The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-16
LORD KITCHENER THINKS TEUTONS
 HAVE ABOUT SHOT
 THEIR LAST BOLT
tContinued from Page One)

l, mem, Sir John French has been able to extend his lines and take over from the French approximately II mites of additional front
 "Throughout the summer months the French have held their own along their extended line of the front, and in some places, notably near Arras and in Alsace, have made substantial progress. In the struggles around Arras early in June they captured whole heights at Notre Dame De Lorette. as well as 6 number Of strongly fortified villages around this high ground. thereby securing an area of great tactical importance In view of the future opera ticns. In Alsace number of dominating eminences have been wrested from the enemy and have been substantially held in tn. face of formidable counter attacks One particularly commanding summit which overlooks the left bank of the Rhine in this quarter. and which had been the scene of continuous encounters for many months after changing hands many times. rested finally Tn possession of our allies.
 French Lines Fortified "French. trenches along the entire front have been developed and strengthened, and now everywhere present a network of almost impregnable fortifica tions. Of this l was able to satisfy myself during visit lately to our allies at the invita- ton of General Joffre, when I was pro- foundly impressed with the high state of efficiency and morale of the French army. It was evident that officers and men rec ognized that the only possible termination to the war was to inflict on the enemy a thorough defeat. Their resolutions to do this was never firmer or more intense.
 "Our allies aircraft have been particu- larly active. They have carried out num- erous effective raids on a large scale penetrating far into hostile territory.
 Turning to the eastern theatre. the enemy, taking advantage of their cen- tral position since early In June. have been employing very large proportion of their forces in strenuous efforts to crush our Russian ally. In prosecution of these operations, which we all have followed closely. the Germans in addition to their great numerical superiority, de- veloped vastly preponderating artillery en- fllading. which enabled them to force the Russians from their defenses. The Ger man objective was evidently to destroy the Russian army as a force in being es- tablshed, and thus set free their troops for action elsewhere, but as in the case of many other plans arranged by the German staff, during this war, there has been a signal failure to carry out the original intentions. .,
 Tn the history of this war few episodes stand out more prominent more creditabiy-than the masterly manner in which the Russian forces, distributed along a line of 750 miles, have been handled while facing violent assaults from an enemy greatly superior In numbers. especially of guns and munitions. The success of this great rear-guard action had been rendered possible by the really splendid fighting qualities of the Russian soldier. who in every case where actual conflict has taken place, has shown himself infnite- ly superior to his adversary. These fighting qualities of the Russian army empowered her able generals and com potent staff to carry out the immensely difficult operation of retirement of the whole line over some 100 to 200 miles, without allowing the enemy to break through at any point, or by surround ing their forces to bring about q tacti- cal position which might have involved surrender of a considerable portion of the Russian army.
 Thus we sec the Russian army re- maining today intact as a fighting force It doubtless has suffered severely from the hard fighting to which 1t had been subjected during recent months. but the German forces also had to pay a heavy toll for their advance into Rus sia, and who will venture to soy until the present< grips are relaxed. which armies suffered more?
 Past Invasions Recalled /
 Tt must not be forgotten that Rus -l- n- Ia 'HI