WARSAW CAPTURED BY THE ENEMY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2534, 7 August 1915, Page 5

WARSAW CAPTURED BY THE ENEMY

CITY OCCUPIED ON THURSDAY Jf--RUSSIAN REARGUARD'S STUBBORN 1 • RESISTANCE ' By Teleerapli—Press'AEeoeiation—Ooiyiljht • . Ww York, August 5. Berlin Official.—Warsaw lias been., taken. . 'A German wireless reports the fall of Warsaw. j August o. . , _ , Amsterdam, August 5. It is reported from Berlin that Prince Leopold of Bavaria's army 011 Wednesday night captured the outer inner lino of the forts' of Warsaw, tho Russian rearguards stubbornly resisting. The Germans occupied the city on Thursday morning. Many, buildings at Konigsberg have been converted into hospitals to accommodate the flood of wounded from the East front. Tho Russians arc contesting every yard, inflicting terrible losses, 'All the towns in East Prussia aro overflowing with wounded. BEAVE'AND DESPERATE COUNTER-ATTACK BY THE RUS- ' . SIANS. . ... , , . Amsterdam, August 5. A Berlin communique States:—Wo took prisoners 2225 men in-the vicinity of Poniewicz. : Tho armies of Generals von Scholz and von Gallwitz aro progressing towards tho LomzarOstrof-Vyskof Road. •. There were brave and desperate, but unsuccessful counter-attacks by tho Russians on both sides of tho road. Twenty-two officers, 4840 men and 17, machine-guns were captured. ■ ' The message confirms the occupation' of Warsaw,, after a stubborn Russian rearguard resistance. The situation at Ivangorod is unchanged. German cavalry aro at Vladimir Volynski< RUSSIANS. RETREATED IN GOOD ORDER, (Rec. August 6, 3 p.m.) , , , . Amsterdam, August 6. The fall of Warsaw caused! a great demonstration and extraordinary scenes of enthusiasm throughout Germany. Official bulletins indicate that the Russians retreated in order Little booty was loft, and nothing of military value. It is announced that August the fifth will bo entered in this German calendars as "Warsaw Day.'- " '■ THE POLISH- CAPITAL AND ITS STORY • Warsaw in point of population is the twentieth city of tho world. It is larger than any city in the United Kingdom outside of London, and tho only city in Germany that exceeds it in size is Hamburg. With its population of 827.000 it is about one-third larger than Brussels. New Zealanders will best appreciate its sino when it is stated that it has 170,000. more inhabitants than Sydney. Tho city is beautifully situated on the west bank of tho Vistula, and is distant by rail 387 miles from Berlin and 695 miles from Pctrograd. it stands on a terrace 120 to 130 fect above the river to which it descends by steep slopes, leaving a broad bench at its base. Tho suburb of Praga, on tho opposite bank of tho Vistula, which is hero 450 to 060 yards broad, is connected with Warsaw by two bridges—tbs railway bridge, which passes closo under tho guns of tho Alexander citadel to the north, and tho Alexander Bridge (1666 ft. long; built in 1860 at a cost of £634,000), in tho centre of tho two. With its large papulation, its beautiful river, _ its amplo communications, and its commerce, its university and scientific societies, its palaces and numerous places of amusement, Warsaw is 0110 of tho most animated citics of Eastern Europe. Situated in a fertilo plain, on a gr c at navigable river, below its confluence with tho Pilica and'tho Viepr.v, which drain Southern Poland, and abovo its confluence with the Narew and Bug, which tap a wido region to tho east, Warsaw became in medieval times tho chief entrepot for the trade of those fertilo and populous valleys with Western Europe. It is connected with six trunk railway lines with Vienna, Kieff, and south-western Russia, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Danzig, and Berlin. Tho city possesses important iron and steel industries. and manufactures of plated silver, carriages, hoots, and shoes (annual turnover £8,157,000), millinery, hosiery, gloves, tobacco, sugar, and all sorts of small artistic house decorations. 'l'ho population lias grown rapidly, from 161,008 in 1860, 276,000 in 1872, and 436,750 in 1887, to 756,426 in 1301. The streets of Warsaw are adorned with many f'lllo buildings, partly palaces. illustrating tho Polish uohility's love of display, partly churches and cathedrals..and partly public buildings erected by the municipality or private bodies. Fine public gardens and sovcr a l monuments further embellish the city. Tho university has a remarltabl e library of more than 500,000 volumes, rich natural history collections, a fine botanic garden, and an astronomical observatory. Tho theatre for Polish drama ancl t| )o ballet is a fino building which includes two theatres under the same roof ; bttk the pride oC Warsaw is its theatre in the lazicnki_Gardens, which were laid out in tho eighteenth century in ail old bed of tho Vistula by King Stanislaus Poniatowski, and have beautiful shady alleys, artificial ponds, an elegant'little palace, several imperial villas, and a monument to John Sobieski. King 0 f Poland, who delivered Vienna from tho Turks in 1683. Here an artificial • ru ; n 011 ail island makes an open-air theatre. In tho Church of tho Holy Ghost is the heart and monument of IV F. Chopin, the musician, and a. monument, t () tho astronomer Coperiilgua. 11l ..the outskirts oJE Warsaw we many i e§a jialams,

