New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-26

Where Germany, Austria and Russia Stand in One
of the Great Crises of
the War.

II was now perfectly clear that the Grand
Duke had determined to run no risk Of
pitched battle, but 10 follow the strategy
that had proved so disastrous to Napoleon
century before. The country was laid
in waste as the army retreated. The fields
were stripped, the population sent out be-
fore the troops. The Germans found only
desert.
At the precise moment when the escaps
of the Russian armies seemed assured the
Car suddenly relieved the Grand Duke,
and, sending him to the Caucasus, took
personal command. This was the most
momentous incident of the whole cam
paign, and to the Allied capitals 1t came
as disaster after all danger Of disaster
seemed to have passed. 1t was recognized
as meaning that the court intrigues had
removed a great general who had been
the victim of the lack of preparation Of
his nation but had in adversely displayed
military skill unrivalled in the whols
war on the Allied side.
The first fear that the change might
mean the retirement of Russia from the
war was promptly proved groundless. The
Gar issued solemn assurances to his AL
lies, and they realized that with his
throne at stake the Gar would not take
command merely to surrender. But would
the elimination of the Grand Duke bring
military, if not political, disaster? Would
the incompetent politicians replace the
great soldier? The question still remains
unanswered.
At Last a Russian Victory.
In the first hours of his control the
Gar was cheered by Russian victory. Far
to the south in Austrian Galicia his troops
took the offensive and once more van
pushed the Austrians, taking upward OK
10000 prisoners.
But rejoicing in Allied quarters was
soon turned TO panic. For the Berlin bull
letins promptly announced the fall Of
Wilma and new peril TO the central Rus
sian army. Moving first north and then
south, east of Wilma, the German troops,
mainly cavalry, had penetrated far to the
rear of the Russian army and were now
threatening to envelop it. They had
closed its retreat east and north, they
were threatening its single avenue of es-
cape toward the south.
Hindenburg was now plainly making his
last bid for a decision. The southern
armies had reached Pinsk The northern
armies were checked along the Dvina,
the Austrian armies were held up in Cali
cha. Already the weather was becoming
bad and the country in which he was
/ fighting was a swamp but little drained
since the time when Napoleon lost his
best troops between Pinsk and Beresina.
If the Russians escaped now, it was plain
that the weather would end the German
drive and give the Slavs a respite.
But if the central army were bagged,
with perhaps 100000 men, with the most
Of Russia's field artillery, then Russia
could hardly make good the loss and might
be eliminated when the freezing weather
made possible fresh operation. At tho
Dunajec, at the San, at the Vistula, the
Grand Duke had eluded the net, escaped
development. The Grand Duke was now
gone; could his successors follow his
example?
i Another Escape.
AS close this review, the escape is gen.
orally conceded The Rnssians saonn 10