Nov. 14.
The operations in the so-called eastern theatre of war, a designation which is no longer literally correct, promise in the near future to assume the principal character-istles of those in the western theatre. In France and Belgium the Allies have erected an ''ironclad wall' round the German defence works and they are gradually forcing the enemy back all along the line. The Russians, after ex-ing remarkable _strategical genius, tactical skill and ability to push home attacks in face of the most stubborn opposition, are following up the retreating enemy and ere long, unless some unforeseen reverse unfortunately befalls them, will have fenced him round wu territory. Then will began a new phase of the march upon Berlin. Germany has strongly fortified her frontiers, and the advance of the Russians, no doubt, will be strongly contested. In this part of the campaign, field fortifications of the type used by the Germans in France and Belgium will most probably play a more important role than the permanent fortresses, strong as_ the latter are known to be. For one of the most notable lessors of the war is that permanent _fortifications are doomed when the fire of the modern portable howitzer is brought to bear upon them; and there is good reason to believe that the new Russian gun is every bit as good as the German weapon. Moreover, the Russian armies should be sufficiently strong and numerous to detach forces capable of investing the German fortresses and thus immobilize their defenders, ultimately compelling them to capitulate. Armies who take refuge behind permanent. fortifieations seldom come out again except as prisoners of war. This was the reason for the German attempt to drive the retiring British army into Manbenge.
We may, therefore. expect to hear that the Germans have made preparations for the construction an elaborate series of field fortifications in the west. These works, generally speaking, may be divided into hastily-made entrenchments used by troops upon the battlefield to increase or prolong their powers, and deliberate entrenchments, not in the line of battle, such as may be required to protect lines of communication and supply, lines of retreat, or to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.