Russia.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 292, 8 December 1914, Page 5

Russia.

GERMANS CLAIM VICTORY. United Press Association. (Received 11.30 a.m.) Amsterdam, December 7. An official message trom Berlin states that the Germans have had a decisive success in repelling strong forces to the north-west and south, west of Lodz. The result of the battle cannot yet be estimated owing to the extensive area, but the Russian losses were very heavy.

RECENT OPERATIONS.

London, December 7. The Daily Telegraph’s Petrograd correspondent reports that on Friday the Germans were heavily reinforced, and carried on an aggressive offensive for three days. The Germans are in a strong position, whence it is difficult to dislodge them, in a wedge based on Thorn and Kalisch, with its apex at Dowicz. They thus control only a section of the railroads. The Germans lost 160,000 effectives in the battle of Lodz. The Austrians lost 100,000 in coincident operations at Czenstochowa and Cracow. Correspondents state that five army corps and five cavalry divisions reached Kalisz from the west from Ist December onwards. The Germans are attempting to hold the centre with two or three army corps, while the flanks, each consisting of four or five army corps, attempted turning movements.

The Russian commanders are glad to fight at a distance from the German frontier, where strategic railways greatly assist the enemy. Russian soldiers were delighted with the opportunities for hand-fighting with the, bayonet, owing to the frost making the Germans’ steam plough trenclu makers of little use.

Many instances are recorded of wonderful Russian dash and bravery. One regiment charged a German howitzer battery. The centre broke before the hellish fire, but the flanks cut down the gunners, captured the howitzers, and cleared the way for an infantry attack on the village of ,Kurpin, where the Germans, taking refuge, were burnt alive when the Russian shells set the huts afire. The Siberians marched 60 miles to reach the heights dominating 'he country south of Lodz. Finding the Germans in possession, they gave no time to entrench, but begged their commander to allow them to -form the heights the same night. The Gormans repulsed the first attacks, and attempted the offensive, when the Siberian counter-offensive hurled- the Germans from the heights leaving piles of dead.

Lodz has been bombarded for several days and nights. Fighting occurred in the suburbs, in which small bodies of Germans were driven back. A Berlin communique claims that the Germans have occupied Lodz,’ and that the Russians are retreating, having suffered severe losses.

FLEEING FROM CRACOW. London, December 6. The German losses in five days spent near Lodz are estimated at 100,000. The inhabitants of Cracow are fleeing, where their presence is causing discontent among the working classes. The Germans are believed to be desirous of wintering in their immense entrenched lines, extending from the Vistula to Cracow.

MADHOUSE BOMBARDED. (Received 8.50 d.m.) Petrograd, December 7. The Germans bombarded a madhouse on the outskirts of Lodz. Scores of lunatics jumped from the windows, and many were burnt to deat i. REPORTED GERMAN CAPTURES. Petrograd, December 7. (Received 8.50 a.m.l An official statement ridicules the German claim that General Hindenberg captured 60,000 prisonrs, 150 guns, and 200 machine guns, and also that they captured 12,000 prisoners and 25 guns in a three days’ battle. The reports were purely imaginative. The Germans carefully conceal their own losses, including twenty-three guns in a single district. Witnesses of previous wars state they have never seen such sights as the roads after the German retreat from Stiykoff. At some points whe’e we attacked the flanks, the German dead was piled a metre (over 3ft. ) high. All the inhabitants of the d* strict are now at work burying the deal. Several German divisions, speci illy the Guards, were so severely t ’ : ed during their efforts to escape that they completely disappeared from the fighting line. SPARING THE ARTILLERY. AUSTRIANS’ “CANNY” MOVE. (Received 10.50 a.m.l Petrograd, December 7. , The military critic of 4 he Bourse Gazette comments on the small percentage of Austrian artillery captured compared with other arms of the service. Official: A war messenger explains that since December 2nd the Australis have retreated in Poland and the Austrian artillery is invariably withdrawn before the final battle issue. The Gazette declares that this amounts to an admission that the Austrians begin to retreat before they are actually defeated. The journal a'so points nut the large proportion of commissioned officers among the Austrian captives, in striking contrast to the German officers, who fell fighting. I