In Galicia

German claim examined

When the exigencies of the situation appear to call for it, Berlin lies unhesitatingly and thoroughly, but as occasionally something very closely resembling the truth appears in the enemy communiqué they invariably pay for examination.

The latest German claims a fresh success in Galicia, the photograph in question reading: ‘The army of Von Mackensen has commenced an attack along the line of 44 miles, starting from their positions at Czernowa, North-west of Mosciska and Seniawa. The enemy’s positions have been taken along the entire length of this front; 16,000 prisoners fell into our hands yesterday.’ It is also claimed that ‘the attacks by the troops under Von Linsingen and Von dee Marwitz also made further progress’.

The latter statement is too mild to call for comment, but, the Galician claim is of a much more serious character, for it would show that the effort to reach Lemberg had not been abandoned and that the Germans have wholly recovered from the drubbing administered to them in the middle of last week.

But is it true? A categorical answer cannot yet be given but it is safe at least to say that exaggeration has again been indulged in.

Mackensen’s success is dated Sunday and the report Monday. Now it so happens that just as the second paragraph in this column was completed the official communiqué from Petrograd came to hand. This also is dated yesterday, and, unless there is some mistakes in the dates, what actually happened is something very different from that described in the German account.

It is clear that on Saturday and Sunday ‘stubborn fighting was renewed on the whole front of the Piskorowice on the San to Mosciska’ and that ‘on the Dniester the enemy during the night of June 13-14 attacked obstinately but without result’, the Russians bridge-heads near the village of Nizniow.

Then we also learn that ‘on the left bank of the Dniester’ the Russians ‘delivered exceptionally audacious counter-attacks during which several companies of riflemen of the 20th Jaegar battalion were almost entirely sabred and dispersed’, and it is added: ‘Next day in the same region a detachment of our territorials delivered a counter-attack, supported by other units and took 400 prisoners including eight officers.’ On the other frontal area the story is of a similar character, and, taking the enemy and friendly reports to be dealing with the same set of dates, the experience of the past teaches us to place the greater reliance upon the Russian statements.

Again we may reassure ourselves that the time has not arrived (and may never arrive) for the enemy to bring away from the East any considerable forces to operate in the West. Before the Germans can do this he must take not only Lemburg, but Warsaw and hold the Vistula from Novageorgevich to Ivangorod.

Even then, huge forces would be required to maintain the security of East Prussia, to guard Silesia and to generally keep back the Russians, who, entirely free from the menace on the battering ram, would be gathering strength day by day, both in men and munitions, until such a time as another great forward move came possible.