The Story of the Great War, Volume 2: History of the European War from Official Sources
History
The Story of the Great War, Volume 2: History of the European War from Official Sources
World War, 1914-1918
If it had been advanced immediately and simultaneously with the other
two armies, the new army might have served its purpose, but the
campaign, it seems, was already too far advanced. The strength of the
Russians had been augmented, and after they had driven the wedge in at
Tomaszow they retained it in place, and were able to widen the break by
means of the operations which followed in the vicinity of Bilgoraj, and
by driving back the Austrian forces above Rawa-Russka. In this way the
First Austrian Army was left dangling at the extreme of its advance.
In the meantime Brussilov had made his well-planned turning movement
along the Dniester on the far south, and had delivered his blow on
Halicz. Russky at the same time was hammering at the Austrian front and
left, penning in Von Auffenberg's army on an ever-contracting front, and
throwing it back on its successive lines of defense on the Zlota Lipa
before Lemberg, and from Grodek to Rawa-Russka.
The Austrians, pushed back from each of these, and with Cossack cavalry
on their right, ranging over a considerable extent in southern Galicia,
were forced to fall back, guarding as best they might their rear,
westward toward Cracow.
When Von Auffenberg's army had been put in a tight place, busy taking
care of its own safety, the Russians were able to devote their attention
to the army Dankl had in the north. There was no chance of aid reaching
it now, and it was weakened from efforts to force the barriers that had
been put across its path.
The chief strength of the Russians was massed against the left of this
army, for if that wing was broken the entire army would find itself
hemmed in and must retreat in order to avoid being surrounded. And so,
forced from Opolie along the Vistula, attacked constantly on its entire
front and right flank from Tomaszow and Tarnograd, Dankl's army was
forced down to and across the San and beyond it.
The movements of the Russians had been executed with great harmony. By
September 23, 1914, Dankl's army had been driven by Ewarts and Plehve to
the line of the Wisloka. Jaroslav was taken by Russky on September 21.
Chyrow was possessed by Brussilov on September 24. Brussilov had entered
Galicia at Woloczysk on the same day--August 22--that Russky had crossed
the frontier and occupied Brody.
The Austrian losses, since the taking of Lemberg, according to an
official statement made by the Russians on September 17, 1914, were
250,000 killed and wounded, and 100,000 prisoners with 400 guns, many
colors, and a vast quantity of stores. We are not obliged to accept
these figures. They are given here for what significance and merit they
may have, but as coming from Russia. It was also reported by Russia that
the rifles taken numbered almost half a million. The enemy's total
losses were put by Russia at from 35 to 50 per cent. Even the small
estimate is said by Austria to be an exaggeration.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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