Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1915. THE NEW POSITION IN GALICIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 1 April 1915, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1915. THE NEW POSITION IN GALICIA.

IT is reported by cable message, to-day that the Kaiser and .Marshal Von der Goltz attended a Council of-War,, which prepared a new plan of campaign and f reslr diplomatic instructions arising. out of the capture of ; Przemysl and the position at Constantinople. It is, of course, impossible to say what effect the fall of Przemysl will have on either German, or Russian strategy; but. at the same time it is interesting to observe eome of the main facta that are; known to exist. The outstanding fact is" that Galicia is nq,w. definitely lost -to - Austria. According to the military expert of the "Argps," the possible Russian movements are more- than one. The fall of Pjfflemysl will have a very valuable and. • direct result, for 1 the town hitherto sirood astride of the main Galician -military line - from Lemberg to Cracow—the only railway opento the Russians in Galicia. . It will now be possible-for the Russians to supply and. reinforce their poi-fc at-.Tainow, in Western-Galicia, dircyctly by : railway. To what extent tho 1 possession o,f Przemysl by the iAustrians ■lias influenced Russian 6trategy, must, at this stage of the war, be largely a matter of opinion; but the "Argus" expert believes that it has had but a secondary influence. The siege demanded tho services of a very large number of Russian troops, it is true. But the opinion 1 that, in spite of these considerations, the fortress has not exercised a primary influence iipon Russian strategy is supported by the official statement that the Russians preferred, to starve out the garrison to 'Sacrificing men.in effecting >its costly capture. It may bo that a Russian attack . -upon Cracow will be the result of the fall of. Przemysl,. but if so, it will ' only be because the Russian General Staff consider that their.flank.in.the Car- j pathians., is quite secure, and that the advantages. to be gained by the capture of Cracow outweigh those to rbe won by a "victorious invasion of Hungary. 'Military, political, and economic considerations, however-, so far as they can be' appreciated, at this, distance, incline the authority in question to the opinion that far greater success is to be won in Hungary at., present than could, be gained at Cracow or Silesia/' The first reason for this belief is that, however strong the Russian flank in the Carpathians and: Bukowina may be, there is always the possibility of the Austrians or the Ger r mans breaking through and cutting the communications of the Russian forces attacking. Cracow or invading Germany through Silesia. . The expert . has all along been . in stressing the contention that' the . Russian strategy must be directly influenced by the two enveloping wings that the Austrians and the Germans are able to throw round the Russian centre. This advantage is given to the Austrians and the Germans by the formation of then- frontiers. East Prussia threat-ens the Russian right rear from the north. Hungary threatens the' Russian left rear from the south. For the present the northern question may' be disregarded, as the Russian purpose is served if 'the Germans are safely "held'?, in this regiohv If the Russians are able to nia,ke a, very vigorous advance elsewhere, threatening s6me valuable strategical : point, tho Germans ! miglit be compelled to concentrate their forces to check the advance. ,If the' A'ustrb-Hungarian Empire or Hungary, itself were compelled to conclude a peace with Russia, Germany would be immeasurably weakened, because she would be deprived of the help of tho Austrian army, and her own territory would be threatened from the south—its most vulnerable point. The Austrians have plainly been shaken, and sorrie time ago Hungary was openly restive! ■ The writer points out that a vigorous invasion I of Hungary, with perhaps, Buda Pest as its objective, would hold many possibili- j ties. Any . great success in this quarter would eventually, "include" Cracow, while it would safeguard the Russian! ' left flank. I