The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-09-15

IdplO CurTSul- LII LuclI ICLlCdI LllC
Russians undoubtedly destroyed the
bridges, thus forcing the construction
of pontoons as mecns of crossing.
AS these would have to be placed
under fire the delaying of the Ger
man advance is reduced to it's sim
plest proportions.
South Of the Dvina the Germans
have been very slowly pushing east
ward. But with numerous rivers to
cross and the great marshes in their
path, combined with the increased ef-
fectiveness Of the Russian defensive,
their progress has been unimpOrtant'
though undoubtedly gains have been
made. The situation, however, is not
different from last week.
Frol, cursory reading of the re-
ports from this front for the past SIX
weeks it must seem that the Russians
have suffered series of disastrous
defeats, one following the other in
rapid succession. with hardly a sin
gle successful effort on their part to
check the invasion. In sense this is
true. All of the fortresses in Russia's
first and second line of defense have
fallen and the Russians are now fall
ing back on the natural defenses af-
forded by the terrain, the principal
of which are the greet marshes.
But the defeats have not been dis
astrous by any means. Warsaw and
the forts around it guarding the Wis
tula, the Bug, and the Narew all fell
into German hands after Russia had
completely stripped them of every
thing of military value. Novo Geor-
giewsk alone remained equipped and
garrisoned and announced its inten-
ton of standing a siege.
1t WAS evidently abandoned to its
fate, as it completely closed the navi-
cation of the Vistula as long as 1t
held out and at the same time retcrd-
ed the German advance. The loss
when it fell was great. 1t YVES ex-
pected to be, and that it should even
tually fall was certain.
The length of time it held out,
however, was so shorI thst it does not
seem as if the gain in time for the
retreating Russian army was in any
way commensurate with the loss in
men end munitions. This WIS, how
ever, carefully considered by the Rus
sian commander, asc he undoubtedly
counted the cost before Re decided TO
pay the price. Equally undoubtedly
it fell in a much shorter time than he
had anticipated.
This defeat stands c.lmost alone,
however, in the category Of 'dlsas-
trous.'' The Russian army, except
for it's shortage Of munitions, is in al
most as good condition as it was sla
weeks ago. It's losses. have been
great, it is true, but Russia has an
almost limitless resource of men on
which to drew. On the other hand,
the Austro-German Losses have also
been great, and their possible reserve
is much more limited.
A vast territory has changed
hands, 4 military fc1t not to be made
light of. But, given the necessary in.
struments of war, the Russian army
can still fight, and the past week has
shown that it's fighting power has
been depleted but little by the re-
verses it has met with.
AS has been repeatedly s'lc IN
these reviews, no matter how much
territory may change hands, no mat,
ter how deeply the Austro-Germans
may bite into the Cars land, one
thing and one thing only Ian justify
in q military 3ense the tremendous
expenditure of men and n'terial that
has been made since lest April when
the movement against the Dunapec
line was begun, and that is a definite
decision.
To reach this, Germany is strain.
ing every nerve, every resource, real
izing that the passing of each day
brings nearer first the rainy reason
and then the winter, and reduces the
chance of her ultimate victory.
In order to press matters to an is.
sue, Germany's entire plan is to com
pei the Russian armies to accept bat
tie, and Russia has no desire to chal.
lenge a decision at this stage. II
Germany can achieve her purpose and
wins the mdisaster to Russian arms
has occurred and all of the German
sacrifice. has been justified.
If she can not force Russia into
this position, the situation as it now
exists and as it has existed for weeks
will continue definitely, Ruscia going
back and still further back, Germany
driving forward with losses out Of all
proportion to results, getting further
and further from her home bases, be-
coming more and more involved in
the unfavorable terrain and unding
the difficulties of moving their indis-
pensable artillery increasing with
every advance.
The world knows that Russia is
purely an agricultural country. has
few railroads and almost as few good
highways. When to this is added the
Typographical character Of the coun-
try in which operations are now be-
ing conducted and which grows worse
as the armies move east from their
present positions, the difficulties of
transportating and distributing sup
plies and munitions, particularly
heavy shells, seem almost insuper-
able.
The German reasoning that result
ed in the attempt to eliminate Russia
seems now perfectly clear. If the
movement began on scheduled time
and all things German do-the gen.
erak staff could count on five months
of excellent weather, from May to
October /.
With the knowledge the German
Intelligence department could and
possibly did furnish, all details of the
condition of the Russian army, its
equipment and it's supplies, with its
sources of both, were considered.
This consideration undoubtedly led to
the belief that a concentration of ef-
fort would make these five months
sufficient.
At the beginning, that is. during
the month of May when the Russians
were driven from the Dunajec line to
it seemed as if this reason
ing were right and that the Russian
army would be broken. But at the
San the Germans were checked; and
from that time the Russians, while
going back, have retreated slowly and
in good order and. excepting at Novo
Georgievsk, have left to the Germans