The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1917. BRUSILOFF'S OFFENSIVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1917. BRUSILOFF'S OFFENSIVE.

When General Brusiloff commenced his new offensive tho German authorities, in order to allay the anxiety of the people, professed to treat the movement as being designed to draiv off German troops from the Western front, and practically • :\"t it was viewed more in the light of a demonstration than a serious exercise of pressure in Galicia. Evidently the German people, or at least their representatives in the Reichstag, are not so credulous as they were, for the lateat cables denote thai an acuto political crisis has arisen, the cause for which is attributed to the anxiety felt over the Russian advance. This anxiety is cmphasised by the prolonged audience given by the Kaiser to his naval, military and political chiefs, as nvell as iby the hurried employment of a large portion of the XJerman reserves to check Brusiloff, and by the withdrawal of divisions from other fronts. So far as mail power is concerned Germany is at the end of her tether, for she has rigorously enforced, by fair means and otherwise, the release of many thousands of workers for despatch to the front, with the result that she is accredited with pos. sessing a reserve of a million men of Various ages and states of efficiency, The German people have been led to believe that their armies were greater and stronger than ever, while the inaction of Russia lessened very materially the strength of the Allies. It is more than likely they ha/ve been expecting the Kaieor * armies to deliver a decisive blow in the West that would practically put an end t 0 the struggle, but no such blow has fallen. Instead, four important events have happened—the Aiiglo-'Freneh nave beaten back the Germans with very heavy losses, the Russian millions have emerged 'from their internal troubles with a strength and fervor that has told its tale in the new offensive, the submarine campaign that was to paralyse Britain has proved signally unequal to the task, while, lastly,-America has joined forces with the Allies and is throwing by degrees the whole of her weight into the scale against the Central Powers. It is, however, the new pressure that Russia is exerting which has caused something akin to dismay throughout Germany, and well it may, for the Russians are not only in deadly earnest, but they are now lighting for themselves instead of obeying the behest of an autocratic regime which made« them bleed and suffer merely for the sake of appearances. The Russians have until now never had a fair chance of doing their best, for there was treachery in high quarters, and the sacrifices of the army were in vain. When they reached Cracow in the spring of 1915, had they been given the necessary support by Uie High Command they could undoubtedly i have broken through all Austro-Gcman

opposition and the war would have been ended long since. The result of the treacherous schemes of the pro-German Court party at Pctrograd was that the Russian fortes mere driven bade to the I'ripet marshes and the Stockod, and lirusilofl .became a revoluntionury. Who can wonder? A year later the great general again took the offensive in spite of all adverse circumstances and made a memorable advance into fßukovina and Southern Galicia, and he is confident that he could have won through and helped to bring the war to a close if lie had been loyally backed at headquarters. It would seem, however, that just as victory was in sight the Government 'became engaged in peace negotiations with -Germany, and again l>ruasiloff had to follow the [backward swing of the pendulum and the collapse took place, but in duo time the guilty pro-German conspirators were put out of action by the revolution. It would J seem that the Russian generalissimo is | taking up the task where he left off | last October when ho was moving against i Lomberg, when the Russians had one flank protected by the Dneister, and Brody became the pivot of the attack, tlie plan of advance .being along three lines from Tarnopol, Brzezany, and Halicz. The Russians reached within a mile of Brzezany and Halicz, but were then held u,p bv enormous German reinforcements. Brzezany is said to ibe the key to the whole position, being defended by a range of hills, some of which are covered by forests. Near Koiiiiichy, which the Russians have captured, the Tseniovka runs through a valley lined i.ith marshes, difficult to cross in wet seasons. The piercing of Brzesany, .which is the centre of the main strength of the enemy position, would lender the whole line of the Zlota Li.pa untenable and open the way to an advance from Brody against Lemiberg. Actuated as the Russians are by their new spirit, and supplied with adequate munitions, it may be expected they have entirely up■t the German plans, for there Jg no chance of German intrigue staying the hand of Brusiloff and his forces, whom it may be anticipated will vigorously maintain, and probably materially increase the .pressure they are now exerting. To prevent the advance of the Russians, Germany will need to draw upon all her resources just at a time when she is hard pressed. Hindenburg is reported to have said: "We shall have won the war if iwe hold our own against all attacks on land until our submarines have completed their destructive mission." The whole asserlion is based on the "if," and it was made ibefore the new Russian offensive developed. It is well known that Germany was gambling with time so as to preserve her remaining strengh, relying on the destructive mission of her submarines. 'By the re-enfry of Russia and the advent of America into the war arena the German plans have been entirely upset. •Now is Russia's great opportunity and she will best serv® her own interests by i making the utmost of it.