23 DECEMBER 1916, Page 2

It must be remembered; however, that' by managing, AS they

did in almost every case, to get away from their German pursuers, they forced the pace in a manner which must-have had a damaging effect' upon the German troops. The German army could not have moved at such a pace without the severest possible strain upon its transport, horse and mechanical, and also upon the men. And the, worst is yet to come for Germany. The Rumanians, with the aid of strong Russian reinforcements, will now be able to sit down in the comparative security of the prepared trench lines on the Seroth, and behind them will be their own friendly and unwanted country. The Germans who will have to sit opposite them, for we do not believe there is any risk of those lines being carried, will have behind them a hostile and largely desolated land. If the Germans boast that they have at any rate shortened their line, we can only say : Heaven preserve our troops from such shortening