NEWS OF THE WEEK.
WHAT will in all probability prove the greatest, though not necessarily the most decisive, battle of the greatest war the world has seen is proceeding in Poland. Speaking generally, the Germans are attempting by move- ments from the north, the west, and the south to en- circle not merely Warsaw, for that is only a minor issue, but the Russian field armies. The east, however, remains open for a Russian retreat, and there is no reason to believe that the Grand Duke will delay too long to be able to escape, even if—rather a large proviso—the Germans are really in a position to try to close the jaws of the nutcrackers. To put the matter briefly, one of three things may happen. The Grand Duke may be able to force one of the jaws back, and so prevent them closing, or even to break the hinge. He may be able to slip out before the jaws close. Finally, it is of course conceivable, though in our opinion extremely unlikely, that he may actually be encircled and his armies be destroyed. We have dealt with the situation elsewhere, and will only say here that we see no reason to think that the Grand Duke will fail to escape and keep the Russian field armies intact. If he does eo escape, Russia will have done a magnifi- cent service. There is neither here nor in any of the Allied countries the slightest tendency to criticize Russia's military actions. She has the most heartfelt sympathy of us all, and the warmest applause for the splendid fight she is making.
