New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-24
The Recapture of Lemberg.

leave Russia fighting from the Gul OF
RIGA. on the north, to the border Of Ru-
mania on the south, within her own terri
tory"
This forecast is being rapidly realized.
Lembcrg was lost yesterday to the Rus
slams. and the next line on which the Grand
Duke Nicholas can make a stand-the line
Of the Bug River-strctches almost north
and south through Eastern Galicia, less
than thirty miles from the Russian border.
IN Southeastern Galicia the Russian
forces are still on or near the Dnicster
River, But they will have to fall back
somewhat to conform to the retirement
east Of Lemberg. Only a narrow strip, an
insignificant fraction, therefore remains to
Russia Of the vast extent Of territory
wrcsted from Austria-Hungary by the
Cars armies between the middle Of Au-
gust and the middle Of April.
The loss Of Lemberg is less important in
p military than in a political sense. The
Galician capital is not fortress. 1t is
uDdefended and the Austro-Hungarian
forces evacuated it last September without
a fight. If the Russians couldn't hold the
line Of the San against the heavier artil-
lery and the superior forces Of the Teutonic
allies. there was little reason for counting
on their ability to retain possession Of
Lemberg.
While the Russian armies are recuper-
ating and overcoming their deficiencies in
artillery and munitions sound strategy
compels them to yield ground, though yield
ing it as obstinately as possible. They are
not required to protect any particular from
tier, since a serious invasion Of Russia is
held even by the German strategists to be
inpracticable. The main question with the
Russian General staff is to keep the Rus
sian armies intact and able to continue the
fight. whether in Galicia, in Poland, in the
Baltic provinces or within Russia proper.
Russia cannot be disposed of by her an
tagonists until her armies are beaten and
exhausted. That is the lesson Of the Ma
poleonic wars in Eastern Europe-especial-
" of the Inflated expedition to Moscow.
Russia's territory is too vast and her chief
centres are too far apart and too isolated
10 give any decisive character to an inva-
sion such as on the western front might
paralyze France through the seizure and
occupation Of Paris.
Warsaw might be abandoned under pres
sure from the line of the Upper Nistula
and the Russian armies might have TO with
draw to the line Of Brest-Litovsk, behind
which the mobilization of last August was
effected. But that would not mean the
elimination Of Russia as q highly iniuen-
tial factor in the military situation.
The German operations on the eastern
front are essentially in the nature Of an
offensive defensive. 1t is necessary to hold
off the Russians if Germany is TO accom-
plish anything decisive against the West
ern Allies or against Italy. And the deeper
Germany commits herself on the eastern
front by an invasion and occupation Of
Russian territory the more she limits her
power TO strike at France, on whose soil,
if anywhere, Germany must triumph in
this war in order to bring it to anything
ILL., . .uccoeef,,l conclusion
Politically however, the recapture Of the
Galician capital and the redemption Of
Galicia will be Of much benefit TO the leu
tonic allies. II will greatly hearten the
people Of Hungary, whose own soil was
threatened while the Russians occupied the
neighboring Austrian province and held
two Of the chief Carpathian passes. The
peril to them Of Russian invasion is now
removed. The people of the Dual Mon
archy will also rejoice that lost jewel
has been restored 10 the imperial crown.
The fighting in Galicia has practically
amalgamated the armies of the two en-
pires and has brought about through COM
mon victories q spirit Of cooperation which
will make their union more complete than
ever.
Should Rumania be deferred from join
ing the Allies at this juncture by Russian
defeats in Galcia, the great campaign now
in progress will have had an additional
justification. Austria-Hungary is now in
a better position than she has been in for
many months past to meet attacks from
Rumania and from Italy. Yet Russia's
reverses may act as an incentive to Ru-
mania's participation at this stage since