THE CAPTURE OF WARSAW.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8216, 13 August 1915, Page 5

THE CAPTURE OF WARSAW.

RUSSIANS BEATEN BY RESOURCES. RETIREMENT BY TIME-TABLE. : LONDON; August 12. ' : Mr Stanley Was hburn, correspondent of "The Times"" with the Russian arm r iesj says the ; capture of Warsaw . undoubtedly represents the greatest. German'achievement of the war, but it is unfair to magnify its importance. The city was not lost through defective generalship or inferiority of troops, but through the inability of the Russian Empire to convert, quickly its vast resources for war purposes. "I have been in and out of Warsaw constantly since the evacuation started," be writes. "There has not been the slightest confusion or panic. The troops are neither demoralised nor discouraged, though'tliey are bitterly disappointed. None' wanted peace, and all are saying ; i they >must retake Warsaw and beat the. Germans. If theenemy finds anything valuable in the city, all will be greatly surprised. "The army practically vacated the city on Wednesday night, thus blocking the German hopes of causing a disaster. The Allies can have the satisfaction of knowing that the Russians played the game till practically the last minute, and the last round of shrapnel, and then retired in perfectly good order, leaving the Germans an undefended city. The armies throughout the movement acted on a symmetrical plan, following a time-table in . conjunction with the whole front, taking the maximum toll of the enemy, arid then escaping intact. "If the Germans consider that by capturing Warsaw they have struck a decisive blow at Russia, they should recollect that after a year's warfare they stand to-day at practically the same point as Napoleon commenced his disastrous campaign. The Russians j, will, gladly fight<on indefinitely. I feel a greater admiration for them than, ever, In their Galician success^ they were fine, but in to-day's trial they are. superb." ;