New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-06


them far better railroad resources. Such
general retirement is by no means 10 DO
expected in the immediate future, at the
very least. But il 1t comes subsequently
IL must be viewed from its political rather
than It's military angle to appreciate its
meaning On the military side it will give
Germany a shorter and better line to
hold, but on the moral side IL will deprive
her of half Of all the Russian territory
she holds and indicate the decline in Ger
man resources.
Russia's Winnings.
Briefly now, what have been the results
Of nearly two months of Russian activity
in the East? Taking the Russian state
ment the Cars forces have already capt
ured over 100000 Austro-German troops.
Our own American consular agents in
Russia, who have looked after Russian
prisoners, agree that the Russian figures
have been uniformly trustworthy in the
matter of prisoners, therefore the latest
may be accepted, despite natural Austrian
denials. The capture of artillery and
supplies has been enormous. Moreover all
this is going forward steadily and the lat
est captures point to a new Generalization
in Austrian ranks.
In addition not less than $4,000 square
miles of territory, including all of Buko-
vina, have been reconquered This is AN
area but little smaller than the COM
bined area of French and Belgian dis
tricts occupied by the Germans. AS to
the moral effect upon the world Of the
Russian success, it cannot be exaggerated
because it demonstrates that the reverses
of year ago were only temporary and
that Russia has found herself again, sue
ceeded in Transforming herself industrialy
and managed to equip new millions, be-
hind which, as the world knows, there are
still other millions. In men Russia was
always the richest of the Allies, but the
real problem of the war was whether she
could supply the men with guns and am.
munition. She has solved the problem.
The Weakness Of Austria.
Conversely the Russian success has dis
closed Austrian weakness; the conse-
quences of the Austrian defeats in re-
cent weeks have been nearly as costly
as those of her earlier disasters about
Lemberg, which brought German effort
in the West to a standstill after the
Marne. These weaknesses in the Austrian
military establishment have again set on
foot rumors of a separate peace with
Austria, but there seems no real founda-
ton for such rumors as yet. One thing
the Russian success has done, and that is
to terminate the Austrian menace to
Italy. The Austrian campaign IN the
Trentino has been abandoned and tho
troops concentrated there have in large
numbers been sent to support the beaten
troops in Galicia.
An odd detail is the report from Sofia
of the dispatch of Turkish troops to Ga
4 licia to save the Austrians. This certainly
is an ironical turn of fate that the proud
Hapsburg Empire should be compelled to
ask the Osmanli for aid. Sobieski, who
saved Vienna from the Osmanli, might
we'll turn in his grave at this new align
ment of Europe.
But the recall Of Austrian and German
troops from the Balkans must presently
have a very considerable bearing upon
conditions there. Unquestionably if the
Bulgarians find themselves left to rsos
the British, French and Serbs unsup-
ported, they will question the advantage
of their latest alliance, and a single de-
feat, far from improbable, since the Bull
garians will be outnumbered and out
gunned, may change the whole situation
in the Near East.
Il Peace via Salonica.
After all there can be no hope Of peace
in Europe until the Allies are completely
exhausted or have succeeded in cutting
the German line to Constantinople and
restoring and charging Serbia, TO serve
as a bulwark against Austro-German ex-
pansion toward the Near East. Russia,
Britain and France, and for that matter
: Italy, have every reason to desire the
complete breaking of the alliance between
!, the Sultan and the Hohenzollern, which
; is menace to their colonies and con-
slant peril to the peace of their territories
|, inhabited by millions of Moslems.
Russian advance from Erzerum is al
! ready threatening the Turk in Asia Minor;
new campaign from Salonlca, where all
the circumstances recall Wellington's ia
nous stand at Torres Vedras and subse-
ouent successful advance to Madrid and
Toulouse, seems assured and this cam
! paign, if successful may contribute more
= than either of the present great drives
, to bring about peace, since it will de-
prive Germany Of the only considerable
!, prize of the war for her; it will, in fact,
=. = 81 10.