The Retreat from Warsaw.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 429, 7 August 1915, Page 5

The Retreat from Warsaw.

Evacuation Carried out in Perfect Order. Everything of Military Use Carried x Away. Countryside Laid Waste with Fire and Sword. Russians Preparing to Surrender Kovnc . Enemy Reported to Retreat from Vicinity of Riga. (.PBHM AAAOCIATiON COI-YRISMT.j : Revetted 7, (). |o a.m.) Petrograd, Aug. 6. The newspapers are unanimous in declaring that the evacuation of Warsaw strengthens Russia’s determination to pursue the war to a victorious end. A letter from Warsaw, dated Tuesday, slated that provisions were at famine prices. A party of Uhlan scout-; who crossed the V istula were taken prisoner. During the advance from the Vistula the Germans encountered innumerable hres. t hey were consequently preceded by military firemen. Ostradorff, Groitzc and Blonie were in flames when occupied by the enemy. The last of the Russian troops left Warsaw ai 5 o’clock on Thursday morning. The evacuation was carried out in perfect order, even the street letter-boxes being taken to Moscow. Most nf the shops were closed. Enemv aeroplanes, to the last moment, dropped bombs on the city. The decision to abandon Warsaw seems to have been precipitated by the advance of grea* German ton es on the left o| the Narew in the direction nt Ost rev. Petrograd, Aug. f>-

OFFICIAL.--111 xiew of lhe general situation, the troops west of Warsaw were ordered to fall hack and fight on the Vistula. The troops nt s o’clock on the morning ot the 5111 withdrew without being attacked, and crossed the \is.ula. They blew up all the bridges. The situation of Warsaw on August 3rd was complicated by a third German menace in the shape of the crossing of the Vistula threatening die Brest line of communication. General von Wovrsch crossed on two pontoon bridges at Maciejowice (on the Okrejka, 15 miles north-west of Ivangorod), meeting no serious resistance until Saturday, when he was thrown back heavily to the river with the loss of Soo prisoners. The Germans skill retained the bridgeheads and fought stubbornly, pouring reinforcements over with such speed that four divisions were across the Vistula on Sunday afternoon, and forcer! the Russians to retire on G.arwolm on the right bank of the Vistula, midway between Warsaw and Lublin'.

. General \on Woyrsch’s offensive was pushed with desperation, and proved the tix-i serious attack menacing Warsaw. The Ru ssians’ communications were excellent, but after three months’ constant fighting it is becoming difficult to throw large masses of reserves when so many points are attacked simultaneously.

Eye-witnesses marvel that human beings can live in the hell which the German artillery is creating in Poland, jet the Russian soldiers fight, and later when the cncr.iv’s guns arc in full blast block the rush attack, dealing blows as terrible as unexpected.

There was great fighting all day long on Tuesday on a 3;milc front against General von Mackenz.isen’s and the Archduke’s packed batteries. After the trenches were destroyed, the Russians took refuge in shell pits. When night came they charged General von Alackenziscn’s phalanx and droxe it in headlong flight. It is a pity such a noble xictnrx - was only a stage in a retreat. The machinery of the Warsaw factories was brought to Moscow. Great German cavalry raids from Courland upon the Warsaw-Petrograd railway are now expected.

General Dimitrieff has resumed command of his former armv defending Ivangorod. The troops engaged were the latest irruption arrived from France three days ago. With fresh troops and unlimited shells the Germans are slowly pushing the Russians back at terrible cost. Even at this late hour the Russians might hold out, but each day brings reports of fresh divisions supporting the enemy. The country beyond the Missa. river is only suitable for rearguard actions. The streets are packed with dense crowds and the stations besieged. THE FLAMINC TORCH OF WAR. BURNING VILLAGES AND FARMS EVERYWHERE.

Amsterdam, Aug. 6. The correspondent of the “ Lokal Anzieger ” telegraphs that the Russians left Nadarzyn, south-west of Warsaw, yesterday after burning down the town. People can be seen hurrying along the roads with rheir property and a great number of cattle. Burning villages and farms are seen everywhere. All the roads are placarded, “We are twelve kilometres from Warsaw.” ENEMY PLANS FOR POLAND'S FUTURE. NEW KINGDOM UNDER THE HOHENZOLLERNS AND HAPSBURGS. London, Aug. 6. The ‘‘Daily Chronicle” says that diplomatic circles .arc of opinion that German}’ will proclaim a. new Kingdom of Poland under Hohenzollern and Hapsburg suzerainty, with the Archduke Paul Stephen of Austria as King. It will comprise Russian Poland, Posen, and the greater part of Galicia. The Archduke is a nephew of the Emperor Francis Joseph, and has long lived in Galicia, where lie is popular. His two daughters are married to members of the Polish aristocracy. The Poles, however, are unlikely to be deceived by Prussian blague after their previous bitter experiences of German rule. WILD REJOICINGS IN BERLIN. HERALDS YELL THE NEWS. Amsterdam, Aug. 6. The streets of Berlin are beilaggcd, and church bells are ringing. The entire population was in a transport of joy over the fall of Warsaw. The newspapers are piibli-.hmg long articles upon the fa’l. poinfingout the importance of the fortress and paying a tribute to the splendid deeds of the Aiistrn-German leaders and troops. The fall of Warsaw cau-ed great demonstrations anil extraordinary scenes throughout Germain. The official bulletins indicate that the Russians retreated in good order, and that little boot} was left and nothing ol military value. It is announced that August rth will be entered in (icrman calendars as Warsaw Day. The Kaiser telephoned the news of the fall of Warsaw to the Kaiserin, who ordered General von Kessel, commander of Berlin, to despatch cyclists throughout the capital. A hundred cyclists dashed through the streets yelling the news. Civilians kissed the policemen, crowds sang the National Ap>jyni, and the schools were closed. WfC* Bavarian population were almost demented with joy, and churches everywhere were crowded with thanksgivers.

