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The Year 1915
On 2 May, on the Southwest Front, the Austro-Germans, using gas shells, struck at the center of Radko-Dmitriev's 3rd Russian Army, which was holding a 230 km front. The Germans broke their lines on a 40 km front, driving the Russian X Corps back between Gorlice and Tarnow. von Mackensen's forces moved along railroad lines towards Rzeszow and Jaroslau. The Russian IX Corps, under heavy bombardment, was forced to abandon the lower Dunajec and withdraw east. The Russian III Caucasian Corps was thrown against the advancing Germans at Jaslo, but it was too weak and swept aside, losing 34,000 men.
On the Southwest Front, the Russian XXI Corps failed in an attempt at a counteroffensive through Krosno. The Germans overwhelmed the Russian XXIV Corps in their crossing of the San River.
The Germans under von Mackensen had one Balloon Section and four Feldfliegerabteilung, FFl.Abt.1, 8, 21, and 69, plus the BAO heavy bombing unit, with over 60 aircraft. They prepared the way with extensive aerial photo reconnaissance. Over the next two weeks German aircraft carried out continual observation missions to report daily on the mounting Russian withdrawal. One BAO flight, led by Hauptman Muller was attached to the Austro-Hungarian VI Corps.
In the Black Sea, Russian warships, supported by flying boats from seaplane carrier Imperator Nikolai I, bombarded forts at the mouth of the Bosporus. They repeated the action on the 3rd and 4th.
On 3 May, on the Northwest Front, the Germans reached Mitau on the coast. The advance stalled in heavy fighting. The Germans reported taking 8,200 prisoners.
General Radko-Dmitriev telegraphed General Ivanov, commander of the Southwest Front, “I cannot report the exact amount of cartridges available, but I am informed that stocks of the columns in battle are almost exhausted.” Ivanov's 3rd Army had about 319,000 men, 600 m/g, 675 light guns and four heavy guns, opposed by the Austro-Germans with 375,400 men, 660 m/g, 1272 light guns and 334 heavy guns. The Austro-Germans made rapid progress in Galicia and the Carpathians, with their left wing having crossed the Dunajec, 65 km north of Krakau.
In the Black Sea, Russian warships attacked Turkish shipping off the Anatolian coast. Russian seaplane carrier Imperator Aleksandr I sortied for the first time. She became inactice after April 1917.
The Tsar toured the munitions works at Bryansk. The following day he visited another at Tver. He returned to Tsarskoe Selo on the 5th.
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The Year 1915
At Rome, Italian Prime Minister Salandra denounced the Triple Alliance, which included Austria-Hungary and Germany.
German War Ministry's Colonel Paul Oschmann approved the formation of the Central Acceptance Commission, to deal with aircraft procurement. It was eight months before he was able to fully implement its functions.
On 4 May, on the Southwest Front, the German 11th Army was rapidly advancing, having taken Zurowa, Olpiny, Sieptienica, Biecz, Lipniki, and Cieklin. The Austro-Hungarian 4th Army took Tuchow. The demoralized Russian 3rd Army was in headlong retreat to the San River.
On 5 May, on the Northwest Front, the German 8th Army was checked south of Mitau. German 10th Army artillery shelled Grodno.
A telegram from General Radko-Dmitriev to Southwest Front commander General Ivanov stated, “The assigned supplies of artillery shells are insufficient for even routine needs. We urgently need a fresh supply of artillery.”
On 6 May, on the Southwest Front, German airmen reported a general Russian retreat in the Gorlice sector. The German 11th Army crossed the Wisloka River at Jaslo and Frysztak. Further north the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army occupied Tarnow.
On the Caucasian Front, the Russians opened drives at Tortum and Erzerum.
On 7 May, a meeting was held at Teschen, Austro-Hungarian headquarters. The German Chancellor, von Falkenhayn, Conrad and Austro-Hungarian Premiers Count Stuergkh and Count Tisza, held discussions on the new military situation and Italy's imminent entry into the war. They ordered that steps be taken to prevent the weakening of the front in the west and the east.
On the Southwest Front, the rapidly advancing German 11th Army began wheeling south, threatening the rear of the Russian 8th Army. The Russians were evacuating Jaslo.
Russian ammunition supply was failing everywhere. U.S. Military Attache to Russia, 1st Lieutenant Sherman Miles, reported the serious “lack of ammunition, lack of sufficient company and field grade officers with training, lack of facilities for concentration of troops at vital points,” adding, “dishonesty and incompetence of the bureaucracy is one of the main disadvantages.”
On the Turkish Front, massacres of Armenian Christians continued in the Ottoman Empire.
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