RUSSIA-GERMAN DEATHGRIPS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 158, 10 December 1914, Page 5

RUSSIA-GERMAN DEATHGRIPS.

ALLIES' PLANS IN THE WEST, j NOT EAGER YET FOR OFFENSIVE. London, October 23. At the time of writing the news from both fronts continues'to be not only reassuring but most satisfactory. There are two misconceptions, however, which it may be well to clear up. One is that the Russians have been slow in playing their part in the strong terrific game on which Europo is embarked. This notion is assuredly not shared at German headquarters, and it docs a shrewd injustice to our magnificent Russian allies, , They have done even better than anyone expected. In the first place they accelerated their mobilisation, coping with' tremendous difficulties of distance and transport in a wonderful way. Their strategy has been admirable and their, evolutions absolutely efficient. While they J were preparing for the big fight that is now in progress on the Vistula' and massing their main armies for the crucial conflict of which they had clear prevision, the Russians detached fgrces to smash up the Austrianß in the south and to harry the Germans in East Prussia. These movements did much to save the situation in the west in those gloomy days when the Germans were swinging down on Paris, The raid on East Prussia was undertakes deliber-' ately by Russia in order to attract to herself before she was Tcady large fwcos . of Germans from the west. In this she perfectly succeeded, and the sacrifice in«' volved heavy losses which she has chocr-' fully borne for the' common cause. And the latest news is' that she is smashing up the Germans in the main action west of Warsaw.

The other misconception is that th«i Allies in France are making painfully' slow progress in driving back the Gcr-_ mans. A British officer of high rank who returned from'the front to' London for a few days assured mo that tho : Allies are in no desperate hurry about driving back the Germans into their own territory. It is pretty obvious that the Allies might with tho expenditure . of a few more lives have carried tho German lines along the Aisne much, earlier* General .To(Tr« has' been con* tent to ensure his own right flank, whers the German attack between Verdun and Toul has been decisively repelled, and to. hold the Hermans firmly along the centre lines, while slowly pressing them back between Lille and the coast. Once the campaign finds the Germans falling back .on the Rhine it will assume an entirely new phase. Considerably larger forces will then be required in the actual fighting line, and immense equipment of a, special nature will be necessary. Moreover, it is the desire of the Allies that the invasion of Germany should be, if possible, almost simultaneous cast and. west. We know how desperately anxious the Germans were to use all their forces ' in one theatre of war first before turning to deal with the other. It ia just as necessary from-tlio point of view of the Allies to compel them to divide their forces anil resources on two flanks when the time comes for a successful offensive.

Our men are brimming over with quiet confidence and the French are splendid. Sir John French's latest dispatches bear ' welcome estimony to the endurance and.; valour as well a's the fighting efficiency of the French troops. There was a hor* rible rumour a few days ago, that Belgium might in her agony consent to make terms with the Germans. This had as much as anything to do with tho hasty action taken by our peoplu in the defence o{ Antwerp. Happily that embarrassment no longer threatens, and the Belgians are fighting like Trojans with the Allies south o/ Oatend.