Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-29
pv CARL w. ACKERMAN


nrRIIN, July 29.--1n the western cam
len Germany met new conditions Of
.5ern warfare and overcame them be-
~ the enemies we're able to do so. In
,ss eastern war area old conditions Of
e.h,lnr have prevailed throughout the
y lnonths, and Germany again has shown
ma she Is as skilful with the old as with
he new
rhe more valuable territory which has
t.lisn TO German arms I'm this war is
esirium and Northern France. These
.a1fered districts are far more wealthy
IAN are the captured Polish and Baltic
srsas. Yet. without doubt, the chief
slorIes of the German armies have been
san IN the east Germany is proud of
ae Years magnificent record in the west,
k.s II is the march of events in the ehst
nss thrills the German people to their
ssry souls. In popular imagination the
msaht of the Russian Empire was the
no,s dsquieting fact of the war
Tbs belief was encouraged by the gem
,rsl feeling that IL Germany were to hold
III own in the great war, France must
bs overwhelmed before Russias mighty
millions could be mobilized. But Russia
eame on before France was overwhelmed.
esrnany had to meet her enemies on
iva fronts at once The people of the
Empire trembled last summer as Russia's
hordes crept further and further into
East Prussia while the campaign against
ne western Allies was yet to reach its
height. Germany was not afraid of the
western campaign, but the fact is pri-
vately confessed that the Germans did
ssar the outcome of the Slavonic rush.
sLAvS CHECKED
Then, almost over night, came the news
that the battle of the Mazurian Lakes had
,V.I l,aI lNn1 N, s,T
the greatest victories for Germany in all
history. Seldom is a nation thrilled even
IN wartime as Germany was thrilled by
The news that Marshal Won Hindenburg
had cleared East Prussia of the invaders
Nothing that has happened since and
nothing that is likely to happen will equal
ii Germany's estimation the brilliance of
gon Hindenburg's success, Until the
Mazurian battle, Germany was not sure
Of herself. Won Hindenburg gave con-
hdence to his country and demonstrated
80 absolute a superiority over the Rus
SANS that the fear of the Slavs vanished
as light dispels the terrors of the dark.
Won Hindenburg turned the light on the
Russians and they are now the chief
mspfatlon of the contributors to Ger
many's humorous weeklies.
Warsaw has not yet fallen. but instead
the Germans have captured Russia's great
Baltic port of Libau. which is second in
importance only to Warsaw and Riga as
an EASTERN objective. The Baltic oper-
adaas in fact, would be considered a
Hoffhy record of the years warfare
igainst Russia even IL nothing else had
een accomplished on that side of
arope. But, in fact, the Baltic cam
algn ranks last in Importance among the
hree great offensives which the Germans
ave successfully developed against the
laws since last August.
The first of this is the advance across
restern Poland to the gates of Warsaw
Germany believes this drive alone, coming
after the earlier retreat from Warsaw, is
2 Greater success, Judged purely as
Military problem, than ALL the victories
nat the Allies can claim.
GALICIA.
Second in Importance among successes
against the Slavs Is the freeing of
Galleia. This campaign Is ranked in Ger
many as an offensive one, differing from
he rescue of East Prussia. which was
iefensive thrust. The Galician province
vas German territory. but had passed
imost entirely under Russian control
Fhen the Germans undertook to rescue 1t
loF Austro- Hungary. The offensive cam
paisn developed by Marshal Won Mack
.nsen during the last three months is
af+lilAy pIhlStu Dy GsTInan crltlCSt De-
tanse the Slavs had so long a time TO
iepare their defenses. When the Cali
tAn operations began II was becoming
lhe general conclusion of militarist stu.
tents that a properly entrenched army
could not be driven back for any consid-
Iaole distance. The Germans, however.
ihowed that 1t could be done.
fhe winning of Galicia has bound
Apstro-Hungary closer to the German
Empire. and has banished all hope among
ne Allies OF enticing Vienna or Buda-
pest into making separate peace. Fully
s. Important, too. the Galician campaign
has been the culminating influence which
preventing the neutral Balkan coun-
iass from entering the war. The diplo-
Hatie work of maintaining the neutrality
e Rumania. Bulgaria and Greece has
saased many sleepless nights at the Ger
ssa Foreign Office in the past months.
Perhaps when the historians begin to
eHie about the events OF the past year
Hsy viii rank above everything else in
Aportance the influence which Ger
asnys mighty victories in the east has
e on the Balkan States. II the three
2alheastern neutrals had Joined the
aaes earlier In the war. when Russia's
4ength was at its full. Germany doesn't
ass 70 think about the possible eonse-
qaeRces.