Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-12-14
today 'SNOVES
IN THE WARZONE.,
What THEY MEAN
BY y. W. n. MASON,
Former European Manager of the
lfnIfrd PROSE-

ANNl'A A''"F
NEW YORK Dec 14-t11 a. MI
Differences apparently have arisen
between Germany and Austria con-
cerning the progress OF the Austrian
campaign This is the only possible
Interpretation Of the public rebuke
which has been inflicted on the Aus
trians by Berlins weekend official
report OF conditions Ia che war zone.
The Austrian forces IN the Carpath-
ians are accused OF being too small
to clear Hungary of the enemy at
once. and must attack and repulse one
column after another" while a more
stinging rebuke Is contained in the
statement that "The Austrians report
10000 Russians have been captured
but they fail to say within what
period, making the report meaning
less"
Such declarations as these made by
the GernNn official press bureau con-
cerning Gormany's ally. are indica-
tive of disgust in Berlin al Austria's
utilities Germany's double success
in the east and west undoubtedly en-
phasizes the feeling of bitterness at
the inability of the Austrians to make
effective gains.
The immediate cause Of the Ger
man outburst Is probably collapse of
Austria's offensive in Servia There
is much mystery about Servia's coun-
ter offensive which is now so sue
cessfully developing. Less than a
fortnight ago. the Servians had been
routed and demoralized; so com
plote was their discontinue that their
country seemed lost. London news
papers which have Just arrived In
New York, show that Englishmen
themselves, believed Seryia was de-
cisiyely beaten.
England was beginning TO specu-
late, a fortnight ago. whether Austria
would break with Germany and offer
TO negotiate a separate peace as soon
as she had conquered the Serbs and
could use Servia for diplomatic trad
ing purposes.
Instead of this. however. the Ser
vians seem TO have turned the tables
on the Austrians in a way 10 bring
Germany's growing impatience of
Austria's military ability 10 a public
climax. The Servians have accom-
plished the most remarkable small
scale feat of the war. How they have
done so is unknown Austria may
have withdrawn a large part of her
forces from Servia. believing there
was no possibility of the Seryians re-
turning 10 the offensive; or the Aus
trian northern belgrade and western,
Valjovel armies have become soparat-
ed, permitting the Servians TO cOnoea-
trate all their strength against the
enemys weakened western wing.
Coming at the same time as the
Servian defeat, the public rebuke of
Germany will be all the more keenly
felt in Austria. Ii has doubtless by
now formed the subject of a sharp ex-
change Of kilograms between Vienna
and Berlin. The Germans probably
have adopted so very unusual a pro-
ceoding in order 10 inject greater ar
dor and persistence into the Aus
trians. This is however. a dangerous
game to play internationally. for ran
cor invariably remains. For the first
time since hostilities began the pres
ent episode makes public the fact
that war'alliances do not always work
well when one of the allies is CON
sidered .y the other to be a laggard.
Yhere arc comforting possibilities
~ the other allies in this indication
of irritation in Berlin.