Progress of the War.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15478, 4 January 1916, Page 6

Progress of the War.

Tho news from tho Eastern front today makes it -fairly plain that the Russians have entered upon a determined offensive on a large scale. The mes-

sages cover operations at various points on the front in Eastern Galicia, from the Dniester near the Roumanian frontier, to the middle Strypa, and also on the left bank of the river Styr a long way north of the Galician frontier. Recent Austrian and German coramuniau<ss have claimed the repulse of many Russian attacks on the Strypa, but the official statements from Petrograd, coupled with Austrian admissions, make it clear that the Russians have mado definite, if not great, progress at several points. Tho first Russian communique says that tho enemy made desperate but unsuccessful counterattacks on tho right or east bank of the Styr. Later messages announce that the Russians' crossed tho Styr in the Czartorysk region, capturing a village and occupying several heights northward of that town and repelling two counter-attacks with heavy losses to the enemy. The enemy was driven back on tho right or southern bank of the Dniester, in south-eastern Galicia, in the region of Uscieczko, which lies ten miles north-west of Zaleszczyki. On tho Strypa, further north, two miles of trenches wcro occupied and '"consoli- " dated." Tho Austrians claim that the Russian attacks in Eastern Galicia were "everywhere repulsed." The Germans assert that they repulsed weak Russian divisions at various points except northward of Lako Drisviaty, where the "temporarily" entered their positions. On tho Western front there are no indications of an immediate offensive, bui the Allies' artillery is active at many points. The French communique reports that heavy damage was .done to German work s in the sand-dunes on the coast of Belgium, and that positions in the Champagne district were effectively shelled. On tlie British front near La Bassee

the Germans exploded a mine but were unable to occupy the crater eo formed. In the Vosges tho French admit a slight retirement on the slopes of Hartmannsweilerkopf. as the result of a heavy German bombardment. Minor activities aro reported from the Italian front and the Dardanelles. The arrest of tho enemy Consuls at Salonica by General Sarrail, who, doubtless, had very good reasons for his action, apart fromtheono publicly announced, seems likely to haston developments in regard to tho relations between Greeco and tho Central Powers. There is a report that large forces are being landed by tho Allies at Orphano, midway between Salonica and Ivavala.