Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-03
Rv FRANK II. sIMoNDS

| TIME opening move OF Germany III
i the east was the first drive to
Warsaw, which developed at the pre-
else moment the lines of battle were
developing in Flanders. Originally
obscured by the Antwerp and Ypres
operations, it suddenly filled the press
Of the world with reports of the i'm
minent fall of the Polish capital. Pet
rograd was silent while Berlin was in
full tide of victorious statement. Yet,
looking backward after many months,
It seems plain that the first German
| offensive in Poland was less consld-
cradle than was at first supposed and
n direct effort to assist Austria rather
than to conquer Poland.
| In early october Austrian fortunes
| had sunk to. the very lowest level.
Conquering armies were sweeping the
ruins of one Austrian host in upon
CraCow, of another UP the slopes of
the Carpathians. The mission of Aus
tria had been to keep Russia in play
until Germany had disposed OF France,
and now, at the critical moment In
the Flanders campaign, Germany must
either abandon the battle along the
User and about Ypres or by some
strategic combination use small re-
serves to postpone Austrian destruc-
tion.
Germany chose the latter eXpedient,
and gathering up an army she flung
it straight upon Warsaw. through
Central Poland. II was venture
such as Lee made when he sent Early
to Washington in 1864 in the hope of
drawing Grant away from Richmond.
German command was seeking to save
Austria. not her own territories. Like
Early's raid, that of the Germans al
most succeeded. Late in October the
guns of the Kaiser were sending shells
into the suburbs of Warsaw. But as
Grant was able TO put corps of vet
Grams into Washington while Early
was still before Fort Stevens, the
Grand Duke Nicholas in his turn
pushed Siberian troops through War
saw at the critical moment, struck at
the German flank and turned it. I'm
mediately the German invasion was
turned back retreat to the frontier
was inevitable. Warsaw, like Wash
ington, Just a half century before, was
saved.
Russian Advance Stopped
But Germany had attained her pur-
pose. AS a consequence of the in
vasion of Poland, Russian advance in |
Galicla stopped. Russian armies |
flowed back to the San. Przemysl |
was relieved, Jaroslav reoccupied, an |
advance to Lemberg in sight. For the
moment Austria was saved; there re-
mained to Germany time to finish her
fight in Flanders, to win, If she could,
in the west before new crisis I'm the
east should demand q new diversion
of her forces.
Instead of victory, however there
came defeat Germany failed at the
User, and about Ypres the golden mo-
ment for obtaining decision in the
west had passed. Weather, reinforce
ments Of the Allies, the growing
strength of their fortihcations, the
enormous and sterile German sacri-
fees, all combined to convince the
German high command that if n de-
cision were to be had against anv
enemy that enemy was Russia Such
blows as she had struck France and
Britain insured that they would be
unable to take the offensive effectively
for months to come. There was left
time to deal with Russia" to put the
Slav out" as the genial Bernhardi
would phrase 1t.
BY the time the battles of Flanders
had terminated, however, the situation
had again changed in the east. New
Austrian disasters had sent the armies
Of Hapsburg rushing back in disor-
der upon Cracow and on the Car
pathlans. Russian advance guards
were in sight of the suburbs of Cra-
COW, Cossacls parties were beginning
to flow down the Hungarian side of
The Dukla Pass into the Hungarian
plain. Austrian corps were being re-
'alled from Belgrade. newly occupied
by them. and Austrian disaster at
Valievo was In sight.
On the German frontier the situa-
Ion was even more threatening. A
luge Russian army was moving upon
Czenstochowa and Kalisc patrols had
or the first time touched German soil