Russia

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 66, 13 November 1914, Page 5

Russia

REPORT FROM THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY. United Press Association. Loudon, November 11. The Russian Embassy announces that the Russian army has arrived within sight of Cracow, and a siege is imminent. The Austrian army has been surrounded and forced to accept decisive battle or capitulate. Retreat across the Carpathians is impossible. Another Russian army is marching towards Silesia. It has already arrived at Mekhov, enveloping the German right wing.

GERMAN CROWN PRINCE AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.

Paris, November 11. Le Matin’s Petrograd correspondent reports that the Kaiser presided over a council of war, which appointed the Crown Prince Comxnander-in-Chief of the Austro-German armies aaginst the Russians. General Von Hindenburg commands the left wing, and General Denkyl the® right. SUCCESS ATTENDS THE RUSSIAN ARMS. Petrograd, November 12. Official.—The Russians in East Prussia approached the eastern outlets of the Masurian lakes. There have been engagements favourable to our arms at Goldap, Olava, and Soldau. Our vig orous offensive movements in Gnlic:i continues. REPORTED CAPTURE OF GERMAN GENERAL AND STAFF. Times and Sydney Sun See vices. (Received 8 a.m ) London, November 12. It is reported that at t lie battle of Leiradz, the Russians captured General Von Makenge with his staff. OFFICIAL. Per Press Association. Wellington, November 12. The Prime Minister has received the following message from the High Commissioner, dated London, November 1 • ' 'V" 1 \!' , r i[ ! : Official: A correspondent at the Russian headquarters statesi he' has just made a journey over the country between Warsaw and Cracow, where the Russian advance is proceeding.. He states that events are rapidly converging the new advance west of Warsaw from a counter-stroke into a general transference of. the sphere of operations, and a most valuable rectification of the whole of the Russian line. In East, Prussia the Germans are slowly driven hack by a double turning movement. Further westward the northern frontier of Poland is well secured. The Ru^ians ! Eave'liccupied, and hold firmly, Plock, Lodz, Petrikaukiece, Sandomir, and Jaroslay, and all the other passages of the River San. On the repulse of the German attack at Warsaw the enemy were pressed back to' the south-westward. After three weeks’ continuous fighting near Ivangorbd, thefainous. Caucasian Regiment forced the passage of the Vistula under fire of the German artillery, .and the advance guard crossed the brbad stream in skiffs and ferry boats, which held good under a devastating cross-fire till the construction of a pontoon bridge allowed a passage. Reinforcements and supports coming along the river hank at Ivangorod had to advance through flooded swamps almost br'east high, but their footing was made good at Kosenice, where there was desperate fighting later. They made a series of brilliant attacks in the forests, after which the Germans were thrown back on Badom. A general advance drove back the enemy beyond Radom. At the small town of Szidlewice the German commander threatened that, as the Russians approached, he would blow up the remarkable Town Hall, which is Florentine in style, and conspicuous for thirty miles around, and the town contains a beautiful Gothic church, 600 years old. The inhabitants offered to ransom the town by a contribution of 5000 crowns, and the offer was accepted, but twenty minutes later the Town Hall was blown up, and the church followed a quarter of an hour later. In front of Kielce the Austrians were abandoned by the Germans, who retired and made a stand near Lesezina, on a high sandy position, with a large fir copse in the centre, extending over a wide front. The attack delivered by the Russian corps, including a division mainly composed of Poles, fell chiefly on the Austrian-Polish regiment from Cracow. The assailants kept up their fire all day, and finally rushed the enemy’s rifle-pits. The Austrians left Kielce at night, some being captured by the Russians, who. close upon their heels, pursued the enemy for miles, and brought them into action later the same day. The next day Russian artillery was also heard south-east of Cracow. The Germans retreated in the direction of Czenstochow.

During the three weeks’ fighting, which was in characteristic Russian style, bayonet attacks were kept up for ;two hours, and the small units eagerly attacked larger hostile ones. In genleral, the Russians outflanked the jenemy. In one case they broke through 'the centre, and often the Russian artillery caused the enemy to decamp in j the night. The officers describe the enthusiasm of both rank and file as growing, and being clearly visible in the rear of the army, where it is shown by the energy with which the transport is being pushed up. The enemy thoroughly destroyed the bridges, but they wore quickly repaired. Meanwhile th» ardor of the troops and transport trains minimises the delay. | The German rifle Are is superior to

that of the Austrian regiments officer- . ed by Germans. The Austrian Slavonic ' regiments resist well for two or three days, and thou break up or surrender. | Large bodies sometimes asked guides v: to take them to the Russian lines. ; The inhabitants speak well of tfafc | Austrians, but with indignation of this Germans. Prisoners confirm the bW ■ relations between the allied armies, pi , Austrians and Germans. When captured, they are kept apart; There is ample evidence of the-en-thusiasm of the Poles for the Russian cause. They show the greatest cour- ffl tesy and kindness, especially in the vil- | lages. All the evidence of the prison*.' r ers shows' that the Russians are trbit- f ing them as well as their own com* | radea. The theatre of the present operations . is of crucial importance. Though Austria and Germany have joined hands, I serious reverses will compel them eith- *1 er to retreat on diverging lines, or pose their capitals. Either event will have political consequences and the highest military significance.