The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-06
The Fall Of Warsaw.

The capture Of Warsaw by the leu.
tonic allies marks the high tide OF
their achievement in the field. 1t IL
true that official limitations from
P%etrograd had prepared the world
for the abandonment Of the Polish
capital, but the truth Is that three
weeks ago the Russian General stan
was still confident that Warsaw could
be held. Before they could enter in
and raise the colors Of Germany ami
Austria over the ancient city 1t was
necessary for the allies to outfiank
. the enemy on both the north and south
and smash his defensive along a
line curving from P~rzasnysz to Cholm.
The Grand Duke had made elaborate
dispositions for the struggle. II he
could shatter the Austro-G German Of.
f~ensive. which was trying to envelop
him, the troops fighting behind the
Warsaw works could be heavily reen-
forced and the city would be saved.
His forces had not been demoralized
by the reverses in the Galician cam
paign. In fact, we have the follow
ing testimony from an expert OBJ
server who was permitted to inspect
the Russian front Che visited six
armies and talked with about 200
officers of all ranks):
THE focus of the entire situation falls
on the army which extends to slightly
southeast OF Lublin. This bears the
number o. the army which was shattered
In the Russian centre in the Galiclan at
tack. but it has been practically rebuilt
and reorganized. and Is commanded by a
different General. This army
impresses me as the best that Russia
has ever placed in the field In this war
Sixty per cent. represents corps which I
have personally known elsewhere. and |
would state without reservation that
they are the cream OF the Russian army.
The new General, whose name l canno,
now mention. is one OF the most remark
able individuals l have met In this or in
any other war. His name Is practically
unknown outside Russia to-day. but
within a month he will be famous, what
ever the outcome
The outcome was that Field Mar.
shall Won MACKENsEN beat back this
fine army. which was occupying "thc
focus Of the entire situation" that is
to say, the railroad between Lublin
and Cholm southeast Of Warsaw.
What vas the fate Of the army com.
manded by the new General so hand
somely vouched for we do not yet
know, but when he failed to check
the enemy in his front the last hope
of holding Warsaw vanished. The
British observer seems to have been
right, nothing Of late having been
heard from vow HINDENBURG, who
was supposed to be operating to the
north of Warsaw: the heaviest blow
was delivered by Won MAcKENsEN at
the short Lublin-Cholm line. 1t was
much the same strategy as the Kai.
ser's ablest General had employed be-
fore. The %thunderbolt fell, not where b..
commanded in person, but elsewhere
and against 1.-THE real Of the Russian
army" Again have the Teutons dem
Onstrated their superiority in the
shock of battle. For the Russians
the most that can be said Is that they
may have been handicapped by ar
tillery deficiencies. Warsaw was not
a gift to the victors: they had to fight
for 1t at both ends of the line, no
doubt suffering enormous losses.
What of the moral effect Of the
occupation Of Warsaw? 1t was well
timed to impress Rumanla, Bulgaria
ana Greece, taking counsel with them
selves and with m another whether
they should enter the war on the side
of Russia and her allies. 1t will
hearten the sorcly pressed Turk, fight
ing in his trenches on the Gallipoll
Peninsula. Constantinople now seems
safer than at any time since the Aus
tralians lcaped ashore at Sidd Of Bahr.
And the Teltonic allies, who under the
skllful direction OF the German Gen.
eral STAFF are never slow to launch a
new campaign, now have the choice of
employing their disengaged army corps