Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-30
WINTER WEATHER
LIKELY TO DELAY
WAR OPERATIONS
Most Serious Obstacle to
Movements on Prin-
cipal Fronts.
EXPECT NOTHING SERIOUS
UNTIL END OF JANUARY
Allies Believe They Are Ready to
Crush German Lines When
ever Time Is Ripe.
But NEED CAREFUL PLANNING
Duel in N0sges Mountains Continues.
iiy All Accounts. Saloniki
Is Safe.
EXPECT NOTHING SERIOUS
UNTIL END OF JANUARY
but NEED CAREFUL PLANNING
Duel in Nosges Mountains Continues.
Ey All Accounts, Saloniki
Is Safe.

LONDON. December dispatches
from both east ana west express the
belief that the wiutcr weather is likely
/" prov" til" most severe obstacle to
war operations on the principal fronts
during the next f.w days
The most dreaded period Of winter
months IS from the end Of December
to the cud OF January. said a general
in - report last winter. The sam. re
mark would probably apply equally
this year
Reuters correspondent at western
headquarters. after remarkin; that the
British staff iS confident that the allies
are now SO strong in men and muni-
tions that they cam break through the
German lines whenever the right time
comes. declares that the wcathertis the
chief reason for postponing the iy
movement, aud adds:
Such movement needs careful
planning and extreme caution. Roll
!nE-up tactics always involve the pos
SibtlitN OF countcrattarks which may
end in rolliuL mp the aggresSor. With
the face OF the country in a porous and
mushy condition. it is Impossible to
effect the essential quick movements
OF artillery, without which any hig
offensive is forcdoomed To fail
STEP SHEER SUICIDE WITH.
OPPORTUNITY Is RIPT;
The allied troops would probably
! have little trouble in occupying the
greater part OF the German front
trenches forthwith. because the enemy
holds these lightly. But then" With
ranges registered to a nicely from
! nyriads Of artillery and machine guns
such II step would be shecr suicide until
the opportunity is ripc"
Russian correspondent writes:
Tie most severe part OF winter has
now begun in the Russian tleater All
/ reports agree that the weather this
year is harder than usual IL is in
crcasngly doubtful If any serious
vents Will occur until the end of
January"
Despite the weather the duel in the
NosScS Mountains, in the western zone
continues. and may eventually prove
TO he one of the big operations OF the
war The gains in eit.er direction thus
far have been small. hut the French
claim progress in their effort 10 estab-
'tsh themselves on the crest of the
foothills which here dominate the
plain.
by all accounts saloniki is now safe.
! Certainly the central powers show no
haste to attack The allies positions
ScNenty-tv. thousand Scrbians have
reformed at Scu,ari and EIoassan in
Albania. and the Montcnegrin arny,
which heretofore has been dcbarred
Scosrarhicaily from taking any large
part III tn" war, is now throwing itself
cnerErticaily into the contest against
the Austriany.
KIlronTs or ATTACK
On StITtRI DENIED
Reports that the Auslriaus are at
lacking Scutari are authoritativcly de-
, MED, According to the latest adviccs.
/ tn" Nustliaus are at Ejelopoljc, where
they were recently rrpulScd by the
M"ntcncSrins. and cannot reach
Scutari without crossing the Albanian
Aips and tho flooded River Drin.
No official announcement is yet avail
abb" in London as 10 the decision of tile
Cahinrt IN favor OF compuision. but the
political atmosphere has been consider
nhly cleared 10y the admissions that the
principle OF CompulSion is accepted by
majority Of the members % the Cabi.
net Public opinion has not vet
crNstalliz"d, but there is widespread
approval Of Premier AsQuith's general
attitude. and there is feeling that
The public is quite ready 10 be con-
vinccd
The difficulties within the Cabinet
ma! be expected to diminish as the
question shaI cs itself in practical form
JOINT meeting OF the representa-
tiNcs Of the Labor party and the Fed
Grafton Of Trade Unions has been sum
noncd for tomorrow. ana a detailed
statement of the labor attitude is like
lS to follow