bulgaria. It is now well on in July and Allied forces must move rapidly if much is to be accomplished towards killing German culture before another winter sets in. We may confidently look forward to exciting, if not sensational, news from all quarters, not omitting internal Germany.