New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-29
PREVENT JUNCTION
OF TWO ARMIES
Siege Completely Reliev-
ed as Grand Duke Strikes
Two Crushing Blows.
DASH ON WARSAW
CALLED FAILURE
Petrograd Reports Check Of
German Attempt Berlin Says
Situation Is Promising.

Situation IS Promising.
Petrograd. Dec. 2S Russian forces,
according to adviccs received to-day
from Galicia, have succeeded in cross
ing the Biala River and in taking pos.
session Of a twenty-mile strip Of terri
tory south Of Tuchow. thereby separat.
ing two great Austrian armies.
The forces of General Boehm- Ermolli,
the Austrian commander, which had
been marching northward from the Car
pathian region, are claimed by the Rus
SLAMS TO be retreating precipitately and
the western Austrian army is said to bo
badly crippled.
However, as result Of the Rus.
slams preparation for this offensive
movement against the Austrians, the
siege of Cracow, relieved from the
north last week, when the forces of
Grand Duke Nicholas retired thirty
miles to intrenched positions on the
east bank of the Nida River north OF
the Vistula) has been. completely
raised.
Passes Held by Russians.
Military circles point out that an
the important passages of the Car.
pathans are again in Russian hands
md that those still held by the enemy
afford them no advantage.
To-night's statement from the Gem
eral staff confirms the repccJs 81 .hc
hurried retirement Of the Ausirims
over the Carpathians into Hungary and
the dsorganization Of TIE Austrian
forces. The communication seys;
On the 9th there was no important
engagement between the lower Wis
tula and the Pilica rivers. The German
attacks were everywhere rcpu'sed The
Germans suffered heavy losses. rspc-
cally during q vain attack they made
to the southeast Of Skierniewlce.
Between the Pilica and the upper
Vistula the enemy has now adopted
the defensive.
Driven Across Nida.
"Our troops stormed the village o.
Szitniki. which was stuOb0nly de-
Tended by the Austrians. The enemy
has definitely evacuated the left bank
Of the Nida
"To the south Of the upper Nistula,
on the front of Opatow-Biecz, the tight
ing continues TO develop 10 our ad-
vantage. From the 18th to the 26th We
captured there two hundred .hce.. and
nrfHH
"The enemy's retreat in the region
Of the Dukla passes and on the road 10
Lisko is becoming more and more
and disOrganized. On the
26th we captured IN this region as
many as five thousand prisoners.
"The efforts Of the enemy 10 g MS
port his forces from IN, direction II
toward the Carpathians
was complete failure, owing 70 our
Retreats Fifty Miles.
The discovery Of an attempt by the
Austrians 10 divide the Russian forces
in Galicia caused the Russian Galician
army, which had been in contact on the
south with the Austrian garrison de-
Tending Cracow, 70 move back 20 the
Biala, which is some fifty miles east OF
the former position Of the Cars
forces.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
Russian retrogression completely re-
Iieved the investment Of the fortress OF
Cracow. IL is claimed by military OBJ
servers 20 be marked advantage for
the Russians, on the ground that the
retirement was due 20 the discovery OF
the Austrian purpose and succeeded IN
thwarting ~.
The Austrians, reports from the Rus
sian southern front say, began advance
ng December % from Tymbark. thirty
i've miles southeast Of CracOw, with
he apparent object Of swinging around
the LETT Of the Russians along the
River Biala. northward OF Tanow, and
Joining forces with the army of Gen.
.ral Boehm-Ermolli. which was advanc-
ng along the railroad from Sanok and
Lisko.
The premature appearance Of Gem
,ral -Ermolli's army to the
south of Przemysl. however, put the
Russians on their guard, and the Grand
Dukes forces concentrated along the
3isla River, moved down and attacked
he Austrians at Tuchow. fifteen miles
outh Of Tarnow. where they were sue
'essful in preventing junction Of the
Austrian armies.
Take Offensive on Bials.
Meanwhile. the attention Of the Rus
ians was directed 20 the Austrians
advancing from Sanok. movement
which was checked. After their sac.
,esses in this district the Russians
ook the of-rsive along the Biala.
Christmas Day the Russians won tho
,attle Of Tuchow. the Austrians re-
reatinc throughout the followipc de,,
The Russians captured $500 prison,rs
md Is machine guns.
Later the Russians crossed 10 tho
vestern bank Of the Biala and sue
essfully stormed the heights of
iedliska, four miles south of Tuchow.
{ was here that the Russians .0oS nos.
q sion of the fMenfv-nnile strin nf t,,