New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-17
LEl obi. 10 TIE Trlnun.. ]

already enormous strength on the lelt
bank of the Vistula. The new forces
here have again made a m eter-
Bzura and the Vistula IL The neighbour
hood Of Hove. The Germans evidently
persist in their original plan to force
the Russian right flank south Of the
Vistuls and to utilize this river as their
main artery in the direction of their
attack upon the flank of Russias main
army operating in Galicia. The Wis
tula is navigable for large craft to the
Galician frontier.
The following statement rom enc
General Staff Of the commander-in-
chief of the Russian forces was issued
this evening:
an the direction OF Mlawa We have
repulsed the enemy toward the frontier
"On the left bank of the Nistula the
Germans kept up stubborn attack
throughout the day along the line from
Kiernozia 20 Sochaczew. Owing to the
unfavorablc condition of the country
our troops retreated slightly during
the evening December 10l.
Austrian Advance Checked.
ION the other sections Of the front
our troops made counter-attacks and
compelled the enemy to remain on his
positions, checking his attempts to ad-
vance.
"Our strategy has stopped the Aus
trjan advance from beyond the Carpa-
thians.
"On the other points there IS no I'M
portant change to report"
With the defeat of t Germans north
Of the Vistula and their failure to
break through Russian line south oil
the Vistu!a this strategic scheme Is
still regarded By Russia as being as
far from realization as ever. The kus-
SLAMS have not merely withstocd their
frantic attacks but have advanced
somewhat their positions along the lett
( bank of the Bzura, as also at otner
y
points Of the general strategic front.
Between the Bzura and the Nlstula
the fight was Of an exceedingly STUB
horn character all through the day on
Monday, but ended in a Russian ad-
vance al other points. On the LETT
bank of the Vistula fighting took place
but it was of a rather perfunctory ma
ture. tended, evidently, to keep the
Russians employed and TO prevent them
from moving reinforcements from other
parts of the front to points specially
attacked in &c neighborhood Of Vice..
Germans Weaken Line.
/ More to the south, on the Czensto-
chowa- Cracow front, the Germans nave
very markedly weakened their forces,
which have been hurried by train round
toward the Carpathian passes where
the Austro-German forces under Ger
man direction are attempting an out
fanking attack upon the Russian main
armies.
The great battle which is developing
in this region south of Cracow con-
tinues to progress along normal lines.
As this is the battle-ground long ago
chosen for the decisive tight by the
strategic scheme of Grand Duke Mich
olas. there is perfect confidence here IN
the result when the battle is joined.
"The Army Messenger" publishes the
following series OF communications
from the front:
"On the front OF Lowicz and How
violent German attacks have had no
success. Our troops have repulsed the
Germans, causing them to suffer great
losses.
South Of Cracow the enemy attempt
cd between the 18th and 14th Of De-
cember to oppose our offensive by
strengthening it's positions. On the
18th the enemy debouched IN large
numbers from the pass of Dukla and
attempted to descend the slopes on the
north side Of the Carpathians. Our
troops. after a strong resistance, re-
pulsed the enemy
Russian Strategy Outlined.
An ex-Minister of the Russian Cab
met. explaining the military situation
in an interview, stated that public opln-.
ion solidly Endorsed the decision o.
the Russian General staff. recently an
nounced, regarding the diseontinuancee
of the Russian attacks in the region o.
the Austrian fortress of Craeow and
the Welding OF LODI to the Germans
The ex-Minister said:
at is now apparent that the Austro-
German aim is not the taking or mold
ing of certain towns. but, by contin-
uou, harassing OF the Russian TANKS
and nv means OF their extensive rail-
road system, to throw troops at various
points here and there in an attempt TO
reaken and tire out our army.
Hence the Russians decided 10
straighten their line, abandoning all
nIacos outside of that line. no matter
| how important or how populous. The
Russian plan is TO conserve the Rus
liam forces rather than to hold geo
graphical points.
"fhis explains why. despite the new
Austrian defensive from the Carpa-
| 49, AMI tho German attempt be-