New-York tribune., 1915-03-26
The Battle of the Carpathians.


great crisis Of the present conflict came
in early September, when Germany ap-
preached Paris and seemed about to dis
pose Of France, it is not less patent that
we are now facing a second crisis equally
great. but this time involving the fate
not Of France but Of Austria.
At the Battle of the Marne France
saved herself and Europe from German
supremacy. In the snow covered passes
of the Carpaihians Austria is battling
not merely to save herself, desperate as
her own plight now is, but 10 save her
greater ally. For if Russian armies again
crown the Carpathians and flow back
into the Hungarian Plain, not even the
most optimistic German can reasonably
expect ultimate victory.
In Vienna and in Berlin it is equally
well recognized that the Battle Of the Car
pathians marks a crucial point in their
fortunes. More important than the mill
tary are the political issues involved.
Russian defeat at the Masurian Lakes
was followed by a sudden cooling of the
ardor of Rumanian, Italian, Greek and
Bulgarian. Those who without direct in
terest were concerned only by questions
of spoil and ACKNOWLEDGMENT found IN
Russian disaster full warrant to delay
their own operations.
But the capture of Przemysl, the roar
of allied cannon along the Dardaneles,
the far less considerable but distinct Brit
ish triumph at Neuve Chapelle-the cumu-
lative effect of these is unmistakable in
dispatches that come from Rome, from
Bucharest, from Athens; even Sofia now
hesitates between ancient injuries and
profits the future promises.
A decisive Austrian defeat in the noun
tains will mean the invasion Of Hungary.
Z will necess!tate the evacuation Of Tran
sylvania and Bukovina, which will be
open to Rumanian INVASION For Ruma-
MA then to hesitate will be to permit
Russia to pluck the fruit, and Russia
may well decline to share provinces con-
luered with a small nelghbor whose eau
lion conquered her avarice.
For Austria one more defeat must
mean ruin. Hungary, swept by Cossack
hordes. will not long consent to fight at
home the battle for Germany which the
Xaiser's hosts still carry on IN Poland,
Belgium and France The onrush Of Ru-
manian and Russian armies, the inevitable
incursion of Serbians from the south
these will bring Budapest to new and un-
N mistakable position.
VI And Italy-who now doubts the mean
ing of her waiting? But if she waits
until Hungary has collapsed, until the
guns of the Queen Elizabeth and the SOL
diers Of General d'Amade have opened
the Dardanelles, why should France or
England or Russia pay her a popboire
for neutrality out of the profit they have
amassed by rude and terrible labor?
In European history it is doubtful if
any battle has had so grave immediate
possibilities as that of the Carpathians
since the great Napoleon lost Leipzig and
all his allies. Those who still hesitated.
held back no longer when the terrible
Battle Of the Nations" was decided. The
doom of the Napoleonic empire was sealed
about the Saxon capital, although the final
act took place in France-at Fontaii,e-
bleau.
On the military side Austrian defeat in
the present conflict would compel the i'm
mediate withdrawal of Austrian troops
from Russian Poland Cracow is the gate
TO Silesia, to Berlin, not to Vienna. The
army corps Of Francis Joseph which are
defending German frontiers behind the
Nida and east of Cracow will be needed
on the Thesis and the Danube if the Gar
can force the Dukla gateway to the Hun
garian Plain.
To Germany must then fall the whole
task of defending her eastern marches at
the precise moment when Anglo-French
armies are opening the long promised
spring campaign and from Switzerland to
the North Sea new myriads are breaking
against the dixie German military genius
has erected in hostile lands.
With Russian troops in Hungary, with
Italian armies laundering at the Tyrolean
and Dalmatian gates, with Rumanian
troops flowing through Pennsylvania TO
ioin hands with Russians and SerbianS in
the valley Of the Danube, will Austria, II
She still endures, fail to demand that Ger
MANY draw back her garrisons from con-
ouered provinces to clear the home land