New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-05
Russians Declare Strategic
Value of Fortress Has
Been Destroyed.
WILL BE RETAkEN.
EXPERTS BELIEVE
Germans Conceded to Have Won
Moral Victory Rejoicing
in Berlin and Vienna.

Of the fortress, according 70 the opln.
ION expressed here. had been nulllned
before the Russians rclWqushed II.
l. is pointed ont that the position
was weakened on account Of the de
strucfion by the Austrlans Of forts at
fhc 'imc they evacuated 10, IN March.
the fortress. projecting
lu an acute angle into the territory
held by the Austro- German forces, was
made by them the target for attacks
from three sides. Consequently u re
qurcd more men for defence than the
Russian military authorities believed
was justified by IT'S strategic lmpor-
lance.
4 leading Russian military expert
gives the following analysis OF the
situation:
Having crossed the River San with
two armies which were TO begin op-
eratious against the fortress. the Ger
mans found themselves I'm an extremely
dangerous and unstable position. being
attacked on their loft flank. they were,
comDcllcd to shorten the strip OF
ground they occupied on the right OF
the San. ANY reverse Of these armies
would have turned the German move
mont into a catastrophe. siua retreat
10 tho rear would have been cut of by
the River San and the pressure OF the
Russian forces at Sieniawa, on the
German left. Accordingly the Germans
were forced TO hurl their attack against
the fortress, throwing forward enor-
nous forces
Forts Weakened by Austrians.
"The most convenient directions for
attack appeared 70 be from the nor'h
and the northwest These were the
weakest SIDES. and al the same time
they were nearest TO the German
forces which had crossed the river
The indcfensibility Of the fortress was
due to the fact that the AustrianS had
blown UP the most important forts
upon their evacuation OF frzemySl'
coupled with the connCuraton OF me
land. This was unsuitable TO stub
born defence. for the reason that us
made it possible Tor me
enemy TO hide his approaches.
The primary idea in the construc-
tior Of The Przcmysl fortress had been
20 meet attack from the eastward.
There had not been sufficient time 20
reconstruct tho damaged fortress on
the west and on the north and 10
.dart the position 20 defence against
attacks from these directions. To op-
noe tho advance Of the Austros der
mars. tho Russians sent out long range
Guns 10 defend their flank. As TINS
artillery extended considerably beyond
tho limo Of forts il was the purpose or
tho Russians eventually 10 abandon IT,
bu+ only Al the highest possible cost
70 tho cnemv. Shooting point blank TO
tho last she'll into the thick masses OF
adyancing Austro- Germans caused mem
severe losses. and thus we accomplished
this purpose.
Russian Army Removed.
"Rut with the fall Of the flank de-
fences the lighting capacity Of the
forts especially No. : and No. l.. was
,,,oet1v decreased. These consldera-
ions taken together with those already
mentioned. led the Russian military au-
,borities 10 the decision not TO run any
enecia1 risk. but rather TO remove the
army from the Notifications. Strategic
Considcrations led TO this same de-
cision. since the Russian Przcmysl
army constituted sharp wedge cut
ting into the German lines and sub
icct TO being attacked from every SIDE.
To defend this crcscent-shaped iroht
roouircd tremendous forces, and II was
clearly the desire Of the Germans that
numerous forces be diverted 10 ms
front for defensive purposes. 'onSe-
ouortlv. although Przcmysl had al the
advantages Of n supporting point, 1t
r,cuaccd the freedom of our operations.
l. is estimated that the proper de-
fence Of the Przemysl fortress would
have required the concentrating there
of forces equal to those Of the former
Austrian garrison, namely l45'OOO men.
l. would have been necessary also to
deyelop TO their fullest capacity no
less than 500 guns, and to re-eStap-
lsb all the destroyed forts, which, IN
the short time available, was lmpos-
sble.
The abandonment Of this blood,
conquered fortress certainly is a sad
blow. but il IS necessary TO remember
that Przcmysl, twice annlhllated, once
by the Austrians and once By us, has
to-day no more importance than any
other large city IN Gallcla. II IN Fcp.
ruarv the German occupation or
Przcmysl had little influence on our
mauuuvIiug. ia the future IL will play
no role at all. Like Jaroslav and Tar
now. Prlcmysl viii pass time and again
from hand TO hand. and II Will soon
again be i'm our possession.
y
Przcmysl forts before they fell into
Russian hands. so the Russians method
ically blew up everything possible be
fore the occupation of the Austro-
Germans They destroyed bridges and
everything else that might be OF service
10 the enemy.
From the standpoint OF sentiment the
evacuation Of Przemysl IS greatly re-
GREETED by both the military and civil
clements IN Pctrograd. At the same
time D. ls being explained mat the
abandonment OF the position had been
regarded here for some time past as
,tratcgically imperative. and that prep
aratlons 10 leave il had been gOln. on
for "a month. The released garrison
VIII now be available for held opera
tiOns. whereas, If an attempt TO hold
out had been made, between 10000 and
10000 men would have been locked up
az the mercy of the heavy Austrian
guns.
The Russian troops on the fronts 10
the north and west Of the fortress OF
Przcmysl evacuated their positions on
Wednesday night only after all the
war materials taken from the Austrians
had been removed, according TO the fol
lowing official statement issued last
night by the Russian general stat:
I'VE carried away from Przemysl the
materials taken from the Austrians.
This finished. We removed on Tuesday
the last Of our batteries. The follow
ing night our troops. pursuant 10 or
dcrs evacuated the fronts to the north
and west Of the positions surrounding
the city and formed more conccn-
trated force 10 the east
Attacks delivered By the enemy on
Monday between Prlcmysl and the
UuIcstcr were rcpulSed.
an the regions beyond the Dnicster
the enemy. concentrating important