IVANGOROD OCCUPIED BY THE ENEMY.

FORTS INCAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING SIEGE. Received 7, <8.5 a.m.) Amsterdam, Aug. 6. An official Vienna telegram says Ivangorod has been occupied. Petrograd, Aug. 6. The Russians at Ivangorod have evacuated the left bank of the river Vistula, blowing up the bridges. 'Received 7, 8.5 a.m.) Petrograd, Aug. 6. OFFICIAL.—The forts of Ivangorod were constructed almost entirely of brick, and not filled with the materials necessary for modern fortifications. Tn view of the impossibility of sustaining the siege, all the stores were methodically withdrawn in time.

Our rearguards stopperl the enemy’s progress for a few days on a. few lines of fieldworks without sanguinary combats.

On the 4th inst., in conformity with the general plan, we blew up several concrete bases wherein brick casemates rested, and retreated.

RUSSIANS ABANDONING KOVNO.

RETIREMENT TO NOVO ALEXANDROVSK. ( Received 7, Q. 1 3 a.m.) Copenhagen, Aug. 6. The “ Vossische Zeitung ” says the Russians have completed their preparations for the evacuation of Kovno. The Governor and civil officers, taking wifh them the archives, have gone to Novo Alexandrovsk. Half lhe civilians have also gone. The wounded have been sent to Central Russia. THE POSITION AT RICA. ENEMY REPORTED TO RE RETREATING IN HASTE. Petrograd, Aug. 6. In the direction of Riga, the enemy retreated in great haste from Missa. to F.kau, abandoning large munitions.

The enemy advanced slightlv east nf Poneviezh, south-east of Shavlv.

REPORTS FROM FIRINC LINE.

BATTLES ON THE VARIOUS SECTORS. Petrograd, Aug. 6. The enemy has asuumed the offensive on the OstrolrnkaRozan front towards Ost row 28 miles south-west of Lomz.a.) with considerable forces. A An extremely desperate battle took place on the 4th, on the Oje sector, where the enemv crossed the river at several points. We repulsed attacks souili of the Blonie mad, west of Warsaw. on the 41 h. lhe enemy advanced to our entanglements, where they were slopped and suffered enormously. We wore not molested in crossing the Vistula nt Ivangorod. We drove back the Germans between the Vistula and thy Bug on the evening of the 3rd, inflicting enormous losses. We were thus enabled to occupy a better front on the left bank of the Bug, also in the direction of Vladimir Volynsk, north of Sokal. LATEST GERMAN BULLETIN. RUSSIANS OCCUPY A SUBURB OF WARSAW. 'Received 7, 12.20 p.m.) Amsterdam, Aug. 6. A German communique -Mates: — We fought successful cavalry battles at Popel, 60 kilometres north of Poniewicz, and near Koxarsk Kourkle, north-west of Wilkomierz. Despite stubborn resistance on the Narew, we have further progressed between the north bank of the Bug and Nasielsk.

A detachment of troops investing Novo Georgicvsk broke through the position at Blendostovo, and advanced further. Our airship squadron threw bombs on railway buildings at Bialystok. The Russians, after being expelled from the Warsaw fortifications, without-doing damage to the city, retreated to Pragna, a. suburb on the opposite side of the river. General Mackenzisen’s armies continue to pursue the enemy. The Allies have expelled the Russians from their positions north-west of Novo Alexandraia. THE AUSTRIAN VERSION. PURSUING THE RUSSIANS. Vienna, Aug. 6. A Vienna communique records that Prince Leopold of Bavaria has reached Warsaw. The Ausrro-Germans between the Vistula and the Bug are pursuing the Russians, fighting battles on route. Austrian cavalry reached Ustihia (a. few miles north of V’ladimir Volynsk ' and the Germans Vladimir Volynsk (north of Sokal).