Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-02
GERMANY FOR PRESENT
CANNOT MAKE HEADWAY
Initiative at This Time Seems to BE
i'm Hands of Allied Com
manderS.
KAIsER's MEN ON DEFENSIVE
Battle on Two Fronts 1000 Miles
Apart Causes Unanticipnted Strain
ON Even Great Resources OF the
Empire.

LONDON. January 1.-The close Of
the fifth month of the war finds Ger
many sim in occupation OF virtually
the whole Of belgium, an important
tract Of French territory in the west
crn theatre OF hostili;ics, and n consid-
cradle slice of Russian Poland along
The eastern battle front. 1000 miles
away. 1t would appear, nevertheless.
that Germany. Tor the present III least.
is unable to make further Roadway.
British commentators to day call at E.
| tention TO the fact that the initiative
Tor the moment seems to he in the
hands of the allied commanders. and
the recent German public utteranccs TO
the effect that Germany is waginG
defensive war 10 saw" her territory
from Invasion is accepted here ms an
indirect admission that TO battle on
TWO fronts 1000 miles apart has caused
an unanjicipatcd strain on even the
great resources of the empire
There are. however, no illusions i'm
London as 10 the difficulties confront
inr the allies. 1t is recognized that
the task OF recovering the territory
seized by the Germans is little less
formidable than the undertaking. Of
Germany when she found herself en-
gagged in warfare against Il multiplicity
OF enemies. fence the postponcmcnt
OF the allied offensive on grand scale
until the allies are able 10 put more
men In the field Meanwhile each side
is continualiy feeling the strength OF
its opposing lines. General Joffrc
french COMMUNICATIVE chief. is for the
moment cNci ting his greatest pressure
on TN" rNtTcmities of the long front
extending from the channel TO hlsace.
ON the east wing the French are once
nOS.t-SlOn a a
Ste'nhach, a village of much Strategic
Importance which they occupied early
in Tie WAY. Against the German RICH,
wing the allies arc slowly pushing
along tho sand Guncs bordering the
North sea IN Tie direction of Ostend.
which the guns Of the British feet
prevent the Germans from occupying
Large armies row training in Eng
land will be ready to be thrown across
the channel as soon as Il more rapid
development Of The allies offensive
movement is considered desirable.
Ii is claimed at Ictrograd that Field
Marshal Won IIindcnburn's rush for
Warsaw was opposed with such sue
cess that II has been definitely check
ed but German War Ofhce reports state
satisfactory progress is being made,
/ except III Galicia. where what practi-
cally amounts to Il rout of the Aus
| TRAN forces with their stiffeninG of
Germans is admitted
Opinions vary whether the Aust.o-
| flunEa ri&n forces will again stir .Ee
hornets nest 10 the southwark Of the
dual monarchy Al present Scrvi: and
! Montenegro have fought their big
| ncighbor TO Il standstill. out ii is re-
ported that Austria is preparing n new
expedition OF a million men against
| Scrvia
Excitement produced by President
| Wilson's note concerning the detention
! of American vessels by British war
| ships has cooled with the publication
OF the communications text. The re-
| ply Will be formulated without delay,