THE RUSSIAN FRONTIER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15686, 13 August 1914, Page 9

THE RUSSIAN FRONTIER

GERMAN FORTIFICATIONS. THE CARPATHIAN RANGE. STRATEGICAL CONSIDERATIONS. Between 26 and 30 per cent, of Russia's foreign trade passes to Berlin and the Baltic ports by at least five, probably six, lines of railway. The frontier has few strategical feature?: beyond iho«e l which have been created, and they are all In favour of Germany. Ever ?in:e Germany, by her attitude at tho Berlin Conference, by her entry into the Triple Alliance, became openly antagonistic to Russia, sho has spent money liko water in creating the means to march an army rapidly to and across the Rus- | sian border. As against Russia's six i railways she has nearly 20. Her j technical resources of siege parks, j light ordnance, and stores, far exceed : anything which Russia may command. And while the object in everything has ! been a speedy assault, defensive con-1 federations have not been neglected. Her' border provinces, especially those of East-] ern Prussia, have been strongly, systematically defended by the creation of such fortresses as Thorn, Koningsbcrg, Posen, and other citadels. Every year they have been improved. Entrenched camps have been built at vital points of junction, war material in abundance lies ready to hand. The forts of the Vistula, as well as some of the larger towns, aro prepared for defence; and, while Russia, ever since the Crimean War has given \ much attention to the Warsaw and Vilna ! areas, Germany's activity across the I border has left her far behind. Power of Endurance. Russia's power of endurance— fighting genius of the Slav—the quality that in some measure atones for her lack of progress, is her main hope. As a leading Russian strategist (General Kuropatkin) observes, it is impossible to snpposc that 100 million Russians, even though defeat in more than one campaign discouraged them, would ever submit to the total alienation of provinces bound to them by historical ties and vast sacrifices in Russian blood. For if Germany or Austria were attacked, and any great portion of their armed forces detained on tho western side, Poland gives Russia great advantage in a victorious offensive, lierlin is only 200 miles, Vienna 213 miles away. St. Petersburg is 533 miles from' the German, 900 miles from the Austrian, j frontiers, while Moscow is distant 733] and 800 miles respectively. A consideration of frontier conditions | as between Austria and Russia is almost! as completely in favour of the former, as, further north, they are for Germany. As soon as the Triple Alliance was formed, Austria commenced to prepare for the inevitable war with Russia, The natural frontier between the two great countries is the Carpathian range, yet Galicia, one of her territories, .lies on the Russian side of the Carpathian*. Had Austria been as neglectful of, or as frequently diverted from, preparation for frontier defence as Russia, the Carpathians might be a real danger. Naturally they are an impediment to speedy concentration along the frontier, while, in case of defeat, a great river, or a great range, at the back of an army means that defeat may speedily become destruction. Railway Construction. But tho Carpathians are no longer a natural barrier. The mountains have been pierced by railways at eight different points at least. Galicia, which geographically eeems bo exposed, which once lay open invitingly to aggression from tho westward, has become a great armed i camp, stocked with supplies and munitions, equally available for the immediate invasion of Russia or the defence of Austria. By her eight lines of rail Austria could send 262 trains a day to the frontier, while Russia's transport facilities are limited to four. Within a very short time Austria, if not occupied elsewhere— could concentrate a million armed men along the Russian frontier. Rivers suoh. as the Dniester have little strategic importance; only four lines of railway, as stated, cross tlio frontier, these points being Granitza. Radziviloff, Volochisk, and Novoselitz. Possibly another line has recently been added. Tho Austrian weakness is that Hungarian sentiment is little, if anything, more favourable to her than it is to Russia. Tho Slav groups of her peoples are nearly half her population; traditional hatred of Russia lies chiefly with the Poles and the Hungarians. Austria has not tied her border provinces so closely to her as Germany has done in the case- of Eastern Prussia. lb may be seen that, as far as forethought, preparation for a deliberate purpose, backed by a heavy and continuous expenditure, dominate the position, the strategical advantages are all with tho German allies and against Russia. There has been careful preparation for just such a crisis as that which has now come about. THREE-NATION TREATY. ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO. Germany, Austria, and Russia have just, sprung at each other's throat. It is exactly 99 years next month since those throo Powers made, to guide their relations in all future ages, indissolubly and absolutely, for ever and ever, the following beautiful treaty:— In the name of the Most Holy and Indivisible Trinity their Majesties the Emperor of Austria, the King of Prussia, and tho Emperor of Russia, having, in consequenco of the groat events which have marked the course of the three last years in Europe, and especially of tho blessings | which it has pleased Divine Providence to | shower down upon these States, which place their confidence and thoir hope in it alone, acquired the intimate conviction of the necessity of settling the steps to be i observed by the Powers, in their reciprocal I relations, upon the sublime truths which I the holy religion of our Saviour teachef; they solemnly declare that the present Act has no other object than to publish, in the face of the whole wor'.d, their fixed resolution, both in the administration of their respective States, and in their political relations with every other Government, to take for their sole guide the precepts of that holy religion, namely, the precepts of justice. Christian charity and peace, which, far from being applicable only to private concerns, must have an immediate influence upon the conns h of Princes, and gnido all their steps, ,is being tho only means of consolidating human institutions and remedying their imperfections. In consequence, their Majesties have agreed on the following articles:—(Art. 1) Conformably to tho words of the Holy Scriptures, which command all men to consider each other as brethren, the Three contracting Monarchs will remain united by tho bonds of n true and indissoluble fraternity, and, considering each other as, fellowcountrymen, they will, on all occasions and in all places, lend each other aid and assistance ; and regarding themselves towards their subjects and armies as fathers of families, they will lead them, in the same spirit of fraternity with which thoy are animated, to protect religion, peace, and justice.