AUSTRIA'S GREAT DEFEAT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15445, 7 September 1914, Page 6

AUSTRIA'S GREAT DEFEAT.

Reports which continue to come to hand more than confirm the description which we gave on Saturday of the battle of Lemberg, as one of the worst defeats in Austria's history. Earlier messages gave the number of Austrian army corps routed as, variously, three and four. The High Commissioner's report now states that five army corps, which would mean an army of more than 200,000 men, were completely routed by the Russians, with abnormally heavy losses both of men and guns. The Austrian defeat is the more important since the Austrian operations on. tliis frontier were being conducted in close co-operation with the German forces who are defending West Prussia against invasion, and its consequences must be only less serious for Germany than for Austria. The debacle, has been the climax, moreover, of a prolonged series of operations in Galicia in which the Russians hav been constantly successful. The conclusion expressed by us on Saturday that the Germans were not likely to get much assistance from the Austrians in future is endorsed by the latest High Commissioner's message, which states that Russia and Servia have now accounted for practically half the Austro-Hungarian army, and that Germany cannot expect help from her ally. The Battle of Lemberg will, however, render more than this injury to Germany. News of great victories and great defeats have always travelled quickly, even among peoples and in times when there has seemed to be no natural explanation of the rapidity of its transmission. Before this the German soldiers far from home and kindred will have heard of the ore at blow by which Russia lias prostrated their allies. They will know that the forces by which this blow has been" delivered .are but one part of the enormous Russian armies, of which other parts as strong and numerous are descending even now upon their own fair provinces, defended only by a few regulars and more reservists, while the chosen troops of Germany, after suffering tremendous losses, are only now at the beginning of a war with France which was to be already ended. Their he- 'ts will not be cheered for the untimely work of storming the most formidable fortress in the world, or for other protracted operations on French soil, because they have been shown how heavy is the blow that threatens to descend upon Berlin. And tie news which depresses them will give proportionate encouragement to the Allies. To Austria the terrible calamity would be less serious if it had been dealt wholly by her foes. There is reason to believe, however, the declaration of Galician prisoners that they fought "against their natures." As Austrian subjects, they fought; as Slavs, they had no heart for the conflict, and to be ttiken prisoners was "the most agreeable way of quietening their consciences." Of the inhabitants of Galicia _ 8T per cent, are Slavs,' comprising 45 per cent. Poles and 42 per cent. Ruthenians. If' Poles and Ruthenians have no heart for tlie Hapsburg cause, the Czechs, Croatians, and some of the other Slav peoples enrolled beneath its banner ar.e to prove still worse defenders. Croatians in New Zealand have announced their attitude towards the Austrian Empire. When Austria declared war against Servia a young Croat resident in Great Britain wrote to the London "Spectator": "The cultural and economical development of southern Slavs is checked by Austrian noliey of divide and rule. . . . The Prussian system [which governs Austria as well as Germany] does not understand tlie British ideal of self-govern-ment; they believe that all the world can be ruled from Yienna or Buda Pest. . . . Tlie Croatian people instinctively await with anxiety when the Russian Cossacks will traverse the Carpathian Mountains, and the tyrants of southern Slavs must know whatwill be our attitude. There are more than twenty-five millions of Slavs in the Ismpire, that is the absolute majority." How long can the Austrian Emnire, composed of such conflicting elements. hold together?

seven days fighting culminating at Lemberg, the itussians claim to have defeated 200,000 Austrians, taking 70,000 prisoners and 200 guns. The Austrian casualties are said to have been enormous. At Ulni, in 1805, the Austrians under General Mack were defeated with dreadiul loss by Marshal iSTev, and Ulna surrendered with 28,000 men. At Wagram in 1809 the Archduke. Charles of Austria was defeated by Napoleon, and 20,000 prisoners were taken, the defeat causing Austria to make peace on humili-i a ting terms. At Sadowa, in 1866, the Austrians were defeated by the Prussians, losing 174 guns, about 40,000 killed and wounded, and 20,000 prisoners. The result of this battle gave the supremacy, in Germany to Prussia, unity lo North Germany, and Yenetia to Italy; and led to the legislative independence of Hungary. With' these disasters Lemberg must be ranked. To-day's messages state that the Russians are still winning successes against the Austrians.

Though returns are not ycii completed, it seems fairly certain that the Commonwealth elections will mean the return to office of Mr Fisher and the Labour Partv, with a working majority, and the retirement of Mr Cook from the Treasury Benches. Mr Cook never had opportunity to show what he could do as Premier, because he never had a working majority. Apart from that he does not seem to have iirw pressed strongly the electors of Australia. As Labour is leading strongly for the Senate as well as for the House the constitutional deadlock caused by the previous contradictory majorities of tha two chambers seems in a fair w:iy to be solved. Mr Fisher can b? relied on to support the cause of Imperialism in the present crisis as firmly £fcs his political opponents. He has already stated that Australia must stand by the Mother Country to the last man. ;