TOPICS OF THE DAY.
THE GREAT STRUGGLE IN RUSSIA.
TO many thoughtful students of war the groat battle in Russia, which has already lasted more than a fort- night and has not yet reached its critical point, is more absorbing than any battle yet fought in this war, or indeed in the whole of history. While there are enormous numbers engaged, there is room enough and to spare for free manoeuvring. The surprise swoop of some new force or strategical reserve from an unexpected quarter is always possible. Such movements (those of General von Below in the Baltic, provinces, for example) have actually occurred in the fighting so far as it has gone ; they have greatly increased the complexity of the situation, and there is ample opportunity for them to happen again on either the German or Russian side. This is no case of two armies completely chock-a-block, eyeing each other from almost unassailable trenches a, few yards apart, and having their flanks resting on the sea or on a neutral country, so that there is no hope of either of them creeping round the end of the other's line. On the enormous manoeuvring ground which Russia affords, Marshal von Hindenburg, who appears to be in supreme command on ibis front, is attempting a scheme so grandiose that it dazzles the imagination. He is attempting nothing less than an envelopment of the active Russian armies by closing in on them from remotely distant points. His movements remind one of the early days of the war, when Germany by a clockwork movement of masses tried to envelop the British Expeditionary Force and fall by a lightning stroke on Paris. A proof of what he is trying to do is afforded by the advance of General von Billow on the extreme left of the German line. For many weeks the Germans who invaded the Baltic provinces seemed just to be playing about. Of course in taking Libau, approaching Riga, and over- running a large district they were doing serious military work—there was no play about it as a movement in itself —but it seemed to be military play, or, at all events, was long taken for such, for any relation it bore to the opening advance on Warsaw from the west and south. We now see that it was all part of a vast scheme. By moving from the north successfully, a German army might place itself, a long way from Warsaw, across the railway to Petrograd. It might reach Vilna. Once there, it would have a starting-point for a later attack on Petrograd itself —nothing being forbidden to German ambition and confidence—and by holding a base on the Baltic (Riga no doubt was in prospect) there would be at least an additional security for retreat if the German Army were compelled to draw back. Marshal von Hindenburg had no notion of imitating the long retreat of Napoleon from Moscow.
But there is one enormous disadvantage in grandiose schemes such as that by which Warsaw was to be captured while the lines of further advance were to be secured by the very strategy which accomplished the first object. The whole scheme to be successful must be executed in complete harmony, and must be performed at high speed. If one part of the scheme fails, the rest is " hung up " tem- porarily till the failure is made good, and mean- while the element of speed disappears, and the hopes of success proportionately diminish. Already, as we have said, the battle has lasted more than a fort- night and the crisis is not yet reached. Every day of delay tells in favour of the Russians and against the Germans. We shall not be so rash as to predict that the Grand Duke will save Warsaw, but our hopes that he will do so are certainly much higher than they were. In any case, we are confident that even if Warsaw falls the Russian armies will still be found intact and full of fight and spirit not far away. German grandiosity in success leads to more grandiosity. Ambition will overreach itself. It will break down somewhere. No military leader has over yet disposed of Russian armies in the sense of breaking or enveloping them. We have never feared that Russia would suffer a Sedan or a Metz, and the events of the past few days, if possible, increase our confidence in the Grand Duke's ability not only to extricate himself, but to punish the enemy most severely whilst resisting his attack. We must not write more than a few lines, but we cannot do less, in admiration of the Russian endurance, dogged- nese, and skill. If we indulged our inclination in this respect, we should write an article about nothing else. All our sympathy and deep respect goes out to these splendid men. Inferior to their enemy in everything which is implied by long preparation, they are making good the defects during the bad time—for the good time is coming, never doubt that—by a wonderful example of stubbornness and resolution. Every soldier salutes them, every civilian raises his hat. Their reward is sure and will be well earned. At the beginning of the war they sacrificed themselves, and sustained without a word of repining the serious reverse of Tannenberg, in order to relieve the pressure on the western front. They are now rendering even a, mightier service. This will remain true whatever the outcome may be. Suppose that the Russians, acknow- ledging their defects in equipment, had withdrawn in many places behind some Torres Vedras lines, as they might have felt themselves justified in doing, in order to complete their preparations. The bolt being aimed at Russia might have been launched iu the west. The Russians, as it is, give their attackers no breathing-space. Their counter-attacks are incessant. The gain to Britain is that she is able to devote a time of comparative quiet to producing the munitions which are essential to our safety. In expressing gratitude for the immeasurable indirect help of the Russians, Mr. Asquith used not a word too much or too strong when he said. that military history did not contain a more magnificent example of disciplined, patient endurance.
The German commauders and the lines which their troops have reached are all well enough known now for it to be possible to follow the battle with some precision. Next to General von Biilow, who is on the extreme German left, is General von Eichorn on the Kowno-Suwalki line. Then comes General von Gallwitz on the Narew River ; then there is the line immediately west of Warsaw in the neighbourhood of blonie, in connexion with which. the names of various German commanders have been mentioned ; then the line in front of the fortress of Ivangorod, south-oast of Warsaw ; then the joint line of the Austrian Archduke and Marshal von Mackensen, which is trying to roach the important railway running from Warsaw through Lublin. and Cholla Kieff. Finally, there are Austrian and Hungarian troops on the Sokal front, where the Russians are fighting with much dash and good effect. The Russians have not fallen back from the Narew River, though the Germans have crossed it in some places, and the prepared line of the Bug lies behind. The Vistula forts are still in Russian hands, though it is certain that if the Germans came too near the Grand Duke will not lock up troops there by requiring them to stand a siege. He has never shown a trace of being ensnared by the false magic of the name " fortress." The lessons of Liege and Namur would forbid him to try to hold places which could be easily smashed. It is significant that we now hear. little of Marshal von Mackensen, of whom a few days ago we beard so much. Along his line the clock-. work is evidently not going well. He keeps stopping in order to aid sections of the line which are hanging back. The symmetry of mass-movement is what he wants. And while symmetry is being secured the need for speed is unavoidably ignored. The position at Sokal, again, is not at all pleasing to him. The Russians, full of go, and superior in skill to the Austro-Hungarian troops who are led by the Hungarian General Bohm-Ermolli, are there, as a glance at the map will show, on the right rear of Marshal von Mackensen.
The battle is no doubt an attempt by Germany to " finish with " Russia. She hopes to put her out of action for many months, if not altogether. A very little reflection will convince all but incurable pessimists that this is a per- fectly vain hope. Germany is now using her Laudsturns freely, and the toll daily taken of the million and a half Germans on the Russian front must be very high. The. casualties cannot be less than ten thousand men a day. Russia's resources in men are by comparison inexhaustible. Even what would be in form a victory for Germany might be bought.. at much too high a price. Such a victory Germany may win in this battle, but we are not without hope now that she will not wineven a Pyrrhic victory.
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