GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS IN THE CARPATHIANS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13745, 7 April 1915, Page 5

GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS IN THE CARPATHIANS.

Berne, April 5. German army <xjrps have left Flanders to assist the Austrians on the Carpathians. . ■

A large number of troops have been withdrawn from the Tyrol to stop the Russian advance.

THE STORY OF PRZEMYSL

LIFE OF THE GARRISON

OFFICERS IN LUXURY WHILE THE / MEN STARVED.

London, April 4. The correspondentoosf s "The Times," writing on "Przemysl: Its Story," says: "The impregnable fortress was two or three times over-garrisoned. i The patient, haggard soldiers were I starving in the trenches, whilst sleek, \ faultlessly-dressed officers were living 'on the fat of the land at fashionable i hotels and restaurants. The captured ! garrison consisted of 131,000■ men, 4000 officers ,and 40,000 civilians. '■ "Experts estimate that 50,000 cion could have held the fortress against any forces. When the food pinch came the situation became acute; all except the officers' and the cavalry transport horses were consumed. Cats sold at 8s each, and dogs at a sovereign apiece. When the garrison became

CABLE NEWS.

[Press Association—Copyrigbt.]

thin and half-starved the officers filled the cafes, played cards and billiards, and led the Vienna life. They did not share the hardships of the men; they had every luxury, while their own orderlies and servants begged for a slice of bread. Soldiers fell in the streets from weakness and hunger. The officers retained their pri vate'thoroughbred mounts until the day before the surrender, when 2000 of the animals were killed to prevent the Russians obtaining them. ;■*:■.

• A Russian officer states that when he entered the town he ■ saw halfcrazed Austrian and Hungarian soldiers tearing the horses' bodies, the men's faces and hands being smeared with blood while they were devouring the raw flesh. When it was obviously utterly impossible to hold out any longer the Austrians destroyed, with enormous charges of dynamite,, three bridges over the River San, the explosions breaking all the windows in that part of the town. Munitions and military stores were dumped in the river, the guns'ftne forts demolished, and the stocks of the rifles broken. When the destruction had been completed the Austrians asked for parlementaires. Three envoys were sent, and they discussed and accepted terms of capitulation, amounting to unconditional surrender.

"It was impossible to_ conceive a greater contrast than that between the businesslike Russian officers and the easy-going, dapper Austrians. The former looked to be serious, hard-fight-ing men ; the latter were wasp-waisted, in smart uniforms, with trailing sabres. They sauntered about, laughing and joking. "The Austrians throughout had plenty of ammunition. They greatly outnumbered the Russians; yet only one recent effort had been made to break out, the force taking part comprising 30,000 men—all Hungarians.

"The Austrians and Hungarians were first-class raw material; but now they are utterly broken and hopeless, this being due to their wretched 'officers, the most incompetent in Europe, who appear to have been parasites, not contributing to the defence of the fortress."