Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-25
ms. Following it they pushed on

SLAMS. Following it they pushed on
ward rapidly through Galicia-
The high water mark OF the invasion
found almost all the province in their
hands. They approached within
striking distance Of Cracow. at the
western end Of the province. close to
the German frontier; stormed the
heights and passes Of tho Carpathian
Mountains. which separate Galicia
from Hungary; and. to the east, swept
down through the crown land OF
Bukowina to the Roumanian frontier.
All this has been changed by the
steady succession Of Austro-German
successes Of the last few weeks. The
change began with the launching of
the great drive from Cracow eastward.
Great numbers Of German troops were
sent in to assist the Austrians. The
use Of artillery has been described by
correspondents as on a scale never
before undertaken, while the Russian
defense was crippled by the shortage
Of shells. The Austro- German armies
pushed westward through Galfcia, re-
captured Przemysl June 8. and then
without pause. struck at Lemberg
from the south and west. At no point
were the Russians able to Withstand
the terrific bombardment directed
against their positions and even the
line of defences near Grodek, sixteen
miles west Of Lemberg. which is OF
great natural strength, proved to be
untenable. ....
The fighting in this connection has
been of unusual intensity, with heavy
losses. The figures Of killed, wound
ed and captured as given in Austrian,
German and Russian official state-
ments,. run into the hundreds Of thou
sands. Russia had made plans for
permanent occupation Of Galicia,
bringing in officials to set up civil adj
ministration in the territory as fast as
it was taken. Lemberg was rechrist-
ened Lvov, the old Russian Polish
name.
1t is Lemberg again, but the German
and Austrian forces must remain on
guard to prevent its retaking, for the
enemy's forces are still intact. To
heavily weaken the forces which have
swept on from Cracow for use in other
fields would invite the Slavic horde
down again upon Galicia.
That the objective Of the great
operations in the east are political
rather than military is indicated by
the great interest now shown in Ger
many in the question Of whether Rus
STA will now be willing to make sep
arate peace. Every influence Germany
commands is being exerted to persuade
Russia that her allies have unfairly
left to her the brunt of the attack. The
German people have been cheered by
reports that peace negotiations are in
progress, and it is a severe blow for
them to learn from an inspired state
ment in the F'rankfurter Zeitung that
these reports are unfounded. Serious
and responsible Germany, in spite of
her military successes, realizes that
oh af &c
the alliance against her is not disin-
tegrated.
There is not the slightest evidence
that Russia's determination to remain
with her allies has weakened. With
France and Great Britain she is in
hard and fast agreement to stick to the
bitter end. AS France entered the war
on Russia's account, 1t is hardly prob
able that under any circumstances
would Russia desert the alliance.
Just at this time when the effect Of
Germany's demonstration Of almost re-
sistless force Is fresh upon the minds
of waiting Europe comes the surprising
information that Lord Kitchener
has played a mastery game and
has raised an army four times
as great as up to this time had been
admitted-4.0oo,o instead Of one mil
lion men.
Thus the war seems to be entering
upon a new and more terrific, perhaps
decisive, stage, but no decisive move
has yet been made.