In the southern extremity of the Russian line—that is, on
the other side of the Carpathians—the Russians seem to be doing exceedingly well, judging not merely from their own accounts, but from German admissions. Thursday's papers contained one of those curious pieces of frank pessimism which occasionally crop up in the "German wireless." Though the terms are vague, the message to which we allude practically informs the world that the Austrians have bad a severe setback in the region we have indicated. We can only guess that the reason for this eccentric frankness is the desire of the Berlin authorities that the German people should pre- pare themselves for a disappointment. Take it as a whole, the New Year opens favourably for the Allies in all theatres of the war, by land and sea and air. No doubt in all three elements we shall have ups and downs, but the tendency, we venture to say, will be steadily in the right direction. If we may be allowed the metaphor, there was good "late autumn sowing" for the Allies, and when the spring comes the results of their husbandry will be visible. By next August it is quite possible that we may be beginning to reap some not inconsiderable part of the harvest.
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