Germany.

Poland is a seat of conquest in the Great War. For not much over
a hundred years ago what remained of this old kingdom was divided
among the three great powers: Prussia, Austria, and Russia. Austria,
on the whole, has been much the best master. Germany tried in various
ways to Germanize her subjects in German Poland, thereby rousing
their bitter hatred. Russia was no less autocratic in attempting
to extinguish the spirit of nationality among the Poles under her
rule. But, naturally, the fact remains that between the Poles and
the Russians there are still ties of blood. In moving westward,
by this route Russia would be moving among a race who, in spite
of all they had suffered at the hands of the Czar, still would
naturally prefer Slav to Teuton.

We shall soon stand with the invading armies in the center of Russian
Poland, and enter the great city of Warsaw. This conquered citadel
with more than 400,000 inhabitants, is situated on the Vistula.
It was, next to Paris, the most brilliant city of Europe in the
early part of last century. But under Russian influence it became a
provincial town in spirit, if not in size. It once had the character
of prodigal splendor; within late years it became a forlorn, neglected
city, not the least effort being made by the Russian authorities to
modernize its appearance and improvement. From a sanitary point
of view it became one of the least progressive cities of Europe.
And yet, as the armies march into the capital, there are still
signs of the city's past glory: over thirty palaces rear their
lofty turrets above the tile roofs of the houses, among them the
palace of the long-dead Polish kings.

However, from a military point of view, Warsaw maintained great
importance in the Great War. It is at this time one of the strongest
citadels of Europe, and around it lies the group of fortresses
called the Polish Triangle. The southern apex is Ivangorod on the
Vistula; the eastern, Brest-Litovsk; the northern being Warsaw
itself. To the northwest lies the advanced fort of Novo Georgievsk.
This triangle is a fortified region with three fronts: two toward
Germany and one toward Austria, and the various forts are fully
connected by means of railroads.

It would appear, therefore, that Russian Poland would offer excellent
conditions for an army on the defensive. And this is quite true, the
Vistula, especially, serving as a screen against the attacking armies
from the west. As a mat