New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-05
On the Dunajec.


siderations must be reckoned with in an
alyzing the early reports of the Austro-
German success along the Dunajec. If
the Teutonic Allies have shattered Rus
sian armies at this point, if, as German
reports assert, they have routed them as
at the Mazurian Lakes, the end Of the
Carpathian campaign is in sight.
But it must be recalled at once how
inevitable it would be that Vienna and
Berlin should exaggerate a local success,
another brilliant stroke like that before
Ypres two weeks ago, which ended IN a
gain Of less than FIVE miles on a front Of
about the same extent and left the Allied
lines intact Italian decision is hanging
in the balance, Turkish courage needs
stimulating In the present hour. German
and Austrian public sentiment would be
usefully fortified by the reports of great
success in the east following the achieve
nlent in the west.
With this precautionary notice 1t is
possible TO analyze clearly what the lat
est Galician operation means. Look at
any map OF the eastern and western
fronts and it will be seen that each makes
a right angle. In the west the battle
front descends from the North Sea to the
Disc at Noyon and then strikes off in a
perpendicular direction to the Mouse. In
the east the line descends from the Bzura
west Of Warsaw until it meets the Car
pathians south of Tarnow and then at
right angles follows the range for many
miles to the Dniester.
What the Austro-German commanders
have now attempted is wholly analogous
to the French attacks upon the German
line north of Noyon and about P6ronne
and St. Quentin in September. Had the
French succeeded they would have moved
east behind the German front from
Noyon to the Mouse, cutting the railways,
which were the life lines of the Germans
in France. German retreat from France
would have been inevitable had this
thrust succeeded.
Now, looking east, it will be seen that
the front between the Carpathians and
the Vistula above Tarnow exactly CORE
spends to the elbow in the German posi-
ton in France between Noyon and St.
Quentin. Could the Germans break the
Russian line at that point they could ad-
vance, raldng the whole Russian front
along the Carpathians.
To save themselves the Russians would
have TO draw their troops out Of the Car
pathian passes, out Of the Dukla and
Lupkow, the first of which is barely twen-
ty-five miles from the Dunaje -Biala
front, where the Germans are attacking.
The troops thus withdrawn would have
10 be realigned, facing west instead Of
south. Meantime the Austrian forces de
Tending the passes would pour into Galicia
and Join hands with the Austro-German
forces advancing from the Dunajec.
II the Austro- German forces have won
the success Berlin and Vienna now re-
port, II the Russian troops defending the
flank Of the Carpathian army have been
routed. the end of the Carpathian cam
pairn Is in sight. Back of the Dunajec
the first good position for defensive
stand Is along the San, running from the
mountains north through Przemysl and
Jaroslav TO the junction of the Vistula
and the San.
To this position the Russians were
driven in the October operations when
German armies reached the suburbs Of
Warsaw and the Polish capital was saved
by the contingents drawn from Galicia.
But TO retreat to the San would be TO
abandon all Of Western Galicia and the pos
session Of the Dukla and Lupkow passes.
Meantime it is necessary not TO lose
sight of the Austro-German troops NOV
ing north and west from Bukovina and
now reported along the Dniester River
These forces are striking at the other
flank of Russian armies in Galicia. They
are moving toward Lemberg from the
south and east, as the Dunajec army is
coming toward that city from the north
and west. Here is one more Of those
grandiose enveloping movements so dear
10 the German General Staff, the move
ment that won LODI, Tannenberg and the
Mazurian Lakes.
II the Austro-German forces east of
Cracow along the Dunajec and those west
of Czernowitz on the Dniester can con-
tinue their advance, the whole Russian
strength in Galicia will have TO retreat