New-York tribune., 1914-11-24
Russia s Campaign in Galicia Still
Unchecked by Won linden
burg's Strategy.

steady progress of the Russian occupation OF Mlu-
die and Western Galicia. The first Russian ad-
vance after the evacuation Of Lemberg and the
cort,ro If Jarosav penetrated Middle Gahcia
almost to the line of the Wistok River. The coun-
try to the west and southwest Of Przemysl up to
the Carpathian Mountains was occupied several
Of the Carpathian passes were seized and advance
guards Of Cossacks made their way through the
mountains to the great plain Of Hungary
That was the situation about the end Of Sep
tember Then the German-Austro-Hungarla o1-
fensive on the eastern front got under way and
in order to mass troops for the defence Of Warsaw
and Ivancorod the Russians weakened their armies
in Galicia and drew them back TO defensive posi-
tions on the line Of the San River. The reorgan-
,zed Austro-Hungarian forces moved eastward
from behind the Wistok River and not only retook
Jaroslav and relieved Przemysl, but also spread
FAR 70 the southeast and attacked the Russians on
the line from Sambor to Stry. An army under
General Victor Dankl also crossed the Vistula
River into Southwestern Poland and operated In
conjunction with General Won Hindenburg's
armies against Ivangorod.
The collapse Of the Polish invasion about the
end of October compelled a quick retirement OF
the Austro-Hungarian armies in Middle and East
ern Galicia. It seems probable that the forces
furthest east retreated through the Carpathians
into Hungary. The rest fell back westward about
one hundred miles beyond the Donajec River, the
last north and south afluent Of the Vistula and
the last natural barrier on the road to Cracow The
Russians have retaken the Uzsok Pass and have
occppied the line Of railroad running parallel with
the Carpathian range as far west as Neu Sandec.
This town is on the Donajec River, close TO the
mountains. and only about forty-fve miles south
east Of Cracow.
Neu Sandec was for many weeks the headquar-
ters of the Austro-Hungarian General Staff.
From this point Baron Won Hoetzendorff' Chief
of Staff. aided by the Heir Apparent to the dual
throne, conducted the reorganization Of Francis
Josephs armies and the very creditable drive east
ward for the relief of Przemysl. Now it is in
Russian hands and the General Staff headquarters
Y is probably in or near Cracow.
The Russian campaign against the ancient
Polish capital on the Upper Vistula is therefore
taking very definite shape in spite Of the press
ure brought to bear by Won Hindenburg on the
Russian armies $50 miles north in the region be-
tween Plock and LODI. The Russians evil
IDENTIFY planning an advance northwest from Neu
Sardec, one directly west from Tarnow and one
southwest out Of Poland. They are also still fight
ing at Czenstochowa, near the Siesian border, and
victory there would enable them to move
straight south and invest Cracow from the rear
A great success by General Won Hindenburg in
the north would, Of course, delay the investment
of Cracow If Won Hindenburg can again threaten
Warsaw. after defeating the Russian right wing
the Russian centre in Poland will have TO with
draw and the advance in Galicia will stop The
German public is banking heavily on Won Hinden-
burg's strategy and his energy as a fighter. He Is
the hero of the war so far with his countrymen
and his retreat from Warsaw has been depicted
only as lure by means Of which to draw the
Russians into Western Poland where they would
have to fight without the advantages of good lines
of communication. Berlin dispatches say thAt a
high military authority has given interview to
the "Lokalanzeger" in which this prediction IS
made: "a general Russian retreat with the evacu-
alton Of Lemberg is only question of time"
Taking into consideration that the Russians
have held Lemberg for nearly three months and
that their armies are now fighting at points $50
to 200 miles west of Lemberg, the situation on the
eastern front will have to change rapidly and
radically before the prediction Of the "Lokalan-
zeiger's" informant can be made good. Judging
from past events and records it would seem more
logical to risk the prediction that the evacuation
of Cracow is only question Of time
Both sides are claiming successes in the fighting
in Poland The result of the battles there will
soon become evident. If the Russians win, Cra-
COW will be put in great peril, since the ground
has already been cleared from three quarters for