New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-23
TEUTONIC ARMS
WON ADVANTAGE
IN FIRST YEAR
Austro Hungarian En-
bassy Thinks Position
Best for Next Year.
OUTWITTED ENEMIES,
SEIZED RICH LANDS
Britain Rent from Within-Her
Allies Pressed for Money
-TeutOns Calm.

Washington, Aug. 22.-The Austro-
Hungarian Embassy to-day gave out
for publication review of the first
year of the war from the standpoint of
the Teutonic and Turkish allies. The
embassy came to the conclusion that
"the position of Austria-Hungary and
Germany is most encouraging, from
military, economic and financial point
of view" and that the second year Of
the conflict had begun under "the most
promising auspices for the allies Of
Central Europe"
The statement is, in part, as follows:
Great Britain and her Allies were
the victims of an astoundingly gross
miscalculation when they embarked
upon an adventurous undertaking in
the belief that an easy victory would
be theirs.
"In August. 1914, Germany and Aus
tra-Hungary found themselves face to
face with the most powerful coalition
in history The military achievements
of the two central powers are, there
fore, all the more remarkable.
"The raids and incursions Of the
huge Russian armies on the eastern
front, like those of the French in AL
SAGE, have proved disastrous TO the in
vaders. Though outnumbered, the
Austro- Hungarians effectively under
took, in August. 1914, the surprising
drive against Krasnik and Lubln. This
movement succeeded IN its aim to cause
a strong diversion.
Incomplete Victory" in West.
"The German advance in the west,
with Paris as its objective, failed OF
swift realization because of the resist
ance offered by Belgium and the inter-
vention of England. The failure to
reach the French capital at the first
drive caused keen disappointment in
Germany. But it is most unreasonable
to talk of defeat of the Germans or
of decisive victory for the Triple En-
tente on the Marine. The Germans fell
back on the line of the Asne, where
they had prepared formidable intrench-
ments. Notwithstanding frequent as
saults by the Anglo-Franco- Belgian
armies, the Germans have never budged
from their positions. The result of the
military operations in Western Europe
can be defined as German victory
which has yet to be completed.
mo one conversant with the facts
can deny the military Importance of
Antwerp and of the ports on the Chan
rel held by the Germans. The COM
mercial and industrial significance OF
the territory taken is no less impress
sive. Belgium and the wealthiest part
of Northern France are occupied by the
Germans. In Belgium coal mines, prms
factories, smelters, steel works and al
SLATED Industries are operated by ana
for the Germans. In the northern de-
partm ents of France French iron and
textile industries have been made avail
able TO German productive enterprise.
The shortage of ammunition and other
war materials from which the Triple
Entente Allies are suffering is the re-
suit, to a great extent, of Germany's
conquests in the west.
Russian Armies Shattered.
at is pure nonsense to speak of the
Russian forces as intact and unbroken
after theic heavy losses. Even admit
ting that the Russian armies who faced
the Austro- Germans at the beginning
Of May hat fighting strength OF
100000 men, those armies lost In
three months between . and ~ per
cen of their effective men. There are
hardly any officers left, fact indicated
by the extraordinary dlsproportlon OF
officers to men among the prisoners
four or five officers to thousand men,
whereas the normal proportion would
be thirty to a thousand. The loss OF
guns and the lack of ammunition are
factors which, taken with the other
losses, leave no doubt that the offensive
power of Russia is broken, at least for
the time being
British Oifcials SnOrt-Sighted
"In Great Britain the industrial or
ganization IS manifestly on low level
of efficiency, and the British social pol
icy is largely responsible. The TACT
that he Triple Entente countries have
found il necessary TO create special de-
partments of government TO promote
the manufacture of munitions indicates
inconceivable t-sightedness IN the
mast. In Germany and Austria Hun
gary All Tie llOuCy opthN ~ Wa up
plies remains at home and maintains
home industries.
The magnificent success Of the
loans Aoated in Germany and Austria
Hungary compared favorably with the
financial operations Of their enemies.
France has proved wholly unprepared
for tie heavy financial burden which
she has undertaken, and the F ench
middle classes have shown no willing
ness to give up their savings for war
bonds Of doubtful value.
'In Italy the war loan has been a
splendid failure.
Russia finds itsel' in most dis
tressing financial condition. Russian
paper money is subject to a discount
of 40 per cent, and a Russian loan is
practically an impossibllity.
CAME DTCAN"