New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-03
The Winter Campaign in the
East.

of battle were developing in Flanders
Originally obscured by the Antwerp and
Ypres operations, it suddenly filled the
press of the world with reports Of the I'M
minent fall Of the Polish capital. Petro-
grad was silent while Berlin was in full
tide Of victorious statement. Yet, looking
backward after many months, 1t seems
plain that the first German offensive in
Poland was less considerable than was at
first supposed and q direct effort to assist
Austria rather than 70 conquer Poland.
In early October Austrian fortunes had
sunk TO the very lowest level. Conquering
armies were sweeping the ruins Of one
Austrian host in upon Cracow, Of another
I'D the slopes Of the Carpathians. The mis-
sion Of Austria had been TO keep Russia
in play until Germany had disposed of
France. and now, at the critical moment in
the Flanders campaign, Germany must
either abandon the battle along the User
and about Ypres, or by some strategic
combination Use small reserves to post
pone Austrian destruction.
Germany chose the latter expedient, and
gathering UP an army she flung it straight
upon Warsaw, through Central Poland. 1t
was a venture such as Lee made when he
sent Early TO Washington in 1864 in the
hope Of drawing Grant away from Rich
rnond. German command was seeking TO
save Austria, not her own territories. Like
Earlys raid, that Of the Germans almost
succeeded. Late in October the guns of
the Kaiser were sending shells into the
suburbs of Warsaw. But as Grant was
able to put corps Of veterans into Wash
ington while Early was still before Fort
Stevens, the Grand Duke Nicholas in his
turn pushed Siberian troops through War
saw at the critical moment, struck at the
German flank and turned it. Immediately
the German invasion was turned back O
retreat to the frontier was inevitable.
Warsaw, like Washington just half
century before, was saved.
But Germany had attained her purpose.
AS a consequence Of the invasion Of Po-
land Russian advance in Galicia stopped.
Russian armies flowed back TO the San.
fTZemNSl WAS ItlltNChy OdAOoASN ANNNSN
I pied, an advance to Lemberg in sight. For
the moment Austria was saved; there re-
NAMED TO Germany time to finish her fight
in Flanders, TO win, if she could, in the
west, before a new crisis in the east should
demand new diversion Of her forces.
Instead of victory, however, there came
h defeat. Germany failed at the User, and
about Ypres the golden moment for OBJ
y tanning a decision in the west had passed.
Weather, reinforcements of the Allies, the
growing strength Of their Notifications,
the enormous and sterile German sacri-
fees, all combined TO convince the German
high command that II decision were to
be had against any enemy that enemy
was Russia. Such blows as she had struck
France and Britain insured that they
would be unable 10 take the offensive efec-
lively for months to come. There was left
time to IDEAL with Russia" to put the
Slav out" as the genial Bernhard would
phrase it.
BY the time the battles of Flanders had
terminated, however, the situation had
again changed in the east. New Austrian
disasters had sent the armies Of Hapsburg
rushing back in disorder upon Cracow and
on the Carpathians. Russian advance
guards were in sight Of the suburbs of
Cracow, Cossack parties were beginning
70 flow down the Hungarian side of the
Dukla Pass into the Hungarian plain.
Austrian corps were being recalled from
Belgrade, newly occupied by them, and
Austrian disaster at Valievo was in sight.
On the German frontier the situation
was even more threatening. A huge Rus
sian army was moving upon Czenstochowa
and Kalisc, patrols had for the first time
touched German soil in the Province Of
Posen west of the Wartha, another Rus
sian army was moving southwest upon
Cracow, become the gate TO Germany, not
the outwork Of Austria. Finally, strong
Russian army was again in East Prussia,
flowing west toward the Mazurian Lakes,
spreading ruin and terror in its pathway.
Not alone Hapsburg but Hohenzollern in
terests now demanded an offensive in the
east.
By December Germany was committed
10 her eastern campaign. She had defini-
lively failed 10 get a decision in the west
she was seeking along the Vistula what
she had missed at the Marine and the User.
Eastward from France and Flanders corps
after corps Of her veteran troops were
coming, giving way 70 reserves; the cam
paign Of the west had ended.
In the military history of the future it
is far from unlikely that Won Hinden-
burgs campaign in Poland will be esd-
mated the finest, from the purely profess
sional side, in the Great War. Confused
as Is the record still the world does know