New-York tribune., 1916-07-18
Seven Weeks of the Russian
Drive.

SLAMS began their great offensive IN tne
East. Although the advance still persists
as the latest German announcement of a
retirement southwest of Lutsk indicates
it is none the less plain that the whole
operation is slowing down, for the moment
at least. 1t is, then, possible to review II
some detail the progress and achievements
of this great campaign.
First of all, it must be measured by its
cost in men rather than its conquests in
territory. The Russian official figures
disputed, to be sure, by the Austrian and
German reports, claim around 100000
prisoners. The German and Austrian re-
ports estimate the total Russian loss at
263 900. Hitherto Russian estimates OF
prisoners have proved reliable, as shown
by American agents charged with inspect
ing prison camps in Russia. If we accept
the Russian figures as accurate, 1t is safe
to estimate the total loss of the Austrians
and Germans as above half million; that
IS, 100000 in addition to Russian captures.
To have put half million troops out of
action in seven weeks is, in itself, tre-
mendous achievement. 1t is the greater
when it is accomplished with loss of only
about half as many by the Russians. Bear
in mind also that Russia's man-supply
is wellnigh inexhaustible, the man-supply
of Germany and Austria rigidly limited.
Together with the great bag" of men
there has been huge capture of guns,
munitions and supplies of all kinds and an
even greater destruction of these things
by the retreating Germans and Austrians.
Exactly as the Russians lost terribly in
this fashion last summer the Austrians
have suffered now and are continuing to
suffer.
So much for the material effect in men
and munitions of the Russian advance.
Even more important is the moral effect.
Dispatches from Berlin make no conceal
ment of the surprise and amaZement the
Russian operation has awakened in Ger
many. Look back year, and 1t Will be
seen that all German and Austrian re-
ports forecast the approaching elimination
of the Slav. Russia was "done" for sew
eral wears. Berlin proclaimed, when Wilma
had fallen and the great German drive
halted at the Dwina and the Pinsk
marshes. German hands were now free
to Finish with France"
But nine months later the fallacy of all
this is demonstrated by Russian success
only less great than that won about Lem
berg in September, 1914. Again and
lgain German bulletins pay tribute to the
vastness of Russia's supplies of guns and
munitions and the inexhaustible supply of
men. 1t was all a terrible miscalCulation,
ehis belief that Russia was done.
Instead of Russian collapse, German
newspapers again talk openly of Austria's
failure. The collapse is almost as complete
as that of 1914, and it again makes ex-
tensive drafts upon German resources
For weeks German troops have been rush
ing to Kovel and to Galicia. When they
have arrived there has been a slowing
down of Russian advance, but on the
South, where Austrian troops are unsup-
ported. the failure continues. Bukovina
has been cleared, Kolomea taken, the south
crnmost of the railroads leading across the
Carpathans has been cut. Add to this the
presence of Russian troops on the French
front and the reports of fresh Russian VIC
tories in Asia Minor, and it is plain the lie
is finally given to all reports Of Russian
exhaustion.
This, then, is the answer to the German
campaign of last summer in the East
Russia was not put out" but this Rus
sian attack is coincident with a British
attack in the West and follows upon the
Verdun failure on the same front. A whole
winter of effort has gone for nothing. Yer
dun and France still hold out. Instead of
conquering Germany, the world, Teutonic
and otherwise, sees a Germany on the de-
fensive East and West and restored
Russia stepping out to new victories.
Beside the material and moral victories
the Russian conquest of territory is less
important. Yet it is very considerable;
the fortresses Of Lutsk and Dubno, the
city of Czernowitz and almost all of Buko-
vina, some thousands Of square miles of
territory in Austrian Galicia and more in
Russian Volhynia-between 10000 and
$4,000 square miles in all-and the ad-
vance is still continuing.
On the other hand, the Russian has
not yet reached Kovel or passed the
Stokhod He is not nearer Lemberg than
he was three weeks ago. His advantage in
the centre from Tarnopol has been slight
Even in the South he is not yet directly
threatening Lemberg, and if he is now
checked there will be no very great shift
in the Eastern lines. Above all, the Ger
mans will not have TO retire from the
Dwina and the Beresina to the Niemen and
! the Bug. Ike greatest possible territorial
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