.

Cracow was surrounded by a triple line of fortifications of which the
outer line contained fifteen forts, eleven on the north, and four on the
south bank of the Vistula. The defenses on the north were much stronger
than those on the East, where the San River and the fortresses of
Jaroslav and Przemysl were once regarded as a secure barrier against
Russian advance. The Russians already had broken down that barrier and
only two small streams lay between their eastern army and the last
stronghold of Galicia.

On November 15, 1914, the Austrians defending Przemysl again attempted a
sortie, this time with greater success than before. It forced back the
Russians on the north side of the fortress to the heights of Rokietnica,
with small Austrian losses. A second sortie was repulsed by Russian
artillery and cavalry and heavy losses inflicted on the Austrians.

In Galicia we now find the Austrians west of the Donajec River, along
the front from Tarnow to the Vistula. The Austrian line then followed
the Biala River for a few miles until it cut across to take advantage of
the Wisloka, north and south of Jaslo. From there east the Austrians
were retreating into the passes of the Carpathians.

These latter troops were relatively small bodies, whose main object was
to prevent the Russian cavalry from making raids into Hungary. Opposite
Tarnow the Austrians were prepared to put up a most stubborn resistance,
for they regarded the holding of this part of their line as essential.
Unless they could hold back the Russians there, they reasoned, the
latter would have a chance to break through and cut off the Austrian
army that was retreating from Sanok and Jaslo. A Russian advance north
of Cracow, they figured, would tend to cut off the entire Austrian army
from its German ally. This was an object for which the Russians were
striving.

Abandonment by the Austrians of Central Galicia and the gathering of
their armies toward Cracow soon began to show results in the stiffening
of their resistance to Russian advance. As the Austrians retreated
westward their front decreased in length with consequent strengthening
of their line. It was their desire that this strengthening should enable
them to extend northward along the Warthe River, thus freeing some of
the German troops for service in the army that was advancing from Thorn.

By the Russians a German advance in considerable force along the narrow
battle front on the west bank of the ri