New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-07

,n,a The Russians, for political rea-
sons, met them before the NiStuls anu
cleverly arranged that this should Dc
en- Nttsr surprise. The second time
tha Germans invaded Poland they also
nrssumahly had Warsaw for their OBJ
iact;ve and once more critics are not
wsntinC VINO affirm that the Russian
srn,ies met them too soon, and did not
allow them 70 get far enough TO insure
Rehabilitation in point of fact, the
Carr,ans were met This second time
shnnt half way between Warsaw and
Tho~r and the BUSINESS Of annIA. ltlon
IL still continuing in manner en-
,irelv satisfactory TO the Russians. Inc
l;nas upon which they we're met were
chosen BY Grand Duke Nicholas IN con-
formity with his whole strategic
Tba Russian task was to hold the
German armies up and keep them oe-
cunied for a certain time. Ihat they
have done and much more than that
which is all to the good up TO certain
neint. For example, 1t would be ssd
disaster if the Russians drove the Ger
mans back from the VistuIa- Wartna
front into Germany again. They want
a. keen them in Poland and destroy
them there. if possible, but in any case
compel Germany TO bring up ever IN.
creasine reinforcements in the nope OF
sxtricating her first line Of troops. All
this has been thoroughly done.
Half of First Army Killed.
The German forces in this second
invasion Of Poland are now about as
strong or stronger than at the outset
although something like half the orig,
nal numbers have been killed wounoed
or taken prisoners. mat Is 10 say
Russia has compelled Germany to put
into the Vistula- MARTHA battlefield
twice the number which Germany reek-
oned sufficient to accomplish its pur-
nose. and that purpose is no nearer ac-
complishment now than 1t was fort
NIGHT AGO. Furthermore, the first line
troops have been twice withdrawn from
the French front TO make desperate
effort here. and in vain. THIS must
have simplifed matters for Russia
allies. and il is a fact one begins TO
hear again of trenches being taken IN
france.
Another speciality in which the Rus
slams have shown immense superiority
10 the Germans is in night tghtlng'
The Germans only attempt night at
tacks in the densest formation. Inc
Russians send only a Few men by com
harrison. and these are widely extended.
They have got the Germans so nervous
about night attacks that wherever they
move the first thing they try to do is
10 encircle their camp with a ring OF
smoke by firing all the village houses
within reach. This has proved treach-
erous means of defence, for II TO some
extent it affords protection against the
infantry night attacks, IL Is none
against the willy Cossack. Apart from
+he mounted Cossacks, there are large
numbers now at the front whose spe-
cialty is unmeunted work. They are
stakers and night workers to a man,
with a knowledge of nature and the
inexhaustible patience of the born
Shikari.
II is reported that the authorities
have decided to send the persons ar
rested AZ a secret meeting outside
Petrograd. including five members OF
the Donna, for trial ly court marital
1t will be remembered that the meeting
was held under the auspices OF the
Socialists and was directed toward en-
couraging talk of peace.
There is need for stern example to
be made of anything like the paclhclst,
as upon these weakened traitors Ger
many places her last hopes OF getting
out of the war without paying the De
served penalty. Germany, through her
agents all over the world, is trying to
persuade each of the Allies that the
others are not altogether in earnest, or
il now united will split the moment &C
counts come TO be made up. This
strong influence is at work in England
to discount the significance of Russian
victories. a work which is much sim
plifed by the criminal ignorance of
most of the English people about every
thing Russian.
Russia to Displace Germany
When victories cannot be minimized
the suggestion is put forth that Russia
is aiming to take the place in the world
now vacated by Germany-namely, ar
bitter of Europe. Nothing could be
more absurd. In all Russian history
Russia has never dragooned any one
outside her own domlnions, but has
rather, indeed, favored outsiders to the
detriment of her own people. What
Russia does in her own dominions is
her own affair solely.
An official statement issued here de-
scribes as ridiculous the German
claims of having captured enormous
number OF prisoners, cannon and
machine guns. 1t says that the armies
have been fighting continuously and
that il is impossible 10 estimate the
losses.
This fact" continues the statement.
prevents us from publishing an official
denial, as the General Staff carefully
avoids giving any details that have not
been verified. On the other hand, the
German denial that they have lost
single gun is disproved by the fact
that in the Brzeziny district alone,
near LODI, we took from them twenty
three guns and a large amount of
spoils. As to German prisoners, ten
thousand have passed one point alone
o. our front where prisoners are reg
istered.
"The Germans also conceal the
losses which they sustained in the No
vember fighting, although witnesses
state that never has a field of battle
presented such sight as on the roads
OF the German retreat toward Strykow.
At some points where we attacked the
German TANKS the German dead were
piled not less than a metre high. All
the inhabitants of the district have
been engaged in the work of burying
the dead and clearing the fields where
the recent combats were waged."
Third of Montenegro Army