New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-04
The Recapture Of Przemysl.

The recapture Of Przemysl by the Ger
man-Austro-H Hungarian armies empha-
sizes the sweeping failure Of Russia's Ga
Ncan campaign. The forces Of the Gar
will now have all they can do 70 hold on TO
Lemberc and that small portion Of Galicia
east Of the San and the Dnester which
remains in their hands
The Russian headquarters on the south
eastern front have been transferred from
Iemberg to Brody, q few miles from the
Russian frontier. In this area Of the war
Fone-the only one in which the Russians
were able TO carry the fighting into alien
tarritory-Grand Duke Nicholas now
finds himself standing on the defensive on
the line on which his armies so easily de-
feated the Austro-H urgarians IN the very
first weeks Of the war.
All the sturdy advance westward 10 The
outskirts Of Cracow and southwestwsrd up
90 and across the SUBMITS Of the Car
pathians has gone for naught, The Rus
sian armies surged forward twice from
the line Of the San and the Dniester-once
sfter the first crushing Austro-Hungarian
reverses in August and again after the
failure Of the Germanic counter-nttack Of
September- October. Save for a couple Of
weeks when Przemysl was relieved and the
grand dukes forces were in retirement
beyond the San River. the Russian occupa-
ton Of Middle Galcia and a part Of West
ern Galicia was undisputed. When
przemvsl surrendered two months ago and
the Russian van had pressed through the
middle Carpathian passes and threatened
Il descent into the Hungarian plain,
Vienna had already begun 10 count Ga
licia with Lombardy and Venice-another
lost pearl from the crown Of the Dual
Monarchy.
But within the last two months the tide
Of battle has turned abruptly and
violently. Galicia is almost redeemed, and
II Russian powers Of recupcration are nct
equal 10 the strain the next drive Of Won
Hoetzendorf and Won Mackensen may
carry the Teutonic allies past Lemberg
and leave Russia fighting from the Gulf
Of Riga, on the north, to the border Of
Pumania. on the south, within her own
territory.
Przemysl was evacuated by the Russians
before the Teutonic allies were able TO
isolate II. It is TO Grand Duke Nicho-
lass credit as strategst that he has
never laid great stress on the mere mold
ing Of territory. He realizes that this
war Is q war Of endurance and that ii Is
more or less immaterial on what line on
the eastern front the question OF mas
terry is decided. Russia is practically safe
from invasion. The main object Of Rus
sia's strategy is, therefore, TO keep her
armies intact, as far as possible, rather
than 20 hold any particular territory or
fortress.
The grand dukes decision to evncuate
Przemysl instead Of leaving a garrison TO
try TO defend It therefore contrasts favor.
ably with the decision of the Austro-Hun-
garian General Staff TO allow its gar
rison IN Przymysl 70 be cut off and starved
into q surrender. Austro-Hungarian ella
ton over tho reoccupation of tho grea
fortress on the San must be tempered by
bitter recollections Of the capitulation o.
ten weeks ago. An Austro-Hungarial
army OF 10000 men was sacrificed ther'
on q forlorn hope-120,000 Of them goinl
into captivity. PrEemysl was not worti
that price. No fortress on any front ha!
been or is likely to be worth it
There is another drop Of bitterness If
the cup Of German-Austro-H Hungarian sue
cess. Had the great series Of victories In
Galicia come a little earlier they might
have changed the whole face of the war
II Russia had been driven 20 the wall
three months ago-even two months ago
Italy would probably never have com
mitted herself 70 war against the leu
tonic powers.
The Cars forces will now need breath
ing space-an opportunity for reorganiza-
ton and recuperation. Russian supplies
Of munitions are short, and Grand
Duke Nicholas will hardly be able 20 do
more for some months 70 come than 70
yield slowly or to keep the enemy at bay
The Teuton victories in Galicia will GER
tainly release troops for service elsewhere
But it is the irony Of fate for Germany
and Austria Hungary that now that they
have partially disposed Of Russia on the
east they must meet Italy's fresh frst-line
troops In the southwestern theatre.
In this war Germany has ACCOMPLISHED