New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-30
The Failure of the German lnva'
sion OF Poland and Its Effects.


OF laundering at the gates of Warssw-as they
we're a couple Of weeks ago-General Won hindeh
burr's forces are now rapidly retiring toward the
German base in West Poland, on the River Warthe
The German left has yielded more ground than tne
centre or right In the region west and southwest
y, Warsaw the Russians claim 10 have occupied
Yo6y which had been in German possession since
csr)y In August. The extreme German left is now
about seventy-6ve miles west Of Warsaw. and the
lin. Of the retiring army runs from that point
southeast 10 the neighborhocd OF Radon until 1t
almost touches the upper yistua. But the Rus
slams are on the offensive all along this front and
the Official Berlin statement says that strong rein
forcemen,s 10 the enemy have necessitated re
treat
The forward movement in Poland was part OF
general plan to check the Russian westerly adj
vance. which had made such unexpected progress
Nd 10 the middle Of September. BY that time the
Russians had cleared Eastern and Central Galicia.
had crossed the San River invested Przemysl and
pushed west toward Cracow as far as RzcszoW. In
order to counteract that advance and allow the
beaten Austro-Hunsa rian armies time to reorganize
7 German force crossed the Russian border from
East Prussia about four weeks ago and attacked
some Of the forresses the line OF the River Me
men. That diversion had little success, the Ger
mans being quickly driven back into their own ter
ritory.
The invasion Of Poland from the direction of
Silesia was Of a more formidable character. Gen
eral von Hindenburg the victor Of Ortelsburg, or
Tannenberg, whichever one may call it, and the
popular military hero Of the hour in Germany, was
summoned from East Prussia and put in command
Of the Joint German and Austrian forces in Poland
and Western Gallca. He endeavored TO take the
Russians by surprise by dash for Warsaw, and
he did, in fact get within ten miles of Warsaw
before his attack could be checked
To meet his invasion Russian troops had TO be
massed all along the middle stretches Of the Wis
tula and the Russian advance through Galicia had
70 be halted. The Russian armies in Gslicia with
drew to the line of the San River which forms
border TO the Carpathans and covers Jaroslav and
Przcmysl On that line and southwark at Sam
Dor and stry they stood for couple Of weeks on
the defensive, waiting TO see how the new Austro
German offensive would develop.
The Austro- Hungarian attack in Galicia was very
spirited 1t has held the Russians OH the defensive
and, according TO reports from Vienna has par
TALLY raised the siege of Przemysl 1t has resulted
in the recovery Of a large section of Central Cali
cis which had fallen into the possession Of the
enemy. But its effects have probably been neutral
lied by the failure Of the campaign further north
just as the fruits Of the Danklyon Auffcnberg cam
pagn toward Lubn early in August were sacri
N feed by a faulty defence Of the territory east o.
Iemberg
The Russian concentration in the western wal
theatre has been worked out with great precision
and the Caucasus have been brought up ard amp,
reserves are everywhere within call. The Russian,
had no trouble strengthening their lines at Warsaw
and Ivangorod, and when they crossed the Vistuli
10 ineCJ NOu llllucuDuIS dllucS luC ulleG COLD
posed largely of second line troops had TO give
way. Warsaw was in danger for only few hours
Now German control of Western Poland which
Russia had not hitherto seriously disputed IS III
danger.
If the German retreat continues, only small
section Of Poland west Of the Warthc River will
remain in General ION IIindcnburg's hands and
the whole Of Western Galicia Will be uncovered
10 a Russian attack from the north. At LODI the
Russians are further west than they have been at
any other stage OF the campaign If they can clear
Southwestern Poland Of the enemy the AuStro
hungarian armies on the line Of the San River will
be in an extremely dangerous position. These
forces will be subject TO attack from the rear
and their line Of retreat TO Cracow may Oe cut off
Should they be compelled 70 retire across the Car
uathian Mountains into Hungary they would be
of little further use in the present campaign.
The German and Austro-IIungarian armies on
the eastern front are limited 10y stratcgical CON
siderations TO defensive role. They cannot with
safety undertake anything like conquest Of Rus