The sun., 1916-01-30
Begin Drive In PRO ssia.

and scarcely a dent on the Russian linz
convinced the Germans that this was
hopeless. and willie the echoes Of tn.
guns on the Polish plain were stll in
the air they began another drive IN East
Prussia which resulted in heavy Russian
losses but profited the Germans little
more than the acquisition Of few
square miles Of Russian territory and
the heavy loss of German lives with no
commensurate gain.
The Germans were not discouraged.
and the moment II became obvious that
the Russian retreat in East Prussia was
to be IF no great strategic value to them
they AZ once swung south from Mlawa
towaii Praznys in an endeavor to take
Warsaw from the north by cutting the
line between the Polish capital and Pet
rograd
Fighting had now been going forward
on huge scale for nearly two months
and by early March the impetus Of even
the Germans was beginning to nag, and
their drive south from Mlawa was "A fail
ure, resulting in their retirement with
heavy losses. including nearly $1,000 men
taken prisoner
By April. 1915 II became clear that,
viewed from It's larger aspects, the Ger
man campaign against Russia had
failed. They had taken territory and
won many battles, but the centre Of
from their grasp as in December, 1914.
and the Russian army not only was not
deinoralized but WAS growing stronger
each day.
In the meantime the armies OF the
Car were steadily winning through the
Carpathians, and in general having
things their own way in Galicia Al
most on the heels of the German fail
ures to get results around Warsaw in
March came the collapse Of Przemysl and
the surrender OF $4,000 Austrians
by April !. 1915, the Germans. after
terrific losses and sustained lighting OF
months, had accomplished compare
lively little, while the Russians, in spite
Of reversee, were gaining ground stead
lily against Austria. The fall OF Prze-
rnsvl came at a time when the Russian
armies in the southeast were sweeping
steadily ahead, driving the Hungarlans
and Austrians headlong toward the
great Hungarian plain.
Austria Sees New Menace.
The result OF the German failure in
the north, plus the Russian successes :
in the south, was having the most dis
astrous effect on the soldiers of the dual
alliance, Hungary, seeing a direct mem
ace on Budapest. both from the Buko-
wilma and the passes of the Carpathians
became dissatisfied and tegan to show
signs Of consideration of "A separate
peace.
Gen. 1Nanov, who was in command
OF all tho Russian armies in Galicia
told me the situation in Austria-IIun
gary was 50 acute that IL was possible,
unless some steps were taken by GER
many and taken quickly, the empire Of
the Kaiser faced the possibility of the
complete collapse of !ts allies
1t became obvious in April that II
tho Kaiser WAS to protect his "hecl Of
Achilles" in Silesia he must do some
thing TO bolster hp the Austr'ans and
Hungarian, who showed clearly their
anxiety to auit. Probably the poll
ticians and diplomats AT Vienna never
shared this desire, but that the troop,,
at the front were ready to make peace
was clear
| was told by an authority that when
the news Of the fan of Przsnlysl reached
the Austrians on the summit of the car
pathians they threw their hats IN the
air and shouted. "Hurrdh. Now We
viii have peace" The situation. pIiIs
the fact that Italy was on the brink of
war, undoubtedly was responsibl, for
the programme of the Germans which
hogan with the drive in ,aliCia and tn,
subsequent campaign which resulted IN
the capture Of Warsaw.
This movetncn, began in early NAV
and the operations since then fan into
three distinct phases First was tho
Talician drive, which aimed 10 restore
the morale of III" Austro-lIuugnrian
troops, TO check Italy from entering the
var and the destruction of the Russian
army.
Tho Germans, never lacking IN fore
eight, probably figured even # they
faiIed TO dcnoralile or annihllaio tNc
russian army til" rtoCrupation of ia
'lcih would leave them Oh IN. southern
nank Of warsaw and give them IN,
chance 10 att,ok the Polish salient from
the south.
The second phaS" oNt"nded from the
occupation OF l.enb"rg to the CIptur. Of
Warsaw. including the terrific tiyb,in,.
ON tho 'holmlublin and Narew line
The third phas" represents the rctrrp,