New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-26
The Greatest German Victory OF
the War.

The dutl-kuSSl0N sl4c, III Is HOW IOeS4''V ~
measure upon the map the extent Of the
recent Russian disaster. AS q result Of
four weeks Of vigorous offensive the Ger
mans have cleared the whole Carpathian
barrier. driven the Russians into the
plain Of the Driester and behind the San,
rera.red the entrance to the passes on the
Galician side Of the mountains. won back
for Francis Joseph something like 10000
square miles and totally wrecked the Rus
sian campaign in the Carpathians.
When the German drive began the Aus
tro-German forces occupied q long front
Of more than $50 miles from the Nistula
north Of Tarrow 20 the Dniester, where it
leaves Austrian territory. The line curved
inwardly and its centre rested upon the
crests of the Carpathians between the
Uzsok and the Besbid passes. The simplest
fashion 90 explain the whole operation is
to compare the Austro-German movement
TO that Of q man standing with both arms
extended and bringing them rapidly to-
eether. The arms represent the two wings
Of the Austro-German army; the body, the
centre between the two passes
The simple purpose Of the enemies Of
Russia was TO onve'op the main Russian
masses in the Carpathians by rolling
up their TANKS. A. the least this would
compel the retirement Of the centre; it
might lead 20 its rout and destruction. But
the centre itself, posted upon the hills it
had held for many months, could not be
dislodged by frontal attack.
OF the two flank attacks, that TO the
west was done chiefly by Germans. 1t
succeeded amazingly-was the most brill
liant triumph Of the war for the foes Of
Russia in Galicia. The eastern operation
ended in a more or less complete failure.
Once more the familiar detail Of the supe-
riority Of the Russian troops over the
Austrian and their inferiority to the Ger
man was demonstrated.
The German drive was preceded by an
enormous concentration. This the Rus
slams themselves reported. Apparently
thew were prepared for It. Their posi-
ton behind the Dunaiec and Biala rivers
had been heavily fortified and had resisted
the great drive Of December, when the at
tempt 10 relieve Przemysl was made. But
it seems now that to the concentration Of
men there was added the concentration Of
IN enormous amount Of heavy artillery.
This the Russians could not meet, lacking
the guns Nor could they resist it. Thus
the German attack from Tarnow to Cry
bow was Immediately successful, and the
Russians were driven in disorder east
along the railroads through Gorlice and
Debica TO Jaroslav and Przemysl. So COM
plete was their defeat that they were IN
able to hold the line Of the Wisloka, an ad-
mirable defensive line some twenty-five
miles behind the Dunajec.
This retreat uncovered the rear Of the
troops fighting TO break into Hungary by
the Dulla and Lupkow passes. Some Of
the regiments in the former seem to have
been surrounded and captured. The rest
fed north and Joined the Russian masses
fleeing toward Przemysl. The retirement
from the passes released Austrian forces
which had been defending them on the
Hungarian side of the mountains, and they,
too, flowed over into Galicia. Even at the
San the Russians seem to have been un-
able 20 check the Germans promptly, and
we are told that at certain points the Ger
mans have passed the river about Jaroslav
and between Jaros'ay and Przemysl.
Meantime the armies Of the centre NOV
ing north along the roads descending from
the Uzsok and Beskid passes, entered the
Galician Plain and approached the Dnies-
ter. At the present moment they have
cleared the mountains and are moving
north not far from the railroad between
Przemysl and Lemberg, which they are
obviously seeking 10 cut. From the Dunajec
20 the San the victorious Austro- German
forces have covered some 90 miles; from
the Carpathians 20 the Dniester, perhaps
d third Of this distance The advance has
systematically cleared the Russians out OF
all the mountain passes The fruits of the
entire fighting from November 10 May
have been taken from them and they have
been put upon the defensive. II is still
open TO question whether they can hold on
at the San, OF viii have 10 20 back TO
Lemberg, leaving Przemysl TO their con-
querOrs.
On the other hand, the Austrian drive
d.