New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-01

as during the present operations. ENe"
during the severe frosts IN Decemoei'
when German prisoners began 70 coHis
in in numbers on the Polish 'front.'
ewing to the altogether inadequate pro
lection from the Russian winter their
surrenders were on less generous
scale than now. The present operating
cause is not the frost, but another
painful phenomenon of nature, namely
hunger. as q direct result OF attempt
ing an enormous military movement IN
an impossible country at an Impossible
season of the year
If this war has proved anything u
has proved to the hilt that the Ger
mans are parade-ground, autumn-ma-
nnuvre soldiers. Given all the re
sources Of modern civilization at their
best and the Germans are terrible
enemy, but the very perfection OF thelr
machinery, especially their machine
made military science and machihe-
made soldier, brings disaster IN war
which is only one-quarter actual nght-
ing and for the other three-quar-
ters is a bitter struggle against the
phenomena of nature and the weak
nesses Of the human frame. German
plans are made by book, without re
gard TO these factors in war, which are
three-quarters Of the fight.
Grand Duke Judged Rightly.
The grand duke diagnosed the Inn
its of the Germans correctly from the
beginning Of this war, and therein lies
the secret Of those repeated withdraw
ais and retreats of Russian forces
which have been so cruelty misapprecl-
q, OF
book lore.
The CAPTURE near Grodno of numer-
Gus prisoners belonging TO the newly
formed 10th Army Corps is DEFINITE
indication that the Germans have now
in the field at least siXty-fve reserve
corps and a minimum of fifteen new
formations. The quality Is poor and
further reduced by an extreme shortage
of officers. As the Germans have no
whore found much use for their cav
airy, they are now using cavalry OIL
GERS to command infantry, captains as
colonies and lieutenants as company
commanders.
A Reuter- dispatch from Petrogradi
gives a semi official statement issued
there which says:
when the battle Of Przesnysz was
at its height the Germans announced
that il was q striking victory for them
and that they took much booty and nu-
merous prisoners.
an reality, when our troops at the
commencement of this battle made a
general retirement there remained
mere handful of men, who defended
with desperation the first approaches
to the town and then fought valiantly
in the streets, making the enemy pay
dearly with their lives. The powers OF
resistance displayed by this handful of
men appear from the German com
munication, which stated that the bat
tie of Przasnysz was Gor"e5pondingly
fierce and described the town as
fortress. although actually there was
nothing more than collection OF ordi-
nary field trenches.
To-day February 2O our troops
who have been VIGOROUSLY making
progress since the oath, have made a
/ fitting reply to the German announce
raent of the success of Przasnysz."
There has also been heavy fighting
in Western Galicia and in the Car
pathians, but without bringing any
notable change in the situation. In
/ Eastern Galicia the Russians report
another repulse for the Austrians, who
have again lost q number of prisoners.