Imperial Valley press., 1914-10-27
GUIDING RUSSIAN
PUBLIC OPINION
Especial Dispatch by the International
News Service.)

News Service.)
Petrograd, Oct. 26.-In general the
Russian press is very careful in dis
cussing the latest success of Russia s
glorious army. Russian papers, while
welcoming the great victory over the
Austrian army, criticized very sharply
ONE of the others which professed
to see in this success the complete
defeaS of both the dual kingdom and
of Germany, and recommend them to
heed the words of the well-l1nown
Count Witte, who in Odessa advised
the representatives of the local press
to be most cautious.
"We have struggled" he said, $50
long only with a part of the German
first success. The main forces. of the
enemy are hidden, and before us is q
very difficult task of destroying them,
which will cost us enormous effort
and sacrifices. The press" continued
Count Witte, ''must prepare the popu-
lace for unexpected difficulties which
may arise at any moment"
Of course, the words of the famous
Russian politician are very important
and reasonable, but they must be read
in the light of the situation in which
our enemies are now. Germany is in
a very difficult position. Being block
AIDED by sea by the British navy and
pressed eastward by the allies, she
oanno5 help the Austrians, and even
if such help were given it would be
too late.
Germany, as can be seen from the
latest move Of her army, is concen-
trating her forces in East Prussia in
an endeavor to cooperate with the
navy in the Baltic. The rapid advance
of General Rennenkampff's army and
the decisive success of the Russians
ever TIE main Austrian forces, as well
as the Servian victories at Pardar and
Drin, of course, distracted the atten-
tion of the German general staff from
France to Russian offensive move in
Germany. From August 28th to Sep
tember 7th, the Germans continually
transported troops from the western
front to the eastern. The Kaiser
kept his promise to support his be-
loved East Prussia as soon as pos
sible, and did so at the expense of
the army which was fighting against
the allies in the western war area.
When the Germans had completed
this concentration in East Prussia
they started their offensive in an at
tempt to envelop the army of General
Kennenkampf on the line Nordenburg
Goldap-Suvalki. They brought very
strong pressure to bear, and it was
extremely difficult task for the Rus
SLAMS to hold the advanced positions
they had won, for they were in very
unfavorable circumstances. But with
great self-sacrifce and bravery they
contested every step by the advancing
enemy, and this fighting cost the
Germans very dear.
General Rennenkampf, in view Of
further operations, decided to adopt
i favorite Russian tactics cf exhaust
ing the enemy by fighting a succession
CT rearguard actions in retreating on
the most favorable positions. In one
Of my former articles l tried to ex-
lain the difference between retire
nent and defeat as well as between
6. partial success and a victory. The
Russian press, for instance, in dis.
cussing the circumstances in which
General Samsonoff's two army corps
were defeated, makes it clear that
though the Russians suffered very
heavy losses they moved backward
in complete order to avoid the fire
Of the siege artillery of the enemy and
Germans brought their heavy cannons
into rse again. To remove such big
machines takes time and the Russians
succeeded quite well in accomplishing
their retreat.
Such retreat, as the most import
ant Russian experts point out and as
said in this column about a week
ago, ic purely tactical move to take
Up more favorable positions, and is
absolutely of no significance.
The deaths of Generals Samsonof,
Martos and Pestitch were quite acci-
dental. A German shell of large cali
bre burst among General Samsonoff's
staff as the gallant hero, with his
officers, was leaving the battlefield,
the last to leave it, directing the re-
treat of his army from the rear.
And such splendid retreat, which
can be admired by every military
expert, was called in Berlin "a new
victoryw
The Japanese by luckier chance