Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15394, 27 September 1915, Page 6

Progress of the War.

Quito a series of Russian successes, in tho north, the centre, and the southeast, xirc officially reported this morning. That at Vilcika, however, besides being gratifying proof of the Russians reserve strength, also shows how quickly the Germans have pushed on from Vilna. Vilcika is sixty miles east of Vilna, about cuui-distant from that city and Minsk, and a few miles north of tho railway line joining the two places. Tho enemy covered theso sixty miles in less than a week. It is very likely thai, a Pvussian succcse at Vilcika was vitally necessary for tho safety of tho troops on the \ ilna-Minsk line. At any rato tho Cermans wero driven out of the town, with a loss of several guns, always a good measure of success ngainst tho Germans, who do not easily yield their weapons. It is pribablo that they were advanced troops that wero thrown back, and that tho main body will soon make an attempt to recover tho town. In tho south-cast tho Russians havo won an important victory on tho Styr, -whero their offensive from tho lino of the Gory.n has resulted in the rocapturo of the fortross of Lutzk, which tho Austrians took tbrco weeks ago." The Russian sain of ground here in the last ten days has been very considerable. On the 13th tho Austrians reported that they had crossed tho Goryn near Dcrashno, over thirty miles north-oast of Lutzk. Two days later tho Russians reported having driven tho enemy across the river iD tho samo region, and they havo now advanced to Lutzk and villages south-west of the fortress. This advanco may place the Austrians at Dubno in a dangerous position, though tho Russian advanco was checked in this region. Further south, in Galicia, west. of Trembovla, tho Austrians havo also been driven back. Theso successes, following on the other heavy blows delivered in the last fortnight, should dispose of any ambition. the enemy may have to take Kieff.

- There is important news from tho Western theatre, the Allies having opened an offensive which may bo the j beginning of great events. According to tho French communiqud, the French and tho British made successful attacks between Arras and La Ba&see. The British operated west of Loos and Hullueh, which lie between La and Lens. The British line has been extended here, for until recently its southern point was south-west of La Bassee. At tho same time the French launched an attack oast of Rheims, between the Suippe and tho Aisne, and carried nearly the whole of the first Gorman line. "Progress continues" is the encouraging end of the communique. Tho German communique touching theso operations mentions British attacks on the Ypres-La Basses line. The enemy is reported to have used "lachrymatory" shells in attacks on the Lorraine' front, by which is presumably meant shells designed to produce such a flow of tears as to put- the enemy temporarily out of action, the use of gas by the Germans in April, it was reported that Buch a shell had been derised by the French, and had undergone satisfactory tests. The. Italians have broken a long silence with an official report of a success in tho region south-east of Trent. Thero is a good deal of official news from tho Dardanelles, but the gist of it is that the situation shows no. change. The mention in a French communique of a junction being effected between the British zone* at Suvla Bay and Anzac is rather puzzling, as these zones were connected early in August. It is stated troops have arrived at Mudros. If so, we may expect to hear of important developments shortly.

"Notes and Queries,'" which is, or was, in tho local Public Librarv, has not, we are afraid, raiyij* readers in New Zealand. But to students and bcholarg, sciontists, antiquaries, philologists, and folk-loristß all over the world it has for over sixty years been a very precious little publication. In its columns nearly every literary difficulty for the past half-century has been discussed and solved; it is the medium of exchange between enquiring scholars of all countries. One would hare supposed that whatever might happen to other journals owing to the war, "Notes and Queries" at anv rate would have pursued tho quiet tenor of its way. Tho other day. however, it was announced that unless more subscribers could bo obtained. "Notes and Queries" would ccase to exist. Tho news caused a rally, and when tho last mail left England it was hoped that the little journal would be saved. An English paper pointed out the significance of the incident. "Nothing," it said, "so brings home to one the severity of the privations exacted bv the war as the news that faithful readers, instead of buying their 'Notes and Queries/ are resorting to the libraries to read it."

Everyone is familiar with tho old saw, taken from Burke, which warns you against indicting a whole nation. Burko did not, as a matter of fact-, mean what he is generally supposed to havo meant. He was thinking of legal, not of moral, indictment. He spoke of threo ways of dealing with tho colonics : to remove tho causes of their hostility, to prosecute their stubborn spirit as criminal, or to comply with it. It was the impracticability of criminal proceedings that Burko had in mind .Ua .rlisl *»/>»■ Jrnnn* ''f V*d

method of drawing un *»n indictment against an whole people.*" 'Nobody, therefore, need bo disturbed, when they feej that jtrstioo require* the condemnation of the whole German nation, by memories of Burke's saying. Fortified by this reflection, one of tho leading American newspapers declared that while it might Imj presumptuous to pass judgment upon individual Germans, "it is not presumptuous to declare that somehow or other a spirit evil and intolerable has gained such possession of thoso who control the destinies of Germany as to make her national conduct— in the large, and terribly often in detail—an abomination in tho sight of all the nations." Such a sentiment, appearing in a journal which has certainly not been pro-British, shows that tho German atrocities Lave sunk very deeply into the mind of America.

With the approach of Christmas, ono may naturally cxpect, there will be a substantial increase in the number of paroels sent to our soldiers in Egypt and at the Dardanelles. Colonel Rhodes's mission will doubtless result in an improvement of the postal arrangements, and there ought to bo much less cause for complaints as to the non-re-ceipt of parcels than has existed in the past. A wounded British officer has written a letter to "The Times" upon this subject. Ho himself was very unfortunate. Ho received letters and newspapers promptly and regularly, but r.evcr a single parcel, although his wife posted a parcel to him on an average twice a week, ijis was not an isolatod case ; on all hands men and officers were constantly complaining. This officer makes three suggestions as to the despatch of gifts to friends or relatives at tho front:—"(1) Keep parcels as small as possible. (2) If parcels can be reduced in size to the limits of letter post, always register them. (;3) Observo carefully, that there are no outside advertisements on the parcels, showing that tho contents probably consist of tobacco, confections or food." Like most other soldiers, he emphasises the goodness of sending sweets, thirstquenchors, and cigarettes: "If those at homo could only witness the delight and joy of all ranks when tho postman turn* up —all too seldom —with a well-filled bag, they would grudge no sacrifice of time or money in order to provido that pleasure as frequently as possible."