New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-16

in the fact Of formidable counter at
tAcks. One particularly commanding
summit, which overlooks the left bank
Of the Rhine in this quarter. and which
had been the scene Of continuous en-
counters for many months, after
changing hannds many times. rested
finally in the possession Of our allies.
French trenches along the entire
front have been developed and strength
oned. and now everywhere present
network Of almost impregnable fortiil-
cations. OF this | was able 10 satisfy
myself during a visit lately 10 our
allies. at the invitation of General Jof-
fire, when | was profoundly impressed
with the high state Of efhclency ana
morale of the French army. Il was
evident that officers and men recognized
that the only possible termination to
the war was 10 infict on the enemy
thorough defeat Their resolution to
do this was never firmer or more IN
tense
Allied Aircraft Active.
"Our allies aircraft have been par
ticularly active. They have carried out
numerous effective raids on large
scale, penetrating far into hostile tel
ritory.
Turning 70 the Eastern theatre:
The enemy, taking advantage of their
central position. since early IN June
have been employing very large pro-
portion Of their forces in strenuous
efforts TO crush our Russian ally. In
prosecution of these operations, which
we all have followed closely, the Ger
mans, in addition to their great nu-
merical superiority, developed vastly
prcponderating artillery which enabled
them to force the Russians from their
defences. The German objective was
evidently to destroy the Russian army
a. a force in being and thus set free
their troops for action elsewhere; but,
AZ in the case Of many other plans ar
ranged by the German staff during
This war, there has been signal fail
ure to carry out the original inten-
tons,
an the history OF this war few cpl
sodes stand out more prominently,
more creditably. than the mastery
manner in which the Russian forces,
distributed along a line of $50 miles,
have been handled while facing violent
assaults from an enemy greatly SUI
perior in numbers, especially of guns
and munitions. The success of this
great rearguard action has been rem
dercd possible by the really splendid
fighting qualities of the Russian SOL
der. who in every case where actual
conflict has taken place has shown
himself infinitely superior to his ad-
versary.
these fighting qualities of the Rus
sian army empowered her able generals
and competent staff TO carry out the
immensely difficult operation Of retire
ment of the whole line over some 100
TO 200 miles, without allowing the
enemy to break through at any point
or by surrounding their forces to bring
about a tactical position which. might
have involved surrender of consider
able portion of the Russian army.
Thus we see the Russian army re-
naming to-day intact as a fighting
force. II doubtless has suffered severe
ly from the hard fighting TO which 1t
has been subjected during recent
months, but the German forces also
had to pay heavy toll for their ad-
vance into Russia, and who will vent
ure TO say until the present grips are
relaxed which armies suffered more?
at must not be forgotten that Rus
STA, with her vast territory, always has
been able ultimately to envelop and
annihilste large invading armies. In
this she certainly is no less capable
to-day than she was century ago.
As regards the net result, all that the
Germans can place to their credit )
that at an enormous sacrifice they have
captuYed certain fortresses. But our
recent experience shows that the best
fortificatons, and practically the only
ones, that can effectively resist the new
machinery of war, are those which can
be quickly dug deep in the soil. Such
trenches to-day form better defences
than the most carefully fortified places
of which the engineers until lately
were so proud.
German Bolt Nearly Shot.
"The Germans appear almost to have
shot their bolt. Their advance into
Russia, which at one time was carried
out at an average daily rate OF ap-
proximately five miles, has now dimin-
ished to less than one mile day, and
we see the forces which they boastingly
described as defeated and broken
troops flying before them, still dog
gedly and pluckily fighting along. the
whole line and in some places, indeed,
turning on the jaded invaders and in
ficting heavy losses.
"The Russian army, far from falling
out of the fighting lists. as Germany
fondly hoped, is still powerful and
undefeated unit, and the determine
ton and confluence Of the troops, fortl-
fed by the increasing supply of NUM-
tions, have risen in proportion TO the
strain imposed upon them. In this mo-
mentous hour of stress His Imperial
Majesty the Gear has taken executive
command of his armies in the field.
The enthusiasm created by his step
will serve to concentrate all the ener-
gies of his officers and men on driving
back the invaders and preventing them
from reaching any vital portion OF the
empire.
Victories Really Defeats.
"To sum up, we may fairly say that
while the Germans have prevailed by
sheer weight Of guns and at immense
cost to themselves in forcing back the
Russian front, nothing but Larren ter
ritory and evacuated fortresses have
been gained. Thus their strategy has
clearly failed, and the victories they
claim may only prove, as military his
tory has 80 often demonstrated, to be
defeats in disguise"
Dwelling on Italy's part in the war,
Earl Kitchener said:
"The achievements of the Italian ar
tillery have been truly remarkable and
the manner in which heavy pieces were
hauled into almost inaccessible posi-
tions on lofty mountain peaks and in