New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-10
Fate of Her Main Armies
Hangs on Battle Rag
ing In Galicia.
GERMANY BUSHES
MEN TO HER AID
Russians, Steadily Driving On,
Believe Kaiser's Troops Merely
Delay the End.
LBy Cable 20 The Tribune ]

Petrograd, Sept. 8 delayed. Entire
interest Of the war on the Russian
front now centres in the conflict which
must soon terminate in either the de-
struction or the capitulation Of Aus
tria's main armies. This consumma-
tion has apparently been somewhat de-
layed by the appearance in the field OF
strong German forces which have hur-
iied TO aid Austria's last effort The
relative situations Of the opposing
myriads have not been effectively al
tered The inevitable result has been
merely delayed, probably for not more
than a couple Of days.
The Russians crossed the Vistula TO
meet a German division which was
moving to protect the Austrian left
flank. For some twenty-four hours the
effect of the German move was felt. 1t
delayed the encircling movement OF the
Russian armies. but this obstacle has
been overcome and the Russians are
moving forward, driving the Germans
before them on the left or western
bank Of the Yistula. The retiring Ger
mans have CracOw, two or three
marches behind them, on which TO
rally. Cracow Is about on the same
meridian as Koenigsberg, and Russian
forces are already almost levelled up 70
this meridian with u sir armies IN
East Prussia, two hund d miles north
of the present centre OF interest.
Making Its Last Fight.
The sole obstacle now to the compile
tion of the grand strategic scheme OF
the Russian commander is the austrian
main army, fighting its last night with
its back to it's last fortress, PrzemsyI'
and the CaTpathians. Until austria IS
disposed of Russia will not begin her
westward march on front two hundred
miles wide, that will sweep, many mill
ions strong, like tidal wave across
the present German Empire from east
TO west.
Whether Germany has played the
game fairly by her only ally historians
will decide. At present, Austria is
badly in need Of those heavy siege bat
teries and that army corps which she
sent to help Germany on the French
frontiers. while all we hear Of German
helm to Austria is the one German d.
vision now retreating toward Cracow
before the pressure of the Russian al
vance.
Such being the strategic scheme
for the future, one must now turn to
the strategy and tactics of the connlct
with the Austrian main army assisted
nv the German division. The Russians,
moving from north to south, from Luz
lin and Kholm, are steadily driving back
the Austrian centre into the fataI oe'
feat that awaits them in the lmprac-
ticable marshy ground about the san
and it's continents. Russian armies
moving from east TO west are threaten
ing the rear of the Austrian main army
Key to the Situation.
To prevent this movement, which, II
successful, obviously means the utter
destruction of the Austrian armies, a
desperate struggle is in progress at ka,
waruska, the key to the whole tactlcal
situation at the present moment. Aus
TRANS are officially reported to be hgnt'
ing there with large forces. II Is the
last stand of an outmaneuvred army
conscious that defeat means annlhlla'
tion.
The Russians, while attacking inc
Austrian forces at Rawaruska IN SUI
fcient strength to insure an Austrian
concentration at that key Of the tactI'
cal position, are also attacking Goro-
dok, or Grodek. This place is thirty,
two miles south of Rawaruska and
eighteen miles west of Lemberg. 1t has
been strongly fortified, and is being
held with the courage of despair by the
Austrians. It's fall, which is momen-
tarily expected, will bring the Russians
in strength on the rear Of the Aus
trionS AT RaWaruS ka.
Presumably therefore the Russians
are content in the meantime to hold
the Austrians fast at Rawaruska and
compel them to concentrate on this
point until Russian forces, composed
chiefly of the victorious armies Of Cen
erals Ruzsky and Brsssilok, have time
to come up OIL the Austrian rear. The
loss of either Rswaruska or Gorodok
means humiliation TO Austria.