HEARING ITS END

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 82, 3 October 1914, Page 7

HEARING ITS END

LONGEST BATTLE IN HISTORY ALLIES' FINE WORK FIGHTING WITH RENEWED SPIRIT INDIAN TROOPS IN FRANCE FIERCE BATTLE AT CRACOW IMMENSE OPPOSING ARMIES

"The decisive hour cannot be long delayed ;" the longest battle in the history of the world is supposed to be nearing its end. The Allies are fighting with renewed spirit and even greater elan than they displayed a fortnight ago, while .the troops of the enemy are showing signs of the very hard time they have been experiencing 1 . Therefore in Paris, says the London Times correspondent, there is a continuance of hope of the success of the Allies. By way of Rotterdam (Holland) comes news that the German residents of that city are aghast at the tone* of the latest Berlin newspapers, "which ar y e preparing the German people for defeat." One of the leading journals, while admitting reverses, asks the public to suspend judgment until the result of the combined operations of the German forces are known. The same journal remarks: "The influence of the British reinforcements is showing itself more and more." It also pays a tribute to the fighting qualities of the French. 411 reports point to the fact that the loss of life has been exceedingly heavy. At last we have definite information that the Indian troops, regarding whom there was considerable speculation, landed in France some days ago, and were received with great enthusiasm. No doubt before this they have made their presence felt in the fighting line. If the estimates of the strength of the combatants in the eastern theatre of war may be accepted as even approxi* mately correct, great events should come to pass there shortly. A million Russians are pushing on towards Cracow, where the defending army (Austro-German) is officially declared to number two and a half million men, Hussian. successes north-west of Grodno imply that the German centre has been broken. Germany is making a supreme effort to face Russia and raise the prestige of the Austrian army. Italy's protest against mine-laying in the 'Adriatic Sea (an Italian vessel was recently blown up there) has elicited from Austria an expression of regret and a promise that the menace will be removed forthwith..