NOTES ON THE WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17290, 4 October 1916, Page 6

NOTES ON THE WAR.

Tho correspondents aro evidently attaching considerable importance to the resumption of the Russian offensive in Galicia, and it is suggested that Bnissiloff will extend tho front of the attacks until be is engaging the enemy everywhere from the Stokhod to the Carpathians. At present the- attacks aro directed towards Lemborg, on tho railway from Brody, and on the sector between Brody and tho Zlota Lipa. The Russians aro across the Zlota at a point below Brzezany, but for tho time being tho fighting on this southern sector does not appear to be particularly intense, and it, is probable that the intention is to press forward between Zborow and Brzezany, in tho hope of carrying tho whole of tho Zlota Lipa lino of defences. The moro direct thrust from Brody would then be only a, supporting action. In any case, an advance from Brody might prove difficult, because the country does not afford facilities for simultaneous movement on a wide front, and if this were Bnissiloff's main offensive ho would bo likely to support it by a vigorous series of attacks to the immediate north.

It is stated by a German newspaper that tho Russians are now well equipped with heavy guns. If this is tho case, the winter campaign should be interesting for tho enemy. Hitherto tho Russians have undoubtedly been labouring at a disadvantage in the matter of artillery. They must have built up a fine body of field guns, but tho heavy artillery had to wait, and it has been stated repeatedly that in tho course of the summer fighting Brussiloff's armies have been glad to make use of any German '•'heavies" for which supplies of ammunition were obtainable. The early reports of this character were discredited, but correspondents havo given tho story on the authority of army officers and tho censors have allowed it to pass. Riissia has done wonderfully well to maintain a supply of munitions for the long offensive campaign, and it is a tolerably safe guess that the pauses in tho operations havo been duo to somo extent to tho necessity for accumulating reserves against the next thrust. At her present rate of production Russia should be in great shape by tho spring.

Correspondents in tho west aro hinting, now at the possibility of a new British offensive in Flanders, and it is said tint tho Germans themselves suspect such a movement. Ons report declares that a heavy and continuous", bombardment opened on SatVirday and has continued since, the implication being that this is in preparation for an attack- Of course, the impression that Sir Douglas Haig has had a secondary offensive in preparation obtains widely, and as Flanders is converted into something like a sea of mud during tho winter it is assumed that tho big movement will come during this month or not till the spring. The point is one on which speculation is likely to bo futile, but it is worth mentioning, because even if the bombardment is designed merely to alarm tho enemy it would bo a sure indication of tho continuation of tho offensive on the Sommo sectors.

There has been much local fighting north of Courccktto and to the east of tho Albert-Bapaumo road. The communique gives some information as to the present front, which is rather irregular. Tho British aro nearly threequarters of a mile north of Courcelette, and if the front ran east and west they would bo in the village of lo Sars, which, however, remains in German hands. Tho enemy lias managed to regain a footing in Eaucourt I'Abbayc—cue of tho few instauces in which a counter-attack has given him a definite recovery of lost ground. Between Eaucourt and Gueudecourt, again, there is a dip in the lino, the British position at Gueudecourt apparently constituting a pronounced little salient. Presumably a good deal of local fighting is necessitated on this now front, and it is a tolerably safe guess in thje circumstances that tho Germans have brought in a crack division or two in order to give additional stiffening to the resistance One has only to glance at tho map to realise that the British push northwards on the Thiepval-Gueu-decourt front threatens a big danger to tho enemy's army north of tho An-

A very interesting movement is officially reported from Rumania. Tho passage of the Danubo has been forced between Rustchuk and Turtukai, threatening to turn von Mackensen's left flank, and although the progress of this rather daring development is not indicated it must be assumed that the Rumanians are across the river in some strength. Simultaneously the Rumanian and Russian troops on the Dobrudja front aro attacking strongly™ tbey claim successes against the centre and left wing—so that unless the enemy is in greater strength than was supposed the situation is likely to undergo a quick change. The Datiube above Turtukai is not very easily negotiated. Tho northern bank is marshy and tho southern bank relatively high, so that the advantage ought to have becu with the Bulgarians. Tho enemy, however, may have been caught napping.

Some curious stories are told by correspondents on the western front, and one of the most curious relates to a new sort of shell that the Germans have been using. Night is made beautiful wlien an attack is in progress by star shells and flame shells, designed to illuminate the battlefield, but those are quite commonplace now. Lately, however, both by day and by night, a "rocket" shell has made its appearance. When it bursts it emits something very like the golden rain of fireworks displays. "It is very beautiful, bat what its use may bo is a matter of argument," says a correspondent of •'The Times." "It is not known to have done any harm, aud so spectacular is it, aud so seemingly innocuous, that when I was up that way yesterday one of the officers who had been in tho fighting of the night before wheu tho things bad been used more than half-seriously put forward the suggestion that they were really fireworks and intended as such fco catch the attention of our men and make them look up, forgetting tho precautions for the moment, when the enemy's snipers would get their chance. Preposterous as the suggestion sounds, it shows how littlo terrified our men are by the enemy's horrors-"