FALL OF PRZEMYSL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15900, 24 April 1915, Page 9

FALL OF PRZEMYSL.

THE FINAL SCENES. REJOICINGS IN RUSSIA. A heavy snowstorm failed to check the enthusiastic demonstrations in which the civil and military populations of Petrograd unite 1 when the fall of Przemysl was announced. The crowds, floundering in deep drifts which tied up street traffic, cheered the officers and soldiers who remained to participate in the celebrations. From the Kazan Cathedral the strains of tho national anthem swelled in volume as the crowd gathered, and from other points throughout the city, mysteriously hidden behind the dense curtain of fallen snow, music burst forth and-added to the general spirit of erthusiasm.

Nothing sinco the capture of Lemberg ; nd the victorious sweep of the Russian Army through Oalicia in the beginning of the war aroused an equal degree of enthusiasm. Newspaper offices and army headquarters were bombarded with telephono inquiries for information. Tho crowds st.iod in the pelting snowstorm before Hie bulletit»boards. 'Hie following is the text of an order ifsuod by General Kusmanek to the garrison of the fortress on March 18, the day before the final sortie:—"Soldiers, for half a year we children of almost all nationalities of the beloved Fatherand have been incessantly opposing the enemy. With the help of God and your bravery we have successfully defended the fortress against the enemy, despite attacks, privations, and cold. You already merit the highest gratitude of your commander in chief and country, and have won the admiration even of the enemy. In the beloved Fatherland thousands of hearts beat for you and millions wait with bated breath for news of you. Heroes, 1 announce to you my last summons. The honour of your country demands it. I shall lead you to pierce with your points of steel the iron circle of the enemy. On, then, march on, even further, unsparing ill your efforts, until we rejoin the main army, which, after a hard light, now pears us. We aro on the eve of a great battle, for the enemy will be reluctant to abandon a prize he has coveted so long. Know then, true defenders of Przcmysl, each must have but one thought. That is, forward, over forward. Smash everything that bars your path. Soldiers, we have shared our last provisions. Tho honour of our country and ourselves forbids that after our glorious struggle wo rhould fall an easy prey to the enemy. Bo heroic, warriors, and we shall open the way."

Four thousand prisoners, mostly from Przemysl, have arrived here," wrote Renter's Kief correspondent, " They give a pitiable description of the starving condition of the garrison More the fall of the fortress. Numbers of the men, they say. were dropping from exhaustion, whilst others had not sufficient .strength to leave the trenches and ate moss and gnawed at tho straps of their equipment to keep themselves alive."

A Russian correspondent who set out from Lcmberg for Przemysl upon receipt of the news that the fortress had surrendered, sent a graphic account of the conditions prevailing there. On the way the correspondent passed Schcljhinie, where the Austrian* made their last desperate sortie three days before. The ground was still littered with bodies, which wore being removed by ambulances. Further on was seen a pillar of smoke, marking all that remained of the strongest of the outlying forts. On the other side of the road were trenches and barbedwire entanglements, with a dozen field guns protruding. Austrian officers, who retained their swords, and their men were passing as prisoners to the rear.

From Perekopague, a suburb of Przemy.sl, a clear view was obtained of the centre of the town. All the bridges had been destroyed by the Austrians, but the Russians had already constructed a pontoon bridge by which Austrian troops and the inhabitants were quitting the town. The Cossacks were waiting to go in.

At five, o'clock in the morning loud explosions were heard from every part of the fortress when the Austrians were blowing up the works preparatory to surrender. Then part of the Russian forces threw themselves within the fortifications, and by seven o'clock in the morning tho inner sections were in their hands, At tho same time, says the correspondent, tho Austrians shot their horses to prevent them from falling into the hands of tho Russians. In the meantime the Austrian representatives came out to announce the capitulation of the garrison and fortress. The town of Przomysl itself is intact. The outskirts alone suffered. The large civilian population, chiefly Jews, remained in the town.