THE CAMPAIGNS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17272, 13 September 1916, Page 6

THE CAMPAIGNS.

Oommbmts that go outside the officially reported facts, however illuminating they may be, are always to be accepted with reserve, and this comment certainly applies to the messages concerning the Russian offensive. The facts ‘wo have from the Russian front are simple but impressive. The great rush towards Halicz has been stopped, only for a brief time we trust, and tho enemy is thus, able to complete his preparations for the further retreat that will be inevitable if Halicz falls.. North of the Dniester the Russian offensive has reached the Gnila Lipa, and south of the river the Russian gnns are bombarding the enemy’s positions covering the bridgehead. We were told some days ago that tho town of Halicz was in flames, so that the Russian lines must be very close to the principal objective. But in the meantime the stout resistance of von Bothmer’s reinforced army is gaining invaluable time for the enemy, and the optimistic forecast that comes from, a Petrograd correspondent, anticipating the complete envelopment of the enemy’s forces in Galicia, can scarcely be justified. . Tho Russians may win a break-through either across the Dniester or across the Gnila Lipa, imperilling the Austrian right wing; or, on the other hand, the losses suffered by the already battered enemy in this present fierce battle may be so great as to complete his demoralisation. But neither development can be certainly expected, and the Russian success, when it does come ; may be only partial. It is right to keep the larger possibilities in mind as events ardently to be hoped for, but the correspondent who raises the expectation of his readers- with confident predictions of successes that are really outside tho limit of reasonable deduction is rendering them a very’ poor service. The official news from tile Russian front is scanty, and at present there is no report of important changes in the situation in France. Tho Rumanians record 'further advances in Transylvania, chiefly on the northern wing, whore the formidable double* movement of Rumanians and Russians into Hungary is developing slowly but methodically.'’ We have little definite news of the position in the Dobrudja. In Macedonia a British offensive, ns yet of no great magnitude, has been opened on the Struma front, while there are indications of an imminent French movement in the Vardar valley.