THE CAMPAIGNS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17283, 26 September 1916, Page 6

THE CAMPAIGNS.

TnE German authorities have allowed it to be published that the Kaiser communicated to Krupps and the other great construction firms his thanks for tho " astoundingly short time" occupied in repairing the High Seas Fleet and rendering it onco moro fit to "sally forth." It is now approaching four months since the Jutland battle. The day following that fight the British Grand Fleet returned to its bases and next night it was ready to put to sea in search of the Germans. Even while it was refitting and taking in supplies tho high seas were being patrolled by squadrons that had not been engaged, so that the British domination of the ocean was not oven for one minute relaxed. Within a couple of days the main fleet had resumed its watch of the German coasts. The Germans, for their part, scuttled back to their bases without waiting to learn what had happened to tho British ships, and now, after nearly fcur months of strenuous labour in tho yards, they are ready onco again to sally forth. The fact is astounding, if the Kaiser likes the term, but wo imagine that the interpretation put on it will vary. Tho sceptical nentral may even regard as astounding tho fact that the German ships should ever have been able to venturo out of their harbours, and perhaps this was the idea that was in the Kaiser's own mind. It is possible that tho publication of the Kaiser's message is intended as a threat, for the German Emperor is fond of these ponderous pronouncements, but tho most we can say is that the story will 'stimulate interest in the naval position and encourage us to look again for news of liveliness in tho North Sea. The German communique declares that the battlo north of the Sbmino is again in full swing, but the only news we have from the Allied side is of the repulse of enemy attacks. There is no appreciable chango in tho situation. Tho Russian reports speak of a great struggle between the Pripet and the Rumanian border, and we are entitled to suppose that the sectors of chief importance are tho one south of Brody and tho one immediately north of the Dniester. It is possible that Brussiloff has opened a general offensive, as be did in June, to conceal the direction of his main thrust, but the news of the position as yet is very scanty. The Rumanian reports call for no comment. In Macedonia fighting still proceeds, though less violently, in the Fiorina district, and on the other wing the British have once piore been operating across the Struma. The important item from the Italian front is the capture of the summit of Mqnte Cimouc by tho Austrian?. This position on the- Astico sector was stormed by the Italians at the end of July, and the significance of the present enemy success lies in the indication that, the Italians have been content to leave the enemy in possession of the upper Astico while they devoted their attention to the offensive on the lower Isonzo.