Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-30
Nv NEW YORK TRIBUNE CRITIC


It Is officially admitted In Berlin that
the German invasion of Poland has col
lapsed Instead of laundering at the
gates of warsaw-as they were couple
of weeks ago-General Won Hindenburg' s
forces are now rapidly retiring toward
the German base in West Poland, on the
River Warthe. The German left has
Welded moro ground than the centre or
right. In the region west and southwest
of Warsaw the Russians claim to have
occupied Lodz. which had been in Ger
man possession since early in August.
The extreme German left Is now about
75 miles west OF Warsaw, and the line
of the retiring army runs from that
point southeast to the neighborhood OF
Radon until 1t almost touches the upper
yistula. But the Russians are on the
offensive all along this front, and the
official Berlin statement says that strong
reinforcements to the enemy have ne
cessitated retreat.
Tho forward movement In Poland was
part of a general plan to check tho Rus
sian westerly advance, which had made
such unexpected progress up to the mid
slams had cleared Eastern and Central
Galicia, had crossed the San River. in
vested Przemysl and pushed west toward
Cracow as far as RZeszow. In order to
counteract that advance and allow the
beaten AustrO-Hungarian armies time to
reorganize, a German force crossed the
Russian border from East Prussia about
four weeks ago and attacked some OF the
fortresses on the line of the River Me
men. That diversion had little success.
the Germans being quickly driven back
into their own territory.
Won Hindenburg endeayored to take the
Russians by surprise by dash for War
saw, and he did, in fact, get within ten
miles of Warsaw before his attack could
be checked.
To meet this invasion Russian troops had
to be massed all along the middle
stretches OF the Vistula and the Rus
sian advance through Galicia had to be
halted The Russian armies In Galicia
withdrew to the line OF the San River
which forms a continuation OF the Vis-
tula southeast from the Polish border
TO the Carpathians and covers Jaroslau
and Przemysl. on that line and south
ward, at Sambor and Stryj. they stood for
a couple Of weeks on the defensive, wait
ing to see how the new Austro- German
offensive would deYlop.
The Austru- Hungarian attack in Galicia
was very spirited. 1t has held the Rus
slams on the defensive. and, according to
reports from Vienna, has partially raised
the siege of Przemysl 1t has resulted
in the recovery OF a large section Of Cen
tral Hllicia which had fallen into the
possession Of the enemy.
The Russian concentration in the west
ern theatre has been worked out with
great precision and smoothness. Now
German control of Western Poland. which
Russia had not hitherto seriously dis
puted, Is in danger.
II the German retreat continues only a
small section of Poland west OF the
Warthe River will remain In General Won
Hindenburs's hands and the whole OF
western Gallcia will be uncovered to a
Russian attack from the north. At Lods
the Russians are further west than they
have been at any other stage OF the cam
paign. II they can clear southwestern
Poland OF the enemy, the Austro-H Hun
garian armies on the line OF the San
River VIII be in an extremely danger
ous position. These forces will be sub
ject 10 an attack from the rear and their
line OF retreat to CracOw may be cut
of. Should they be compelled TO retire
across the Carpathian Mountains ante