THE CAMPAIGNS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17288, 2 October 1916, Page 6

THE CAMPAIGNS.

;;," Comparatively little movement is recprded in the communiques from the ffn&rh, theatres this morning. In France ■■'tho weather has been unfavourable for I. any but local activities, and of course ■the Allies are taking time to consoli- , date their recent gains. Nothing but jy a continuance: of bad weather* however, ipS; likely to'stop'tho advance just yet,

[because the position reached, though compared with the old, Fil'lnes, would bo greatly strengthened ■ by' Kanoiher vigorous push, even if larger could not be {secured. "With a • month of autumn conditions it will be 11 necessary to take advantage-* of every [ minute, though it may be reI called that two years ago the Germans I were able to sustain an - offensive * at Ypres through 7 the first week in Nof vember. It is the difficulty of moving i-';'the. guns ■■• that chiefly handicaps-an ' ; army in winter, but the conditions also ■;. affect the men adversely, and the period i? of daylight is short. It. goes without '/saying, however, that there will bo 1 more Activity iii the west this coming winter than was the case a year ago, .and' even if, as. is probable, operations •-on a large ficale have to be suspended, i. enrery spell of practicable weather will K to utilised,- and the Overmans will be f (IrTen no rest., We cannot safely specu- ' fate, concerning the .immediate-course ■ o& the campaign, however, for the eon-

tinuation of the great offensive assuredly does defend largely 6a the weather. There have, been minoractions, between,the Somme and the Ancre, esr-. pccially on the sector north of Courcelette and Martinpuich, where a a attack on Eaucourt and le : Sars appears J t;> ho,in preparation.. The rest of the British front seems to he quiet, hut the Belgians" report a heavy artillery duel in the Dixmude region. probably there will be a temporary revival of activity on the sectors east of Rlieims, though the heavy concentration in the Sommo region suggests that no ..very, largo movement will be attempted. The Russians are still silent regarding the position in Galicia, the inference being that, following on the enemy's counter-offensive, the front has been comparatively quiet, but as we have no information as to the seasonal conditions it is impossiblo to say how the campaign is likely to,develop. The Rumanians are making progress in the eastern. districts of Transylvania, and are apparently now jn contact with the main Austrian* forces. Inthe Tfansylvanian Alps a strong Austrb-German movement on' Hermannstadt has comi polled the Rumanians to fall back on the Rote Turm Pass. No change is reported from the Macedonian, front, but the Greek revolutionary movement is spreading apace, apd it seems certain that the Allies will shortly have considerable Greek assistance. A Rome messago declares, that King Constantino has given way and has agreed to support the Allies, but, as ho is probably tied to Germany by a secret agreement, the report must be" regarded as of doubtful authenticity.