New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-25
Russia's Successful Invasion
East Prussia.

.ideratons undoubtedly had much 10 90 VII" '"'
.resiips IN Of the Muscovte military machine. u
will put new confidence into the defence Of the
allies ON the French border-whero such conn
dence seems now 10 be necded-to know that huSS''
fl. already striking hard at the inadequate forces
assigned 10 the protection Of Germany's eastern
frontier
The army which invaded East Prussia ana
broke the first line Of German defence running
north and south through Gumblnnen evidently
came from the mobilization centre at wilma II
o,ersted on thirty mile front westward from
Fvdtkuhnen. and according 10 ST. Petersburg ais
matches vss opposed by three German army corps
- -, total strength Of from $4,000 TO 10000 men
rho Russian forces must have been superior IN
pumbsrs probably exceeding 10000 After four
dsvs Of hard hcbtng the Germans were driven
back beyond Iusterburs the strategic centre Oh
he railroad system in the eastern half OF hS''
pr,ss,e II the Russian advance continues at It's
present speed Konigsberg, the capital OF has'
Prussia. will he promptly isolated and the Ger
mans will have 70 retire into West Prussia 10
,to,r main fortified line on the west bank Of the
vistula River. between Dantzig and Ihorn'
Koplgsberc. which Is modern fortress viii be
invested and the rest Of East Prussia will be soan-
doncd 20 the enemy
Il NAV be doubted whether the German Gener"
STAFF ever intended 10 make a serious stand IN
last Prussia. Most experts agree that not more
than four first line German army corps we're LETT
in the cast. They we're 10 be reinforced by second
f,e reserves and 10 hold of the Russian attack
81, long ss possible If defeated on the frontier
they we're to fan back on the Dantzig-Ihorn line
which they were expected to hold until the early
winter NJ that region made active campaigning
impossible
Having staked an on the success Of an invasion
of France. the Kaiser was compelled to confne
himself 10 strict defensive against the Russians
ror politicsl and sentimental reasons he might
deeply regret a Russian occupation Of East Prus-
.is The elevation Of the House Of Hohenzolen
,o ROYAL rank was based upon the acquisition Of
that province The Elector OF Brandenburg be
territory formerly held by the Order Of Teutonic
knights and was crowned in their ancient strong
hold OF K6nigsberg Every King Of Prussia is still
crowned there.
But military strategy pays no attention TO suen
sentimental attachments. East Prussia iuts out
INTO Russia It is more than half enclrcled by
Russian territory. 1t is not very easily defended
against numerically superior enemy. To let Il
rsss into Russian possession would therefore ne
preferable to trying to defend It in force. thus
weakening the German offensive in the critical
first clash with France.
In stripping the eastern frontier iu order To
mass his strength on the French border the Kaiser
has only followed Moltkes teachings. The latter
took the flower Of the PrusSan army down into
Bohemia in 1866 i'm order to oyerwhelm Austria
aud eft q mcagre force behind with which 10 fight
Hanover. Saxony and the South German States.
lie repeated the experiment in 1870 when it was
feared that AustraIIungary might come TO the
aid Of France. Motke concentrated ten Prussan
corps on the Rhine with which to attack the
French and left only three TO keep watch on the
Austrian border. II is reported that he said then
that Prussia would lose nothing in a military sense
even IL those three corps should be driven slowly
hack hy tho Austrian forces 70 within striking dis
lance ~ Berlin He expected 10 get results in
France which would end the war and he got re,
suits there quickly. Francis Joseph wavered and
then cut loose from France Within three weeks
after war had been declared the three reserve
corp, we're ON the western frontier taking part in
the campaigns which ended at Metz and Sedan
Russia in 1914 is very different enemy from
Austria Hungary in 1870. and leaving only four
first line army corps 10 make head against her
may cost,Yerlu many anxious moments The Ger.
man General StaT has held Russia in light esteem
as AN aggressive factor in warfare although al,
uniting her enormous strength on the defensive
with The Russian forces penetrating fifty miles
uto Last Prussia after only one week Of fghtne
that estimate will have 10 be revised II would
mot be- surprising 20 the Russian army con-
fronting the Dantllg Thorn line 81 defence within
another week and strong that line is it may