The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1915-05-26
ITALY PREVENTS CAPTURE.
Entrance in War Saves Eastern Gal.
icia From Austro-G Germans
Influence is Felt. r.
STRUGGLE MAY BE SHORTENED
BY J. w. T. MASON.

BY J. w. T. MASON.
New York, May 26.--Italy's en-
trance into the war has already made
it's influence felt insthe Russian cam
paign. The inability Of the Austro-
Germans to progress east of the San
river is undoubtedly due to the dis
fractions of the Italian situation.
Italy has probably saved Eastern
Galicia from recapture, for it. seems
impossible the Teutonic allies can
now develop sufficiently powerful
offensive about Przemysl and Lem
berg to compel the Russians to re-
treat into their own territory.
The Austro- German armies reached
the San river on May Is. They had
required only two weeks to drive the
Slaves out of Western Galicia, and
the latter were apparently in no con-
dition to fight permanently staying
action. But after May Is the mill
tary situation suddenly changed.
General Won Mackensen seem to have
lost his initiative and the offensive
spirit passed out of his armies. A
part of the Teutonic force crossed
the San north of Przemysl,. but all
coordination disappeared. There
were obvious delays among the Ger
man detachments, and while one
wing was seer to be progressing an
other wing somehow floundered into
difficulties. -...-
Not on Ofense.
Nothing occurred ON the Russian
side to indicate the Slaves were re-
sponsible for the check which un-
doubtedly had been given to the Teu-
tonic advance. The Russians were
not fighting an offensive campaign,
and Petrograd evidently: expected no
victories. For the first time since
the war began, the Petrogad corre-
spondents of London newspapers
openly confessed their pessimism,
after the Teutons arrived at the San.
While General vons Mackensen Was
meeting with what in fact was his
initial setback since the Galician
drive began, Petrograd was preparing
the world to hear of further Slav re-
effect in advance.
The situation, therefore, in which
Mackensen found himself at the San
was due to causes not. understood on
the Russian side. ; ?
Now, the days Immediately follow
ing the arrival of the eAustro-Germars
at the San were the same-is that
marked the suddenly critical situa-
tion in the negotiations. between
Rome and Vienna. Austria and Ger
many must have become convinced
at that time that war with Italy was
inevitable and would come quickly.
So the San operations had to be cur
tailed in order to strengthen the Aus
der.
It is not probable this was done
by withdrawing men from Macken-
sens armies. The Russians would
certainly have detected large
transfer Of troops, and would have
been encouraged to attempt an Of
fensive of their own against the
weakened enemy. The fact that no
Russian counter-offensive was made
indicates Mackensen's sudden halt
was not due to a dearth of men.
Ammunition Scarce.
Throughout the present war,
whenever armies have had sufficient
men, and yet have not been able to
advance, the reason has been a de-
ficiency of ammunition: It is prOba-
BILE, therefore, that General Macken-
sen has been halted at the San be-
cause all his ammunition has not
been replenished. The Italian sit
uation has necessitated great guam
titles of ammunition being concen-
trated near the frontier by Austria
and Germany, and Mackensen appar-
emily has had to get along with a
depleted supply. Petrograd dis
patches are now beginning to COM
ment on the alliance of the German
guns at the San. This is further
evidence that the ammunition ques-
tion is Mackensen's most serious
problem. If future facts sustain the
probability that Germany and Aus
tria are feeling the ammunition pinch
the war will be materially shortened.