The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-04
'21.5O0 MEN were
LOST BY RUSSIANS


and for fortnight past an unbroken
stream of troop trains has been pouring
eastward from Frankfort, Berlin and
other German railroad centers. Thus
was warning given that big events
were impending in the east.
Newspaper correspondents were per-
mittcd to telegraph that new often
sive on the Russian front was in prep
aration and even to intimate that the
blow would fall near the Mazurian lake
regions or in the Carpathians. Closer
indications, of course, were out of the
question.
Final Plans for Movement
Final plans for this movement were
approved at conference held in Berlin
April 23 between General Won Falken-
hyn, chief of the German staff, and
Fiela Marshal Conrad Won Hoetzen-
dorf, chief of the Austrian staff.
1t is too early to discuss the full
military effect of this victory in Ga
licia, but it is the opinion of Austrian
observers that the German and Aus
tran strategists ''got the jump on
the offensive which the Russians were
believed to be planning and of which
their campaign in the Carpathians was
thought to have been preliminary.
The number of prisoners taken by
! the Teutonic allies mentioned in the
first report is noticeably small, but the
experts here expect that the total num-
ber of men captured and the amount Of
war booty will grow rapidly.
Piercing of Russian Front
A significant feature of the reports
of this victory is the reference to the
piercing of the front of the Russian
army The Russian commanders up to
the present time usually have been able
to avoid break in their line by falling
back before the line broke.
The political value of this victory
of the first magnitude is regarded here
as quite as great as the military. 1t
comes in the midst of the Austro Italian
negotiations and on the eve of the
meeting of the Italian Parliament it
| comedies with the announcement of
the new Austro- Hungarian loans, the
success of which would be materially
affected by victory at this time.
A correspondent Of the F" Neue
Freie Presse" of Vienna, in the the
| atre of war, has sent in the following
concerning the battle of Sunday in
| West Galicia:
Rapidity of Offensive Movement
"The Austro- Hungarian offensive
succeeded with surprising rapidity. The
Russians occupied naturally strong po-
sition on the Danujec and the Biala
which had been strengthened with ev.
cry imaginable method of Notifications
They felt themselves absolutely secure
After a searching artillery preparation,
exceeding in intensity anything which
has occurred on the northeastern front
the Austrian-Hungarians advanced Sun.
day on the southern wing.
| They stormed at the first attempt the
Russian positions along front of more
than forty kilometres GA miles)
stretching from the Biala river through
Gorlice far into the Carpathian noun
| tains. Their assault was so fierce that
the Russian line broke Immediately
Many thousands of prisoners were
taken, as well as a quantity of equip
ment, supplies, cannon and machine
guns.
| "At the same time on the northern
wing another successful advance was
carried out" the Vienna correspond
ent continues. 60 At this point Austrian
and Hungarian troops crossed the
Dunajec in spite of terrific opposition
stormed the Russian positions and tool
over 1000 prisoners. Other brilliant
successes also are reported from the
Carpathians.