RUSSIANS OCCUPY CAPITAL OF GALICIA

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2247, 5 September 1914, Page 7

RUSSIANS OCCUPY CAPITAL OF GALICIA

70,000 PRISONERS TAKEN ' TSAR'S TROOPS NOW FAR IN EAST PRUSSIA By Telegraph—Plcsa Association—Cosyright (Rec. September 4, 11.20 p.m.) Petrograd, September 4. It is officially Btated that during seven days the Russians teok over two hundred gune and 70,000 prisoners in Galioia. The Russiaußinowi occupy tho city of Lemberg, the capital of Galicia. " London, September 3. Vienna nowspapers say that neither victory nor defeat affects the Russian infantryman. Ho slowly out surely makes trenches, and if driven back, builds a new defence. The Austrians will have to buy every inch of ground with their blood.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. Amongst tho thousands of Austrian prisoners captured by the Russians iaro many Galieians, who declare that it would have been a betrayal of Austria for them not to- have fought. "Nevertheless," thoy say, "we can fight_.. against our natures. To be taken prisoners is the most agreeable way of quieting our consciences." Lemberg is the capital of the Crownland of Galicia, and.in point of population is tho fourth city of the Austriau Empire, coming after Vienna, Prague, arid Trieste. The city has a population of about 210,000, of whom over 80 per cont;-are Poles, 10 per cent. Germans, and 8 percent. Ruthenians; nearly 30 per cent/of the: population are Jews. The city is situated on the small river Peltew, an affluent of the Bug, in a valley in the Sarmintian plateau, and is surrounded by. hills, and lies 468 miles north-west of Vienna by rail, It is composed of the inner town and of four suburbs. The inkier tewn was formerly fortified, but the fortifications were transformed into pleasure grounds in 1811, Lemberg is the headquarters of the Austro-Hungarian Elevehth, Army Corps> and is the residence of Roman Catholic, .Greek' Catholic, and Armenian Archbishops, and has three cathedrals. The totyn hall is a fine building, with a tower 250 feet -high, and also notable are the hall of the estates, the industrial museum, the theatre, the palace of the Roman Catholic Archbishop, and several educational establishments. There are many, beautiful private buildings, broad and well-paved streets, and public gardens. The. university has 110. lecturers, and.is attended by over 2000 students. Industrially and commercially, Lsniberg is the moat important city in Galicia. - ' .'.-.• ' . OVER 1,000,000 MEN ENGAGED. (Rec. September 5, 0.10; a.m.)' ••■_■. „.„ , ■ ' , ■ ' Petrograd, September 4, morning. It is officially stated that apart from tho enermous number killed, the 'Austrians in Eastern Galioia lost forty thousand prisoners, including many generals. Therouto of the retreat was so encumbered with- carts, guns, and impedimenta that the pursuers were unable to use the roads. . \ ' Other advices state that a million men were engaged in tho operations, and that upwards of half the Austrian army was fighting in Southern Poland their left flank closely, co-operating with two German army corps facing Bros- . J3.U.' , ' ' The Austrian left sought to envelop the Russian forces in Poland, and the extremo right endeavoured to outflank the Podolia army from Kioff. Meanwhile the main Austrian force was directed at'the heart of the Russian position in Poland, but the enveloping movement in the west failed, and the Germans were withdrawn north to deal witfr the victorious Russian advance ' Austria's centre at Lublin, in Russian Poland, was vainly launched against Russia's finest battalions, while the Austrians' extreme right sustained terrible losses. - The worst blow was dealt by General Ruzik}\ The latter's force leaving Rovno, in Russia (about 120 miles north-east of Lemberg) advanced to the.south-west spreading fanwise to involve districts north and south of Lemberg, and threatening to cut the Lublin aumy's communications. STEADY ADVANCE IN EAST PRUSSIA. ~ ' , ■ ' ■' .■ „ . Petrograd, September 3. An official message states: "The Ruseians are maintaining a continuance of the oneneive. Tho cavalry penetrated far into the .interior of East Prussia Destroying the German communications, and occupying the important railwav . junction or Korschen, 4.5 miles south-east of Konigsberg. .• The Germans remain.inactive. A sortie at Kcnigsberg was unsuccessful. 'A MANOEUVRE THAT FAILED. (Rec. September 5, 1.25 a.m.) T ~ T '~.' . Petrograd, September 4. ini tue lemberg engagement the Austrians transferred several army corps from the west side of the Vietula, and moving them behind ' Lublin, hurled t,lem n °. ll , I General Ronzsky's forces. This desperate onslaught was attended, a*s officially announced, by a whole series of disasters to the Austrians. GERMAN LINE OF DEFENCE DRAWN BACK. '''.-." (Rec. September 5, 1.25 a.m.)- • ■ ■- ■■■• ' Petrograd, September 4.,/ Iresh berman troops are /Jaily appearing on the Eastern front, 'the Landeturm replaang them on the western side. Twelve forty-two centimetre guns have also been brought, and these were responsible for General Samsonoffs reverse. There are indications that after the reverse the Russiane counter-attacked, leading the Germaneto retreat. _ The Germans transferring their defence from the Thorn and Cracow front to the Poson-Cracow line. The abandonment of the defence of tho line of the river Warta represents a gain to the Russians, inasmuch as westward from Warta to the Oder (about 100 miles back), the German front is entirely exposed.