THE CAMPAIGNS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16793, 22 February 1915, Page 6

THE CAMPAIGNS.

AITHOUCSf the official reports from the western theatre are concerned chiefly irttik the repelling of German attacks, theyt contain abundant evidence that the Allies are prosecuting their campaign vigorously. The actions fought have l)een the results of German at-

tempts to recover lost ground, hut in tvery case the progress of French and British has been sustained, and the trenches gained during the previous few days have been held. The sole success that the Germans have to their credit came in the course of a struggle on the slopes of the Vosges, and that battle has not yet reached a decision. Be far there is no indication of the development of a special Franco-Brit-ish attack, the policy pursued by General Joffre being to increase the

violence of the local pressure. The! "nibbling" gives place to biting. Jhrt sooner or later it -will be necesWUy to face an heroic sacrifice of men tal an effort to break down the Gtar•*a resistance, and if the position io^

the other theatre is really critical this effort will not be long delayed. We have to admit, of course, that our knowledge of the general position is sadly deficient. Tf the campaign on tho Russian side proceeds normally, the plan of the Allies in the west will be to continue tho wearing-down of the enemy until tho opportunity for an onslaught is presented at some part of the battle-line, or, rather, until General Joffre is able to make such dispositions that tho issue of a grand combat would bo beyond the possibility of doubt. The battles ill history in which little armies put great armies to rout make excellent arm-chair reading, but on land, as on the sea, the art of war consists in tho concentration of a superior force to that of tho enemy or the occupation of a position that counteracts tho enemy's superiority. General Joffre will strike when the issue looks humanly certain, unless, of course, action is forced upon him prematurely by the adverse development of the campaign on either front.

Concerning the Russian position we have little definite news. The retreat from the East Prussian front is continuing, stubborn actions being fought at Augustovo and Ossowietz to cover tho retirement. That the Russians will have lost heavily in these battles is probable, because the conditions of a rearguard action tare commonly unfavourable. AVo are anxious to learn how the defeat of the Russian right wing is affecting the situation in Poland, but the war fog has descended on the whole region. The only news of consequence that we have is concerned with the position in Bukowina, where the Austria ns have occupied Caeraowitz. Probably the city waa evacuated without fighting. On the Carpathian front in Galicia the Russians are said to be holding their ground and even to be making some progress.