New-York tribune., 1915-03-23
Austrians Twice Sought to
Relieve the Fortress,
but Failed.
MANY SORTIES WERE
COSTLY TO GARRISON
Shortage of Food and Spread
of Cholera and Disease
Weakened Defence.

PrzemysPs surrender marks the end
Of Austria's attempt to dominate Cali
cia. The strongest fortress upon Franz
Josef's eastern marches, city upon
which the best Of military engineers
have labored for the last generation in
an effort to make it impregnable, its
fall gives the Russians control OF the
long fought for province and clear
road to Cracow, its capital.
The prime military Importance Of
Przemysl arises not alone from the
fact that it has always been regarded
as one of the most formidable fort
resses in the world. The towr is also
the great railway centre of Galicia.
Lines connect it in its central position
with all the important towns of the
province. It possesses a direct railway
to Cracow, and is also a junction for
roads from Vienna and Budapest.
Additional significance is given to
the surrender through the fact that
the. capture completes the overthrow of
Galicia's strongest natural defense
the quadrilateral, in the shelter of
which the Austrians reformed again
and again in the early weeks of the
war. This quadrilateral is a plateau
of great native strength, lying in al
most the exact centre Of the province
and having for its bastions the four
heavily fortified towns of Jaroslau and
Przemysl on the east and Rzoszof and
Dynof on the west.
Przemysl was the last of these to
succumb, and by its overthrow Russia
has effectively crushed Galician resist
ance and gained for her troops an open
roadway to Cracow, 125 miles distant
Beyond the capital of Galicia lies ST.
lesia, and the Russian dream in the
first days of the war of march
through that province toward Berlin
begins to have the semblance of prob
ability.
The overthrow of the Galician for
tress follows what has been, up TO now,
the most extended and most bitterly
fought siege of the war. Liege was
destroyed in a week or so. Antwerp
fell at the end Of ten days investment,
but Przemysl has resisted practically
continuous siege and bombardment
since September 3. Time after time
Austria and Germany have made des-
perate attempts to compel the Rus
SLAMS to withdraw, but without success
From early in the war, after the in
vestment of Lemberg and the capture
of Jaroslau, when the Cars forces
isolated the fortress, there has been
Ia ion he do
world, except through the medium of
wireless and aeroplane.
Little is actually known Of the condi-
tions which confronted the defenders
before their surrender. IL is believed
that the garrison numbered between
10000 and 10000 men at the beginning
OF the siege, in which an army of at
least 10000 Russians has taken part.
The last authoritative report of the
condition Of the besieged was received
when the Catholic Bishop of Przemysl
was afforded safe conduct through the
Cars lines. The Bishop then told the
world that the heavy shells thrown into
the city had pounded public buildings
and houses into heaps of ruins, that
food was then nearly exhausted, and
civilians and soldiers alike were exist
ing on scanty military ration, that
brigands roamed the streets Of the
town and that cholera was common.
The defence of the city has beeu
conducted by the German General
Staff, who have been confident in their
assertion that the fortress could not be
taken. Military experts agree in call
ing it one OF the most formidable in
the world. Surrounded by an outer
ring Of fortfications, the main citadel
was situated upon the leights above
and was equipped with cannon of the
most modern and powerful type, COM
manding the country for miles around.
Recently the Austrians had gone to
special pains 10 strengthen the fort
ress, IN conformity with the latest de-
velopments in military architecture.