New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-18
Count on Launching o.
fensive When Ground
ThaWS.
WILL TAKE STAND
ON CHOSEN LINE
Petrograd Military Experts Con-
fident Plan Will Win Victory
Through Enemy's Losses.
fpg Cab, 10 The Thbun, J

Petrograd, Feb. l7.-lhe DetIha"''
according to reliable military intorma-
ton. are preparing for general at
tack along practically the whole Rus
sian strategic front of over seven nun
bred miles. Russia now awaits Oh h''
own lines the development oil her cue
my's immense offensive plan
The Germans, it is believed, now con-
slider the position in Central roia""
before Warsaw as staiemaue' nv
tactics in the extreme south are I'M
posing on the Austrians the necessity
of urging the German stan 10 SEM
them still more men.
The Russian force recently III South-
ern Bukowina has moved north OF Mad
worna and now threatens the rignt
flank of the German corps, when per
sists in its despera, assaults on wy
kow Pass. The Austrians, who are as
semhled in great force around Mad
worna. are disposed TO MAINTAIN tnelr
nosition there az warning 10 hu-
mania. 4. ,.o.L
After a desperate attempt TO presk
through the Russian defence at the
salient point of the line at BorJlmo"'
which was successfully mastered, tue
Germans advanced in East Prussia IN
the overwhelming strength OF ten 10
one against the Russian force "hlSh
for months past had been quietly push
ing forward in this region. ne NUS
slams were fully aware OF TINS move
ment and made no serious atIenPl 10
check il. Instead, they moved forward
4 strong cavalry screen through the
region on the right bank OF the lower
Vistula. which At one time penetrated
into German territory, while tney He-
veloped a sudden activity IN the region
OF the Mazurian Lakes, with the ooyec'
of fixing the Germans in their deter
mination 20 attack in this direction,
Apparently the Germans originally
estimated the force necessary lor thelr
purpose here at four new army corps
in addition to the men already holdIng
the positions in East Prussia. ne
cadres for these four corps were quiet
ly withdrawn from armies on the
western front and the numbers nlIea
ND from new levies in the interior OF
Germany. When, however. the Russians
began making a show OF renewed ac-
from the lower Vistula 20 Tilslt, the
Germans doubled their original estl-
r,ate From eight TO ten German army
corns are now believed 10 have been
concentrated in East Prussia and
launched upon the region north OF the
Vistula.
Russians Retire In Time.
Eastward. toward the Niemen, they
came on like an avalanche, verltaDle
German lightning stroke, but the nus
e;ars had foreseen the entire ma
nmuvre. and retired betimes, leaving
adeouate forces of effective light horse
70 carry on a running fight along the
iire of the advance of the Germans.
The siege of Boyen fortress had been
abandoned. and all the Russian forces,
.fter having waste the entire region,
retired upon fortified positions toward
the river Niemen.
At the present moment the HeFinahS
are advancing upon the OsowIec Tort
ross once more. and fighting already
has taken place around hugustowo1'
while their line on the northern bank
of the lower Vistula has reached fIoch
and Racionz, about d couple oil marcheS
from the fortress of Novo Georglewsh'
northwest of Warsaw. Between tne
lower and upper reaches OF the 'IStuIa
the front remains where II was three
months ago. Here the Germans cannot
and the Russians will not ADVANCE.
The main battlefield OF the present
campaign, however, is now IN the Har-
pathians, where matters appear ehlife,
" in Russia's hands. As has been sara
already here the right is steadily al
vancing. while the centre and lett CON
tinue to crush every German at,ach'
While in Bukowina the Austro-German
forces have occupied Nad"orHa anu
crossed the River Sereth.
The Germanic armies are thus AT
tempting to turn both TANKS OF the
Russians seven hu7dred miles OF front,
which is now almost in the shape OF
parabola, with Borjimow indicating us
apex. a formation OF great convenience
10 those inside the curve, military ex-
perts hold. One of these makes thiS
analysis Of the situation:
although the Germanic armies nave
M their command network OF
strategic railways, which to some ek.
tent neutralizes the disadvantages OF
their concave front, here come IN IN
superable forces of nature that are
now firm allies of Russia.
"The winter generally, over the
whole theatre of war on the Russian
| front in Europe, has been rather mild,
hut with an unusual abundance OF
snow. The worst weather was due not
TO severe frost, but to billiards, when
have been especially frequent lately
in the Carpathians. The ice has al.
| ready broken in the upper reaches OF
the Vistula, and on the East Prussian
front the frost has never been severe
enough to turn the morasses into trust
worthy military roads. Snow continues
to fall and another fortnight will bring
steadily increasing warm weather
Russia's Plan Unchanged.
THE Russians got away just in the
nick OF time. Instead of having be-
hind them fifty or sixty miles of road
less and impossible territory, with an
overwhelming foe in front, they have
lust reversed the situation. The Ger
mans have put scores of miles of this
terrible ground behind them, and are
advancing upon strongly fortified posi-
tions defended By adequate numbers
OF Russians. The first elemental rush
Of the Germans will carry them up 10
the defences where the Russians are
waiting them. After that, from the
Russian point OF view, the fun will
begin.
"The entire strategy of this war on
both the Russian and Franco Belgian
English fronts has been based on the
necessity of killing of Germany's best
troops before venturing TO attack her
at home. Germany, doubtless, perfect
" understands the Allies intention, but
she is under the stern necessity of
producing evidence of some success
somewhere, not for military but for
nolitical reasons. Boriimow was q for