New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-14
Austria ungary's Hard Role in
the European War.

general crash by forcing quarrel on Servia, she
soon lost control of the situation and drifted into
the background. Her military power was over
Swallowed by Germany's and her military policy
has had to be subordinated to that Of her far
stronger ally.
Such a subordnation was natural. Germany
had come to Austria-Hungary's aid and made the
Iatter's cause her own. The government in Ber-
lin had given Count Berchtold' permission to go
as far as he liked in disciplining Servia Whether
or not the German Foreign Office actually saw
the servian ultimatum before it was dispatched
70 Belgrade is still an open question. But Aus
tria-Hungary was fortified in advance with an
assurance of German support and that support
was Forthcoming when the attack on Servia was
followed by Russian mobilization along the
Austro-Hungarian border.
Tho government and the people Of Austria
Hungary could not but be grateful for German
assistance. They looked upon the Emperor Will
lam as a.champion and deliverer Neutrals re-
turning from Vienna and Budapest have reported
that the German Kaser's picture in the film the
stres is ALWAYS greeted with the widest applause,
more enthusiasm being shown for him than for
Francis joseph. In the dispatches of congratula-
ton which Francis Joseph sent to his ally IN Ber-
lin after the first German successes In France,
the same note of gratitude and admiration was
struck. Even while Lemberg was being lost and
Eastern Galicia and Bukowina were being over
run by the Russians the Acknowledgements con-
soled themselves with the thought that Germany
would soon be in possession Of Paris.
Most Austrian military writer's have ascribed
the defeats in the unfortunate Lublin campaign
and the loss Of Lemberg to the sef-sacrifcing
readiness Of the Austro-Hungarian armies to car
~ out the strategical plans of the German Cen
eral Staff. Poland was invaded in August last
in order to divert Russian attention from East
Prussia. which was left weakly defended in order
TO mass the German troops Of the first line in
France and Belgium.
That demonstration not only failed TO prevent
the first Russian invasion of East Prussia, but
fatally compromised the Austro-Hungarian de-
fence Of Galicia and Bukowins. The Russian
southern armies swept over the border, occupied
Bukowina and conquered Galcia far east as
the line Of the San River. The Austrian forces
were badly shattered and had to evacuate
Poland and a large part of Middle Galicia in
order TO reorganize in defensive positions back
toward Cracow.
The Austro-Hungarian armies paid their debt
to Germany ungrudgingly. They felt that they
had contributed, although at great cost to them
cesses in the west and General Won linden
burg's great victory at Tannenburg, In East
Prussia. They were still content to accept Ger
man leadership and to do any duty assigned to
them in the German scheme of strategy.
In the recent general offensive movement in
the eastern theatre the Austro-Hungarian armies
again undertook to invade Southern Poland
this time west Of the Vistula River, instead of
east of it, They also made forward movement
in Middle Galcia, pursuing the Russians to the
San River line, retaking Jaroslav and raising the
siege of Przemysl. Their advance was the more
successful, inasmuch as the Southern Russian
forces had been somewhat depleted in order to
reinforce the armies behind Ivangorod and War
saw.
There was intense citation in Austria-Hungary
over the temporary recovery of Middle Galicia
and the prospect of retaking Lemberg Every
thing was going smoothly so far as the Austro-
Hungarian part of the campaign was concerned.
The armies beaten in August and September had
redeemed themselves and were full of newborn
confidence. Then suddenly the bottom fell out of
the German offensive in Poland and the hurried
retreat of the German centre to the borders of
Silesia and Posen uncovered the AustrO-Hun-
garian armies and compelled them to seek safety
in a quick retirement.
Unfortunately their position was far more
dangerous than was the position Of the Ger
man armies. They were extended far to the east,
and in their rear were crowded up against the
Carpathian Mountains. Retreat through the