The Washington times., 1915-03-20
AGAIN, THE RUSSIANS

'eo DS6 hoShH6 AeAo
so constantly reminded the outside
world that it knows very little about
the real development of the wars
operations, as the constant shifting
of affairs in the Poland campaign.
Three times the Russians have been
hopelessly defeated, if judgment
might be based on the claims of Ber-
lin and even the admissions of Petro-
grad. Yet each time the Russians,
just at the moment when it seemed
certain that complete disaster had
been visited on them, have managed
to pull themselves together and turn
the tables, or to break out in some
new direction and retrieve them
selves, even turning their apparent
defeat into an offensive and always
keeping the Germans from gaining
any decisive advantage.
At the outset of the war the Rus
slams were not ready for a test of
conclusions with the Germans and
Austrians. The latter had facilities
for far more speedy and efficient
mobilization, because of their super.
ior railroads. The Russian general
staff perfectly understood this, but
none the less it launched an ambi
tious offensive against Germany, ir
order to compel division of German
strength and weakening of the
Kaiser's drive on Paris. 1t was ar
inspiring spectacle, this of the Rus
SLAMS risking everything before they
were ready, in order to help theil
allies in the west; and it produced
the results that were desired. II
helped save Paris, though in the enc
it gravely risked Warsaw.
Going back over the various stages
of the eastern campaign, it is pretty
apparent that the Russians have al.
ways made their good showings
when the Germans were compelled tt
keep a maximum of force in the
west, and have always suffered wher
the Germans were able to withdraw
strength from the west to hur
against Poland. With all their mum
bers, the Russians have not had &
chance on anything like equal terms
against the Germans; and the rea
son is, very largely, the magnificent
system of military railways in the
east of Germany.
The latest exploit of the Russians
in their continuous performance o.
being defeated one week and "com
ing back" the next, is just now be
ginning to be understood. They were
supposed, ten days ago, to have suf
fered about as sweeping a defea
even as at the battle of Tannehberg
But just when Warsaw ought to hav'
fallen and Poland been given ovel
to the Germans, news came that th'
Germans were again being driver
back on their own soil, and nov
comes the admission from Berlil
that the Baltic port of Memel, il
East Prussia, has been occupied b!
the Russians. 1t is difficult to deter
mine the exact military importanc,
of this achievement. Memel is tn
most easternly port of the empire
nearly 100 miles northeast of Koen
igsburg. On both sides the account
agree in carrying the impression
that the Germans were decided.
taken by surprise. There seems t.
have been no German realization
that a Russian force of importanc
was operating in that section, unit
it swooped down and seized Meme
and established a base we'll within
German territory.
The fact about these alternatin;
advances and retirements of tn
forces in the east was excellent,
stated the other day by an observe
who said the Germans had bee
kiting military checks between eas
and west, and that it couldn't con
tinue always" That is an exac
statement of the condition. Whe
the pressure comes at east and ives
alike, there must be something t
give way; and the pressure is jus
now beginning to be applied wit
tremendous earnestness on bot
fronts.
But all that the synchronizsd pres