New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-06

Warsaw's capture is easily the most
snectacular achievement of German
arms since the outbreak Of the war
The fall of the Polish capital comes
only after ten months of the most
desperate fighting known in history
From October until the end of July
the Russian and allied Teutonic forces
have swung like a mighty pendulum,
now through Galicia and toward the
heart of Prussia, now back again
further east than the walls OF war
saw. In number of men lost, in spec
tacular generalship, in hard bitter
stubborn fighting, the campaigns IN
the east have far outclassed the &C
tivities in France and Belgium.
Thrice before this Germany has
launched a tremendous drive against
the Russian lines in the direction OF
Warsaw. Twice the Cars troops
have fallen back at the point OF the
heaviest pressure, and by reason o.
their tremendous numbers have folded
in behind the German armies, have
outfanked them and compelled their
retreat with terrific losses. A third
time the Grand Duke Nicholas met
Won Hindenburg man for man and gun
for gun and beat him back. The fourth
drive has been too heavy, TOO well
eouipped for the ammunition starved
Russians wholly to check. 1t is
triumph of organization, of "kultur"
The Russians have lost Warsaw, but
they have apparently saved their army
in the most gigantic strategic retreat
in military history.
The whole German nation, Of course,
will boil over with enthusiasm at the
report Of the final attainment OF their
Eastern objective. The victory is filled
with honor for the Kaiser's troops, and
with little else. They have Warsaw,
and that is all. The city is an empty
she'll as far as military Importance Is
concerned. Weeks ago il was Quilted by
the Russians of everything that might
benefit their foes. So thorough was
the dismantling that even telegraph
and telephone wires were wound on
drums and carried away, lest the pre-
cious copper fall into Germany's hands.
Laurels for Grand Duke.
Mastery as has been the German ad-
vance. the Grand Duke has earned al
most equal laurels for the skill with
which he has withdrawn his forces. He
saw that his i'll equipped troops could
not withstand the enemy's splendidly
equipped offensive. All the winter ice
had locked the Baltic ports against as
sistance from the outside world. The
Turkish declaration of war shut off the
supply of munitions via the Mediterra-
mean and the Bosporus. The puny
Trans Siberian Railway has proved ut
terly inadequate for drafting the sup
plies necessary for the millions of men
on the Russian fighting front from the
docks Of Vladivostock, quarter OF a
hemisphere away. These docks are
piled high with the guns, ammunition
and clothing so terribly needle. on the
empires western border The mer-
chandise is seeping into the country IN
pitifully small driblets.
When the ice broke in the Baltic last
spring, the army, which Russia could
feed but not clothe nor equip, was In
excellent physical condition, but at its
lowest ebb of effectiveness. AT this
time the marvellous manufacturing
system of the Germans had supplied a
great army for supreme drive on
Warsaw.
During the winter the Grand Duke
had spent most of his reserve store of
ammunition in the drive against the
demoralized Austrians which gained
for him Przemysl. He had flung his
Cossacks over the heights Of the Car
pathians and down into the plains OF
hungary. With this victory, however,
ne had come 20 the end of his re-
sources. Noting remained but 70 wait
for spring and endeavor to hold his
lines.