Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-06-05
RUSSIANS ABOUT
TO LOSE GALICIA
Austrian Report Says Situation is
Very Favorable to the Ger
manic Allies.
GREAT FIGHT NEAR CONCLUSION


AUsTRo-HUNGARIAN FIELD
HEADQUARTERS. June AVA
London. According to information
given out by the Austro-Hungarian
military authorities to representa-
tives OF the press heavy fighting is
now in progress along virtually the
entire Galician front and the general
situation is very favorable TO the
Austro-Germans A decisive con-
olusion to the entire Russian cam
paign IN Galicia Is In sight.
The Russian. rear guards thu state
ment says to the press ARE fighting de-
LAYING actions south OF the Dneister
river sEainst the Austro-Germsn forces
advancing from stry. to cover the pas
sage Of the river. The Russians north Of
PrssmySa ara launching . series of the
most desperate attacks against General
Won Mackensen's army. Here they are
making use Of new reserves, and a. the
same time they arc exerting heavy pres
sure against the troops commanded by
Archdukc Ferdinand in the triangle boz
tween the San river and the Vistula
RIVER
THE Russian offensive in southeastern
Galicia. designed TO relieve this situa-
ton, has been a complete failure"
Russians Not Alarmed.
PETRooRAD. June t.-News Of the
fali OF PrscSuysi apparently has awak-
encd no apprehension here. It IL con-
coded that the Germans have won .
moral victory" but the strategic I'M
portsnee Of the fortress. according to the
opinion expressed here. had been multi
fled before the Russians relinquished IT,
leading Russian military expert,
anaiysizlnR the situation. says: ''Hav-
ing crossed the San river with two ar
mics. which began operations against
the fortress. the Germans found them
selves in an extremely dangerous and
unstable position: being attacked on their
left flank they were compelled 10 shorten
the strip Of ground they occupied on the
right of the san. A reverse to these
armies would have turned the German
movement into a catastrophe. since re-
treat 70 the rear would have been cut
of by the San river and tho pressure OF
the Russian forces at Sienawa on the
German left. Accordingly the Germans
were forced TO hurl their attack against
the fortress, throwing forward enormous
forces.
"rho indefensfbiiity Of tho fortress was
due TO the feet that the Austrians had
blown up the most important forts upon
their evacuation Of PrxemysI, coupled
with the confisuratlon Of the land. This
was unsuitable TO q stubborn defense
for the reason that rs fluctuations made
IL possible for the enemy TO hide their
approaches.
Losses of Teutona Hsavx.
The primary idea In the construction
Of the Ffzemysl fortress had been 10 meet
attack from the eastward. There had
been insufficient time 20 reconstruct the
damaged fortress On the west and on the
north and 70 adapt the position 70 de-
tense against attacks from these dirsc-
tione."
Russis'a ieng range runs the expert
says. shooting to the last shell into the
thick masses Of advancing Austro-Ger-
mans, caused them severe iosses.
Eventually however. the Russian milf
tary authorities reached the decision %
remove the army from the fortiftcasion.
.''stragssic considerations" the expsr.
concludes. lied to this same decision,
since the Przemysi army constituted q
sharp wedge. custths into the German
8tNA1NNA
every side. To defend this crescent-shaped
front required Tremendous forces. and
Il was clearly the desire OF the Germans
that numerous forces b diverted 10 thia
front for defensive purposes"
'It e estimated that the proper defenss
Of the Przemysl fortress would have 10
quired the concentration thare OF forces
equal 70 those Of the former Austrian
An ma "a
have been necessary also TO develop q
their fullest capacity no less than lbol
guns and to ro-establlsh all the destroyed
was impossible.
strategic Importance Lost.
The abandonment Of the blood-eon-
qusred fortress certainly IL a sad blow
but Il is necessary to remember thai
Rrremysl. twice annihilated. once by ths
Austrians. once by u. has today no more
importance than any other large city ia
GAlieia. II IN February the German oeeu-
patton had little influence on our maneu
vsring. In the future n win play no rolc
at all. Like Jaroslau and Tarnov
BFsemysl viii pass time and again from
hand 10 hand and Il win soon again b
~ our possession.
Just as the Austrians destroyed thi
RFsemysl forta before they. fell into Rus
sian hands. 30 the Russians msthodieail!
blew up everything possible before th'
occupation Of the Austro-GermanA
Il Il being explained that the abandon
ment Of the position had been regardel
here for some time past as stratesicall
imperative and that preparations TO leav
Il had been going on for a month. Tn
released garrison will now be avAiabl
for field operations, whereas II any at
tempt "a hold out had been made. be
tween lae.0oo and it000O men would hAv
been locked up at the mercy Of IN