The Spectator., 1914-12-22
MYSTERY IN THE
 RUSSIAN RETREAT
VICTORY OF TEUTON FORCES FORESTALLS EARLY IVA
 SION OF GERMANY.
ENGLAND TO PROTECT EGYPT
Turkish Suzerainty Over khediVe's Country Terminated By the Ac-
 tion of King George.

LOndon.-Although there seems It. tie doubt that the Russians are re- treating and that there is no prospect of an early invasion of Germany, con- siderable mystery surrounds the re- ported decisive victory by the Ger. mans which Berlin celebrated Thurs day night.
 "The beaten Russian main forces are being pursued on the entire battle 400 kilometers wide (about 250 miles, from Krosno, Galicia, to the mouth of the Bzura river, in Poland, where it empties into the Vistula," says an Austrian official statement issued in Vienna.
 The Russians are retiring along the entire front in Galicia and Po- land" This statement, officially is sued at Vienna, is the outstanding tie fronts.
 The British Official Press Bureau Thursday night issued the following statement concerning the making of Egypt a British protectorate:
 His Brittanic majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs gives notice that in view of a state of war arising out of the action of Fur key, Egypt is placed under the protec- tion of his majesty and will hence forth constitute a Britisch protecro- rate.
 ,,,tx- Nf Egypt is thus terminated, and his majesty's government will adopt all measures necessary for the defense of Egypt and the protection of its in- habitants and interests.
 The king has been pleased to ap- prove the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Sir Arthur Henry MacMahon to be his majesty's high commission CT for Egypt"
 For the first time in annals of than a centu England has been struck by a foreign foe. A squadron of swift German cruisers crept through the fog Tuesday night to the eastern coast and turned their guns against the Britons.
 When day broke they began the bombardment of three important towns-Hartlepool, at the mouth ot the Tees; Whitby, 8 miles southward. and Scarborough, noted as a pleasure resort, Is miles beyond Hartlepool suffered most There two battle crui. sers and an armored cruiser were en. gagged. and at this place the greatest loss of life occurred.
 Naval writers express the beliCt that six or eight ships were engaged.
 The hostile squadron escaped in the mist after an encounter with coast guard vessels patrolling the neigh borhood, which were reinforced as soon as the presence of the Germans was sgnaled.
 Men, women and children of the ci- william population were left dead or wounded. struck without warning while at breakfast or at work
 ualty list totals no. of whom 31 are known to be dead
 The churches were damaged; the gas works and lumber yards at liar  telpool were set afire and the abbey at Whitby was struck. The Baltimore hotel at Scarborough received the full effects of a she'll number of houses and shops were shattered and partly burned in each of the towns
 The latest official estimate of the casualties resulting from the bom- bardment of Hartlepool says that S2 persons were killed and about 250 wounded. A number of victims were women and children. Fifteen school boys were killed by single shell. only one boy in a group escaping. Ten per sons were killed by the collapse of a building in which they had taken shelter. One shell damaged a build ing five miles from shore Bristling with wrath and resentment at this attack. England is astir as never be- fore since war was declared