In the eastern theatre of the war, though it must
be confessed that the news is not as satisfactory as one hoped it might have been, there is nothing which should cause least anxiety. All that one can say is that the Russians are not doing so well as the public, encouraged to jump to conclusions,
bad expected. Judged, however, not in the light of these zealous anticipations, but in the light of the Russian official despatches, which have never erred on the side of an unwise optimism, the position is perfectly sound. The German Army is still thrusting at Warsaw, but its losses have been terrible, and even if it were to gain a victory now it would unquestion- ably be of the Pyrrhic sort, one of the victories which are as bad as defeats, and which both Charles XII. and Napoleon found were a speeialite of the Russians. South of Cracow a fierce battle is still proceeding, the object of the Russians being the complete investment of the city. Though this has not yet been accomplished, there is every reason to believe that the end will be favourable to our Allies.
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