g
the garrison, which leaked out at the time, were substantially
accurate. That jealousies broke out among the numerous races forming
the Austrian Army--especially between the Slavonic and Germanic
elements--is supported by strong evidence. The sentiments of the
Slav subjects of Austria leaned more toward Russia than the empire
of which they formed a considerable portion, while there was never
any love lost between them and the Magyars. However that may be,
the Slav regiments were reported to have refused obedience to the
general's order for the last sortie, which was eventually undertaken
by a force composed of the Twenty-third Hungarian Honved Division,
a regiment of Hussars, and a Landwehr brigade, altogether about
30,000 men. Everything depended upon the venture, for not only
were all their food supplies used up, but they had already eaten
most of their horses. Instead, therefore, of making southward to
where their comrades were fighting hard to tear themselves away
from the Carpathian passes, the sortie turned toward the east, in
the direction of Mosciska, twenty miles off, which was supposed to
be the Russian supply base. This attempted foraging expedition--for
it was nothing else--can only be defended on the broad general
principle that it is better to do something than nothing as a last
resort. Supplies were essential before any more could be undertaken
to cut a passage through the strong double set of Russian lines that
lay between the Carpathians and Przemysl; but that these supplies
were stored at Mosciska was a pure speculation. Further, considering
that the whole country was in their opponents' hands, a strength of
30,000 men was insufficient to attempt so hazardous an adventure.
Even if they succeeded in breaking through, their return to the
fortress was not assured. In that case, if they could not get back,
they would have to go forward: eastward lay Lemberg, held by the
Russians; northward was the Russian frontier, and southward stood
the Russian forces holding the passes. Thus, in any case, however
successful the expedition might prove, it meant breaking at least
twice through lines which the enemy had spent months in strengthening
or fortifying. Undeterred by the almost certain possibility of
failure, the expedition of the "forlorn hope" set out across the
plain of the San--and speedily came to grief. They had to pass by
the strongest Russian artillery position, which was stationed in
the low hollow t