Gilpin observer., 1914-09-17

main armies, which had been encOur-
aged to concentrate in the Polish
provinces with their front towards
Lublin and Kholm, were unable to ac-
complish anything beyond single for
ward march on the extreme left flank,
while the right flank still rested on
Belz, in their own territory southwest
of Sokal.
"The left flank moved to Opoland.
The line runs thence to Zamostje and
Belz. How much Of this Austrian
right flank suffered defeat during the
combined operations has not seemed
clear, but the forces Of Austria, which
inundated the province Of Poland, are
still referred to in official reports as
the Austrian main force.
Russia has certainly got enough
men in position across the front Of
this main Austrian army to restrain it,
and victories in other parts of the
battlefield, which extends over $50
miles, have brought large Russian ar
mics hardened by three weeks fight
ing and marching, into the rear of the
Austrian main forces. a.
Russia has been conducting in per-
feet secrecy its combined operations
against Austria in two regions over
400 miles apart, keeping well in touch
with the enemy throughout this enor-
| nous distance and further executing
swift dash into East Prussia, an
other 200 miles away. The actual
| space covered by Russia's lines is con-
siderably over thousand miles.
Russians Strategy Seen.
over this vast extent the attack
and defense. cavalry raids and recon-
noissances on the part of all arms,
with temporary successes and occa-
! sional mishaps, have been alternating
with one another for weeks past.
Only now it is possible to penetrate to
some extent the strategic plans of the
commander-in-chief, and that only as
regards the operations which have
ended in the victory Of Lvov.
Russia, confident in it's strength.
took the risk of operating with two
separate armies-one entering Galicia
| from the extreme east and pushing
| vigorously westward, while the other
| kept the Austrians employed along 500
or 800 miles of the frontier.
Precisely by what tactical move
ments the situation was brought about
l have not sufficient data to Judge, but
1t may be safely assumed that the
| Austrians were increasingly favored
In their attacks and incursions into
Poland until their commanders were
satisfied they had discovered an open
ing to the main positions, when they
| concentrated hostility on the Russian
right flank.
Russians Foil Germans.
THE Austrians would be more read.
lily disposed toward this direction. as
1t brought their main forces nearer to
the armies of Germany. which ought
at the same time to have been push
ing vigorously toward Warsaw The
Germans, however, were prevented
from performing this part of their
plans by the Russians invasion of
! East Prussia. which laid the German
left flank open in any attempts to
penetrate far into Poland from the
west.
The Austrians in the meantime
continued victorious in their progress
into undefended portions of Poland
from the south. Early in the war
the Austrians had line about one
march into Poland and extending
over the whole western portion. As
this territory was undefended, it was
or should have been sufficiently OBJ
vious that Russia attached little mill
tary Importance to it.
The Austrians having secured
their fiank. proceeded to drive in
strongly toward Kielce. but not en-.
couraged in that direction, finally
found line of least resistance in the
direction toward Lublin and Kholm,
and proceeded to make repeated at
tacks in force with sufficient success
to warrant their generals in making
this the main objective of their forces.
Keep From Alarming Austrians.
| while these tactical operations
were in progress Russia was pushing
quietly. and not in too great force to
alarm the Austrian general stan. into
Galicia from Podolia and Bessarabia.
In this region the Austrians trusted
to their defense, also strong bodies Of
troops resting on fortified camps at
every river crossing OF this well-wa.
tered district.
The Russians carried these in turn.
capturing the valleys Of the Rivers Se-
reth or Gmelden and the Luga with.
out apparently. exciting any particular
alarm at Austrian headquarters. When
they reached the third river. moving
westward Of Foulipa, the Austrians
had evidently taken alarm and des-
perate efforts were made to arrest the
westward progress Of this army and
even turn the flank ut Halicz or Ga
licia, at the confluence of the FOUL
lipa with the Dniester
by this time 1t was too late and the
Russians. after weeks OF marching and
III Qchiipu xaixad IL.