New-York tribune., 1916-01-07
Leaves Balkans TO Meet
Cars Offensive, Paris
Hears.
RUSSIANS STORM
FORTS IN GALlCIA
Carry CZCrnOWitz Works Which
Germans Thought Were
lmpregnable.
BY GORDON GoRDoN-sMrTH.


tB, Cstc .o --c Tr suuel
London. Jan. 6. Although Vienna
does not admit that Czcrnowitz has
been evacuated, the Russians are gain
ing steadily on the Galician front TIL.
c.zar's troops have captured impor.
fortifcations around the strouL..
and the fall Of the city. 1t seems.
only a matter OF tine. The Aust iae.
have fallen back 20 their second line
The Austro- Germans evidently are
making fierce countcr-attacks in an at
tempt 20 regain positions lost along
the Styr River. which is regarded as
an ideal line for defensive operations
Paris reports that the holding OF this
line is considered so important by tho
Central Powers that Field Marshal Won
Mackensen has leftshe Balkans to take
command Of the armies opposing the
Russians along the Styr
The capture of Czernowitz by the
Russians would be. from q po itical and
strateCical point Of view. perhaps the
most interesting event in the Balkan
Peninsula since the invasion y Serbia
by Germany and Bulgaria, as II might,
even al this hour. cause a dramatic
change in the situation Of the Balkan
powers
Politically It's first result would be
70 draw Rumania more closely into the
orbit Of the Quadrupllco.
For fifty years the acquisition Of
Bukowina, with large Rumanla1
speaking populations has been oae Of
the Rumanian naSonal aspirations
From Bukowina. Pennsylvania ana the
fertile Banat Of Temcovar may he IN
vaded and in both provinces Rumania
mas far reaching ambitions.
Bucharest cannot allow the psyche
logical moment 20 slip. II she fails 70
join the Allies, and Russia. single
handed. drives the Austrians from
Tran sylvania which Serbia has just
as good a claim as Rumanla- hlng
Fordinand's people may ind them
selves excluded from all snare III the
spoils. Il is for Rumanian statesmen
10 decide # the military position OF
Russia In Bukowina is such as 10 one.
q fair guarantee Of success II kuman'
should ioin the Allies. Common action
bv the Russian and Rumanian armies
would render most precGriou' the Ter
usn and Austrian armies. as II Wou!d
immediately threaten their long uheS
of communication and posslt'y ehO III
q r.~eral withdrawal from Serbia.
l. appears not improbable, according
N advices from the Russian front, that
the Austro- German forces at the soutn,
ern extremity Of the fighting area VIII
be forced back 20 the line running
through Kolomea, StanlslaW ahC O9
Itch in the near future as the result OF
q q
Pussiens between the upper reaches OF
tbe liver Stripa and he Rumanlan
froptier. Already the Austrians are
renor+ed 20 have removed their Dase
from Czernowitz toward kolomea.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
Austrians are fighting courageousIy'
the Russians, il is declared, have sue
ceeded ~ taking by storm fortiticatlons
around Czernowitz that were recently
described in the German press as IN
pregnable. Having cut the railway me
from Zalesczayki 10 CzernnWltz' lhe
Russians are threatening communlca-
tion between Czernovltz and hoIoIhea'
The zone Of the Russian offensive rs
evtending rorthward. bringing into &C
tion the left flank of the central front.
From OlitZa they have pushed out on
tho railway line twenty-five miles TO
Kevertzi. and are reported advancing
along the roads in the direction OF ana
close 70 Lutsk and also between roo
cherevitchi and kostuhova, threesmiles
north Of the Koyel- -Sarny Railway, west
Of the River Styr. These positions are
regarded as especially advantageous,
being fankei or the right by the Plnsk
marshes. preciudins serious menace
from thai direction.
In the capitals Of the Entente Allies
the opinion is expressed that the Rus
sian offensive has completely upset the
plans Of the Central Powers for an
\ invasion Of Salouica and Egypt.