A CORRESPONDENT'S VIEW.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8201, 26 July 1915, Page 5

A CORRESPONDENT'S VIEW.

RUSSIANS READY FOR GREAT STRUGGLE.

LONDON; July 24. The "Morning Post's" Petrograd correspondent says that German progress has ceased, and it can now be said that Grand Duke Nicholas has simply played the enemy into his present position as a fisherman plays, a .fish. The Germans have followed the hire of the., retiring. Russians in headlong fashion, - giving the Russians many well-employed opportunities of making temporary stands, which have cost the enemy'very, dear. It is true that Germans have found jiistification for glorious accounts oi victorious progress, but the" truth ,is different. After 12 months of costly effort they are now being given the decisive general battle which they have been seeking. The Russians on the-Narew and Blonie-Nazarzyin fronts are roady for a final struggle. The position they now occupy has been prepared for eight months. Only on the southern front has the Russian lino not reached its final position. The enemy has been alternately enticed and irritated into positions whence there is no retreat and where- there is no chance of victory. The Grand Duke has undoubtedly got a .position giving the Russians good hope of victory. If local defeats occur, the only result will be a further loss of German time and life. The capture of Warsaw and the Vistula line, if the Russians leave a garrison in "Warsaw and withdraw their armies from the line of tho Vistula, will bo useless.