d, France had not been destroyed by one great blow, and Russia
had not been held up by Austria, pending the delivery of this blow and
the return of the German troops who had delivered it.

[Illustration: October 24, 1914, The Battle Of The Vistula. Arrows
show Hindenburg's attack on Warsaw and Ivangorod.]

WARSAW AND LODZ

October brought the plain necessity to the Germans of coming to the
aid of their ally. While they were still endeavoring to reopen the
decision in the west it was necessary to send troops to Hindenburg and
to take pressure off Austria. The blow took the form of a rapid
advance upon Warsaw through Central Poland, which was destitute of
Russian troops. (Vol. II, 454-461.)

The thrust almost succeeded, German troops reached the suburbs of
Warsaw, German guns were heard by the citizens of the town and Warsaw
was in deadly peril, but Siberian troops arrived in the nick of time
and Hindenburg was obliged to retire. (Vol. II, 462-466.) Still his
main purpose was achieved. Russian armies in Galicia had been weakened
to save Warsaw and were compelled to retire behind the San and the
Vistula. (Vol. II, 420-427.)

Hindenburg's retreat was masterly, he flowed back upon Cracow and
Breslau, pursued by a great Russian army. (Vol. II, 458-462.) Meantime
the Russian armies in Galicia again took the offensive and November
saw Russian armies at the outskirts of Cracow and approaching the
boundary of Silesia. (Vol. II, 413-423.) Taken in connection with the
German repulses all along the western front and the defeat in
Flanders, which disclosed the final collapse of the original German
plan, this moment marked the high-water stage of allied fortunes for
many, many months.

Having led the Russian army after him to the German frontier,
Hindenburg quickly moved his troops on strategic railroads to the
north, invaded Poland again between the Vistula and the Warta (Vol.
II, 462-481), almost succeeded in interposing between the Russian army
and Warsaw, and won the great victory of Lodz. (Vol. II, 466, 467.)
But Russian numbers saved the day. After terrific fighting and
tremendous losses the Russians got back to the Bzura line, which they
were to hold for nearly a year and the German advance was beaten down
in fighting wholly similar to that in Flanders. (Vol. II, 471-478.)

THE GALICIAN CAMPAIGN

Once more the Russian advance in Galicia was resumed. (Vol. III, 264.)
Russian armies never again approached Cracow, bu