TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1915-01-29
wARsAwss STRATEGIC WAR
IMPORTANCE.
BY Count czoernig,
Former Captain OF the Austrian Army

just what is the Importance O
Warsaw in the European WARY Thii
question has been widely asked.
According to the extent OF the sue
cess of the Austro-German troops Ia
carrying the war further into Rnssiar
Poland, the fortresses ON the Vistuls--
OF which Warsaw is the strongest--be
come more and more crueially impor
tant. AT the present time the river i,
the basis and the main point Of sup
port Of the Russian army. From the
main depots = lwangorod, Noyogiorgi
ewsk and warsaw--fresh supplies are
sent TO the troops. Warsaw Is the
junction OF the few railroads that run
from the interior. Its fall would BE- 0
catastrophe for Russia and propably a
decisive victory Tor Germany.
Warsaw IL divided by tue vistula IN
two parts. which are connected by two
iron bridges--one for traffic, the other
= double bridge, the top for q railroad
the lower for highway. This IL also
the junction OF three double track rail-
roads from the interior. From here two
double tracks run westward, one via
slawa to Prussia, the other via skierne-
vice TO Crakow. In the center OF the
city are situated large military depofs.
-Four years ago the rumor was start
ed TO the effect that the Russians were
going TO abandon the fortresses Of the
gistula and 10 move the front line Of
defense hack to the line Bjelstock,
Brest Litowsk, uper Bug. II appears
that they deyiated from this plan, for,
according to newspaper reports last
May. 10000 900 rubles war voted for
undermining the present fortresses.
How far that las been carried out Is
not known. In any case, Warsaw, with
its 400 cannon, 10 powerful strong.
hold, stronger even than Antwerp.
The Vi'iula is. 1900 feet broad ami
between nine and fifteen kst deep.
With its sandy and marsby hanks, many
times flooded. thr river is groat
nilitarl obstacle.
Outside oi Warsaw ther.t> are only
two permanent bridges, those OF Ivan.
gorod and Nowosiorgiewsk. both pro
tected By tetede-ponts. The river is
guarded by flotilla and river torps-
does.
II is difficult to predict how siege
OF WARSAW might turn out. for during
the last five months the new heavy
siege guns have shattered all preeedents
OF warfare, Before the outbreak OF the
~sr modern fortress was considered
bombprooi, but after the conquest OF
Namur, Maubeuge, Antwerp and other
forts it is plainly evident that even
concrete walls cannot withstand the fire
Of the new 9big aunts from Essen
The Belgian general staff considered
Antwerp strong enough TO withstand q
years siege, but IT took only twelve
days 10 capture the town. II il now
only question As 10 how long IL will
take to bring the siege guns before the
walls OF Warsaw, as the roads leading
to the Russian fortress are in bad CON
dition. However, the severe cold OF
winter turns the thick mud into q hard
frozen crust, making them more passable.
The German ~ centimeter siege guns
are SO heavy that they can be trans
ported only ~ train. a platform OF
concrete must be made for them 10
rest on before they are ready for firing.
Even though brought up by trained men
Of the railroad regiment their trans
portation TO the vicinity Of Warsaw
would take at least three days. The
actual Dimensions Of these guns are
pot yet known. The difficult transport
Of these cumbersome guns Is . great
disadvantage. For this reason Austrian
engineers began experiments several
Years ago to make q lighter gun with
the same effect, which is achieved by
hHN "tiNhN Oi kur tAiaHttS httA t'e HSAS'b
10 which it is thrown. As result the
Iol centimeteT mortar was aeeompiislier
,y the skoda works In Pilsen. So far
.hese guns have played an important
,art in the var.
The mortars are so light that they
an be transported BY hundred horse
'ower motors over almost any street
md in day can be carried from If,
cen TO twenty miles.
Consequently the object Of the Rus
ian army is 70 ksep the enemy as far
Is possible from the gates of Warsaw.
rhoy know exactly the fate Of the town !,
.fter the arrival Of these guns.
From Napoieos's winter campaign,
rundred years ego, the general Austrian
taft learned lesson, and the troops
IRE now better prepared and able 10
withstand the cold |