New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-15
Servian Victory Due to
Withdrawal of Forces
for Poland.
MOB SPIRIT NOW
RIFE IN BUDAPEST
Hungarian Newspaper Man Says
Countrymen Feel They Are
Being Duped.
TBS Cable 20 The Tribune


London, Dec. 1.-THE following is
the translation of a letter received by
the London correspondent OF Hun
garian newspaper from Budapest, via
Italy, dated December I:
"The difference between Niennese and
HUNGARIAN people on receiving news Oh
the Austrian reverse in Servia was SO
marked that | would like your idea Of
il. for il is an extremely interesting
sidelight on the temper OF the TWO
races. While in Vienna the people
adopted the attitude of mourners ano
looked for consolation toward the SKY
in Budapest the mob, as we'll as the IN,
tellectual classes, were furious ana
threatening. They gathered in CROWDS
and moved up and down the Rakoci
and Andrassy av., then to the Hanoved
ministry in Buda, shouting and swear,
ing Down with General PotiorcKund
Abscug Hazai!'
"The police restored order IN one
quarter. only to have 1t begin anew IN
another. They arrested some nfty
youths during the demonstrations, Ihey
carried no flags now, as they did on
previous occasions, and looked dagger
Gus. really don't know what Will De
the end of il. Even now, though late
in the evening, the streets are CROWDED
with people surrounding the newspaper
Offices. Young students and old men
and women stand on the pavement agi-
tated, and the police are poweriess TO
move them.
Took Army from Servia.
81 told you in one of my last letters
that a large force was transferred
from Servia, to the threatened districts
of the Carpathians, and even to Poland,
about three weeks ago, for the General
Staff thought the Servian army lncap-
able any more of an offensive or
strong resistance, and as there was no
hope of receiving reinforcements from
Germany or from the armies IN Poiana
and Galcia, the question OF reinforc-
ing the forces in the Carpathains was
solved by this most unfortunate and
STUPID measure. We had seven army
corps in Servia, including troops trans
ferred there in the beginning OF NO
vember, and thus were enabled to press
the Servian army back far into SER
Wan territory. When Hungary was
severely threatened by the Russian IN
vasion and public opinion demanded
ADEQUATE measures to check the lnvad-
ing Russian army, instead OF drawing
on reserves elsewhere three army corps
were withdrawn from Servla, thus en-
abling the Austrians to drive the Rus
SLAMS out of Zemplen and Rearos.
"The Servians, of course, soon
learned that the army of General
Potiorck was reduced, and began an
offensive as il seemed with good re-
suits, for if it is true, as the Italian
papers say, that we lost 12,O00 PRISON
ers and that Potiorck is in head-on
fight, | have no doubt this VIII be the
greatest Of all disasters we have en-
countered yet in this war, not because
of losses, but on account OF ITS moral
effect on the army and the people,
which have been shown already IN the
demonstrations I mentioned above. If
we had been defeated IN the battles
in Poland and Galicia and had lost
hundred thousand men 1t would not
have enraged the people at all, but 10
be beaten by Servians in such man
ner is more than the people can
endure.
"The 'Magyarorszag,' an independent
evening paper, in its leading article
saws to-day that we are confronted
here again with the indifference of the
German staff, for all our demands and
entreaties were only answered in one
way-to bring upon us one disaster IN
irving to avert another. All the papers.
morning and evening, look at events
from this point Of view, and not one
of them blames Potiorck for the defeat
he suffered.
Blame Put on Germany.
every Hungarian paper blames the
German General Staff. Some indulge
in mild, others in strong criticism, and
some in the usual fierce attacks, but all
agree the Servian victory is due to
nothing else but the supreme selfish
ness of Germany. | can't express the
sense of indignity felt here over re-
cent events, for every one feels that
they make us ridiculous in the eyes of
the world, and to be ridiculous is worse
than being beaten in fair fight.
whatever may be the result of this
fresh Austrian achievement, the people
in Hungary have reached the limits OF
their patience and endurance. They
see that the Viennese authorities, civil
and military alike, have delivered up
the country to Germany, and from the
Hungarian point of view German mill
tary rule is not preferable TO any other
"a police proclamation was posted
in the city tonight forbidding all
demonstrations and announcing that
any demonstrators arrested after to-
day will be dealt with according to
martial law and not by the police au-
thorities, as hitherto. The proclama-
ton also says il these measures are
rot found adequate the authorities
will be compelled 10 enforce the law
| by prohibiting all traffic on the
streets after o'clock in the evening.
! This would mean that no one would
be allowed TO walk on the streets by
night, and this is regarded as a more
{ serious menace than martial law.
"These police measures will not i'm
/ prove matters here, for the Budapest
/ mob will not consent to being hemmed
\ in by police rules. The more rigorous
/ these measures are made the more
generally they are disregarded. Dis
/ satisfaction is so great that il will
take more than police proclamations to
/ keep il quiet. The people here want