RECENT RUSSIAN REVERSE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 94, 17 October 1914, Page 7

RECENT RUSSIAN REVERSE

THE ENGAGEMENT AT OSTERODE RENNENKAMPF'S MEN BOGGED (Pieceived October 17. 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, 16th October. The following is the first detailed account of the Osterode disaster : General Rennenkampf, the Russian commander, seemed certain that he would capture Konigsberg, but when General Shilinski's army advanced in two bodies— one via Lyck, the other by way of Soldau— the Germans allowed the Russian vanguard to emerge from the swamps and reach firm ground at Osterode. General Hindenberg, who had previously experienced this identical problem in manoeuvres on that very ground, hurried up his artillery from Thorn and Graucienz, and, reinforcements from the Rhine and Belgium having arrived, hurled his forces upon the Russians at Neidenburg. The Russians were driven into the swampy country surrounding a lake. The Gorman reserves were then thrown on the Ruasian right at Ortelobuig, forcing it also into the swamps. .The Germans next occupied high ground on

three sides of a lake. Towards evening the Germans closed in, and concentrated their fire on the Russians, who were unable to manoeuvre. The Russian guns sank in the swamp, and horses and men were bogged. Only the 6th and half of the Ist Army Corps escaped across the frontier. General Hindenberg then marched ninety-four miles in four days, to cut off General Rennenkampf, but the latter had already taken precautions, having sent a force to Lyck and many men to Suwalki. The Germans defeated the Lyck force, but General Rennenkampf was able to retreat in good order. [The- advance of Shilinski's army, as described above, was from the southeast and south. Lyck is close to the Prussian border, south-east of Konigsberg, and is connected by a main railway with the fortress town ; and Soldau is a little west by south of Konigsberg, and is also just over the border The whole of the southern part of East Prussia is dotted with lakes, big and little, and swampy areas. Osterode is thirty miles north-north-west of Soldau. Thorn and Graudenz are two great fortresses on the Vistula, Thorn being seventy-five miles south-west, and Graudenz fifty-five miles west-south-west of Osterode. Neidenberg is about fifteen miles north-east of Soldau, so that an attack upon it would cut off the Russians at Osterode from Soldau.] COSSACK DASH (Received October 17, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 16th October. A Daily Mail correspondent, who daringly penetrated East Prussia, witnessed the fighting at Augustow. In one case a troop of Cossacks, attacking the German batteries, collected sheep and cattle, and drove them to the German entrenchments, and then charged their horses over the platform of fleah, Babring the gunners in the trenches. RUSSIANS DEFEAT THE AUSTRIANS PETROGRAD, 15th October. Official. — The Russians defeated the Austrians south of Przemysl. Five hundred prisoners were captured, also several machine guns. PETROGRAD, 16th October. The Russians are ceaselessly bombarding Przemysl. Three thousand Austrians sortied on Wednesday, and a Russian regiment allowed the enemy to approach within easy range, and then opened fire with mitrailleuses, annihilate ing them. Fighting is proceeding thirty miles west of Warsaw. The German advance guard was repulsed after a severe engagement seven miles from the city. The Russian cavalry beyond the Carpathians were successful in a great exploit. One squadron intercepted a troop train. The commander leapt on the engine, stopped the train, and all the Hungarians were slain, artd large supplies captured. AUSTROGERMAN FORCES SUFFER A REVERSE ROME, 15th October. The Messagero's Petrograd correspondent states that the Austro-German forces were completely defeated near Warsaw, and suffered great losses.