Semi-weekly herald., 1916-08-14

to city to he equipped and DE-
spatched to the army. 1t is u slow
process, hard to improve upon until
Russia has better transportation and
communication.
Quick-mobilzing countries mobilize
on the frontier. Russia, unable to
throw millions of men on the enemy's
boundary line in time, concentrates
in the interior. She cannot hope
TO begin war on the offensive but
expects to commence hostilities in
clash inside her own territory gainst
invaders.
Russia then performed a heroi,
thing when she threw herself across
the border into eastern Prussia five
days after the war began, unprepar.
ed by at least month, though she
knew herself to be-
The world knows the disaster Of
the Russians among the Mazuiian
marshes, of Rennenkampt's defeat at
Oosterode late in August after he
had thrown Won Hindenburg back
from Insterburg, Konigsberg, Allen
stein and Gumbimnen. This was Rus
sia's first sacrifice.
1t is only 1870 miles from the near
nest point on the Russian frontier to
Berlin. Looking at the map side
walk strategists opined that Russia
ought to make the distance in 80 days,
But even had Russia modified, struck
via short line, she would have reach
ed Berlin only to receive a mortal
blow from north and south cutting
off and booming her invading army
Both Eastern Prussia and Galicia had
to be occupied before the Posen route
to Berlin could even be attempted.
So Galicia was invaded. Tarnopol
was stormed and occupied, Lemberg
and Premysl taken by the forces un-
der General Russh who mastered the
country clear to the crests of the
Carpathians.
Then time, distance, lack of rail
way facilities, bad roads and other
physical hindrances outdid him
these and greatly reinforced Austrian
armies framed with Germans and led
in part by German officers. The Rus
sian sctreat from Galicia was the re
suit.
Blocked on the Western front by the
French and British, unable to ad-
vance an inch there the Germans per
fected their trenches barbed-wire-en-
Observation-Disclosures system
from the Channel to Switzerland, then
threw her remaining strength on Po-
land. I.olZ was captured Plock TAX
en- and one by one, quickly the his
,oric cities and fortresses of all Po-
land including Warsaw. the capital,
fell.
1t is said Germany aimed to crush
Russia and make separate peace
after Warsaw. But Russia was not
crushed. She knows defensive fight
ing too well. She lost much, but her
army is stronger now than ever. A
high French official said to me:
Russia is unbeatable. She is too
big. She can keep on retreating un-
til at last the enemy will be swallow
ed up"
In the retreat from Poland the army
had much to contend with. It was
badly munitioned. The Minister Of
War, General Soukhomlinov, deemed
responsible for the army during this
period, has been relieved of his du-
ties and now awaits trial in the fort.
ress of Peter and Paul, on an island
in the Neva.
When Grand Duke Nihcolas was
sent to the Caucasus, the Gar himself
took command of the Russian front
proper. He now spends little time in
Petrograd.
For the last few months, the citi-
zen organizations of Russia have been
backing up the army with vigor. So
unified are these groups that there
are today two armies fighting for
Russia-a soldier army and citizen
one. Thus, after two years of wa,
and many disasters, the Russian army
believes its darkest days are over.