London: An analysis of the recent Russian strategy and tactics shows that the general method is to attack with great vigour at a particular point until the enemy strengthen the threatened sectors.
The Russians then fall back on the defensive, but make a violent thrust elsewhere against those sectors where the lines have been thinned. The Germans have thus found that their system of quickly entraining reinforcements to different parts of their line is useless.
A Hungarian staff officer, who has recently been on the Russian front, states that the Russian preparation for an attack is most formidable. Their artillery fire is concentrated on a given point for 20 hours.
Meanwhile at least 10 lines of attacking columns are concentrated. The bombardment commences at dawn and ends at nightfall. The defenders, utterly exhausted, expect a night attack, and everybody keeps awake, with nerves shattered and eyes burning with fatigue and excitement.
But nothing occurs until dawn, when the bombardment recommences. The defenders have another sleepless and nerve-racked day. Perhaps the Russian attack is finally launched at noon, the bombardment only stopping when the attackers have reached the German position.
•The London Daily Chronicle states that Sir E. Shackleton telegraphs that he is leaving Punta Arenas (Patagonia) on Wednesday to rescue his marooned colleagues on Elephant Island.
The British Association and the Magellanese have provided and equipped the Emma, a 70-ton wooden schooner, which is being towed as far south as possible by a steamer which the Chilian Government has lent.
•About 130 members of D Company (Otago Battalion), Sixteenth Reinforcements, arrived in Dunedin yesterday afternoon by the first express on their final leave. The men in the Sixteenth Reinforcements are spoken of as a particularly keen lot, and it is stated by the officers that they are the best-drilled since the Tenth Reinforcements, their marching being worthy of mention.
On Saturday the men will be entertained at luncheon at the Early Settlers' Hall by the Otago Women's Patriotic Association, and about 2 o'clock they will march via Stuart street and Princes street to the Carisbrook Ground, where D Company's unbeaten football team will meet an Otago Fifteen.
Returned men and other soldiers are cordially invited to join in the march. The people of Dunedin will thus have the opportunity of witnessing the marching of the men. The St. Kilda Band will head the procession.
•It is unpleasant to call attention to the absolute nonchalance with which too many settlers view the alarming growth and spread of blackberry and gorse (states the Commissioner of Crown Lands in Westland).
No whole-hearted or serious attempts are made to grapple with the evil, and lands which could carry good grass and profitably run more stock are rapidly becoming more and more overrun by these pests.
•The skin of the hair seal, which abounds in the outlying Southern Islands, is now being turned to profitable account by Mr Joseph Hatch and the company which is developing the resources of these inhospitable parts.
A shipment of the skins was sent to London, where they have been manufactured into motor coats, rugs, and footwarmers. Their appearance is decidedly attractive and their durable quality is unquestionable.
- ODT, 14.7.1916
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