THE H.B. TRIBUNE. FRIDAY, SEPT 25. 1914. THE WAR.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 241, 25 September 1914, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. FRIDAY, SEPT 25. 1914. THE WAR.

The lengthy report which the High Commissioner sends as to the doings of the British forces over a period of lour or five days, now a week past, affords 'very interesting reading. but it does not give n.s any of the news of recent events and their effects for which we are so eagerly looking. Beyond this, however, we have very little with regard to the western operations, excepting the customary, and we believe wellfounded, assurance that the general position is eminently satisfactory. As accounting for the apparent slowness of the movements during the last few days, one of our messages makes pointed reference to the effect of the weather, which lias rendered the roads well-nigh impassable, more, especially for the heavy artillery that the Germns have to take with them in their retreat. But for this, it is thought that they would not have held so tenaciously to the positions they now occupy, and would not have sacrificed so many lives in doing so. The suggestion is that Hie resistance is one of sheer desperation, justifying a maximum loss in numbers in order to prevent an overwhelming disaster. Another account tells us that rapid progress is impossible in the face of the splendid entrenchments that, in spite of their confident expectation of victory at the end of their southern march, the Germans must have been preparing in case of possible repulse. The war, it is said, is almost like one involving the reduction of a succession of fortresses, and every inch of the way seems to be gained only by dislodging the enemy from miniature strongholds. Although such an advance must be costing the Allies immense losses in men, it is still averred that those suffered by the adversary are much more severe. With the fighting- going on under such conditions, we can well understand that it is difficult to distinguish one day’s work from another, or to state the time when any distinct advantage has been gained. On the Eastern fields Russia still seems to be’ successful, having driven the enemy from two new position, leaving only two fortified Galician towns of any moment still to be reduced. With reference io the movements of the Montenegrins and Servians against the southwestern corner of Austria, we are told to-day that they are within nine miles of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, whereas it is two or three days since the High Commissioner advised us that the combined forces had actually taken that town. It is quite probable that the message received first was in reality the later in despatch and that the High Commissioner’s news is reliable So also, we should be glad to think, is the news that a Russian cruiser has succeeded in sinking a German cruiser and two torpedo boats in the Baltic. There is, however, fio further word of the reported naval battle of a few days back in the same sea.