New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-04
tBy Csbls TO Tho Trioune.l ]

Petrograd, Dec. 3.-With the now
acknowledged failure Of the Russian
strategy which planned the capture OF
huge section of the German army of
invasion in Western Poland. Il is an
parent that the Kaiser's generals have
forced new phase of the conflict, OF
which a violent offensive against the
Russian centre and left is as yet the
principal feature.
mus far the Germans have gained no
advantage other than that attendant
upon the Strengthening of their front.
as all their attacks, it is reported, have
been repulsed, while the Russians, as
well, have strengthened their lines TO
meet the assaults.
Unofficial reports claim a distinct ad-
vantage for the Russian armies in the
south, where the forces of Grand Duke
Nicholas are preparing for the long
looked for attack on the Austrian
stronghold Of Cracow.
Craco~ commands Capitals.
This fortress commands the highroad,
leading to Breslsu, $50 miles TO the
northwest which is the next main bar.
rier on the road to Berlin, 175 miles
further on in direct line. Cracow also
is the gateway to the road to Vienna,
200 miles to the southwest
The Russian forces to-day are mount
ing heavy siege guns northwest of
Wieliczka, suburb Of Cracow, which
soon will be dropping shells on the
outer ring of the city's forts. Military
experts are looking forward with in
tense interest TO the result of the bonn
bardment, which will be taken to indi-
cate the relative effectiveness of the
Russia siege artillery and the great
guns Of the Kaiser's army, which bat
tered down the defences of Namur. in
Belgium, in so short time
The news that the Russians had
taken Wieliczka, which is only three
miles from the outer fortifcations Of
Cracow, seems to indicate 10 some.
however, that there is something wrong
with the defences of that fortress, as
Wieliczka should be we'll within the
range Of the minor ornaments Of
first class fort.
Plain Not Abandoned.
II hacarna ,nora annaror. 30 H., .L.x
the Germans have not abandoned in
the least their interrupted attempt to
reach Warsaw Fighting Of violent
it is reported from the
front, is going on in the Lodz region.
to the southwest of that
city. The battle in this territory is
briefly mentioned in the following off,
cial statement issued tonight from
general headquarters:
Fighting continues in certain dis
ricts along the front in the region Of
Lowicz. Important forces Of the
enemy, chiefly the troops transported
n November from the German west
ront, opened an offensive on December
in the region Of Lioutomersk and
;zczercow.
"On the rest Of the front on the left
,ank Of the Vistuls there is no par
icular modification in the situation.
Beyond the Carpsthians our troops
lave taken Bartfeld, capturing eight
ficers, l,20o men and six machine
.uns"
IL is evident that Field Marshal Won
drew generously on forces,
ither Of the interior fortified cities in
Germany or of the line in France, to
urnish reinforcements for his army In
Western Poland.
Brings Up 10000 Men.
1t is believed ne has brought six
,orps, about 100000 men, into the
ifty-mile gap from Sieradz downward
@ Czenstochowa. each corps extend
ng about eight miles. These corps
must contain q large sdmixture OF
Austrians, as the narrow German rail-
way line TO Kalisz can throw only
about 5000 men daily upon the FROM
ier.
II has been working at full capacity
or a fortnight. but the great bulk OF
;erman troops from the west were
trough. on the broad line to Pleschen.
hence they marched twenty miles to
he frontier. with six days of heavy
marching across a trackless country to
ollow before reaching the Wartha.
these are the only two sources COM