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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 240, 13 November 1914, Page 6

"If Petrograd is not imagining vain things or exaggerating on German lines, ..the Russians have made, remarkable progress in Poland and Galieia. A Russian communique states that the Russians are within sight of Cracow, where the Austrians are in such a position that they must either fight or surrender. Cracow is a strategic position vital to either side". It is the gateway into South-East Germany, and if the Eussians can compass the defeat of the Teutons at this point the invasion of Germany will have begun in deadly earnest. The line of least re-, sistance, so far as natural obstacles are concerned, lies through Cracow, and the Grand Duke Nicholas will make a supreme effort to hammer the gate down at this point. The stories of friction between the Austrians and Germans have been repeated so often that they cannot be altogether disregarded. The second invasion of Poland, following- on the arrival of huge German reinforcements' when the Austrians were so severely dealt with, has resulted in the failure of the combined Teuton armies to meet effectively and stem the Russian millions. The German leaders, if they are of the average type, will naturally blame the AustrianS for the repulse, and the Austrians, whose campaign so far has been attended by nothing but bloody defeat, will not be in a mood to agree to the German allocation of responsibility. It would not be surprising to find-that in the Austro-Gcrman retreat' from the Vistula the Austrians were asked to bear the brunt of rearguard engagements, fighting off: the swooping Cossacks. News of the presence of the Crown Prince in the East as Commander-in-Chief of the Austro-Gevman forces is interesting if it be true. This young man was stated to" have made a very poor showing in and about Verdun, and his fond parent has apparently given him a chance to redeem his rank failures against the Allies. The retreat of the Germans from the Vistula does not read like a good beginning. In a way, it is rather an advantage to the Allies that the Kaiser will persist in meddling; while the Russians will not be displeased that to the Kaiser's eldest son has fallen the responsibility of leading the German armies in Poland.