The history of AVarsaw from the sixtoonth century on is intimately conncetcd with that of l'oland. Tho precise date of tho foundation of tho town is not known, but a castle is supposed to havo been erected on its site by Conrad, Duke of Mayovia, in tho ninth century. Until 1520 it was tho residence of tho Dukes of Mazovia, but when their dynasty beenmo extinct it was annexed to Poland. When Poland and Lithuania wero united, AVarsaw was chosen as the Royal residence. Sigismund Augustus (AVasa) mado it in 1550 the real capital of Poland, and from 1572 onwards the election of tho Kings of Poland took placo on the field of AVola, on tho western outskirts of the city. From tho 17th century possession of AVarsaw was continually disputed between the Swedes, tho Russians, tho Brandenburgers. and the Austrian.?. In 1764 the Russians took possession of the town, and secured the election of Stanislaus Poniatowski, which led in 1773 to tho first partition of Poland. In November, 1794, tho Russians took it again, but tho next year, in the third partition of Poland, Warsaw was given to Prussia. In November, 1806, tho town was occupied by the troops of Napoleon, and after the poaco of Tilsit, in 1807, was made tho capital of tho independent Duchy of AVarsaw; but tlio Austrians seized it on April 21, 1809, and kept possession of it until Juno 2, when it ouco moro became independent. The Russians finally took it on February 8, 1813. GREAT REJOICINGS IN BERLIN, (Rec, August C, 7.35 p.m.) Amsterdam, August 6. Tho streets of Berlin are beflagged. tho churoh bells are ringing, and the entire population is in a transport of joy over the fall of AVarsaw. The newspapers are publishing long articles upon the fall, pointing out tho importance' of the fortress, and paying tributes to the splendid deeds of the Austro-Ger-man leaders and troops. DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE GERMAN PRESS, I ("Times"- and Sydnoy "Sun"- Services.) London, 'August 5. The German Press is disappointed at the delays on tho Eastern front, wliich is not keeping paco with expectations. The Empress and tlio Crown Princcs left for Warsaw last week, but got no further than Konigsborg. _ The Berlin "Lokal Anzeiger" suggests that in awaiting the arrival of heavy artillery, the Generals were too humane to risk German troops to storm AVarsaiy. . AVESTERN 'ALLIES ,AVERE TO TAKE THE OFFEN- . _ Petrograd, 'August 5. The War Office denies that tho Government lias issued an official Note of any kind regarding tho desirability of an Allied offensive in the West. ."AVE ARE 12 KILOMETRES FROI WARSAW."(Rec. August 6, 9 p.m.) Amsterdam, August 6. r A correspondent of the "Lokal Anzeiger" telegraphs that the Russians left Nadarschin yesterday after buriiing down the town. .The people can bo seen hurrying on the roads with their property and a great number of ctttle, and burning villages and farms are to bo seen everywhere. All the roads are placarded, ''AYe are twelvo kilometres from AVarsaw." REGENERATION OF. THE GREAT, RUSSIAN. PEOPLE. London, August 5. Mr. Lloyd George addressed 10,000 AVelshmen at tho Eisteddfodd at Bangor. Ho said lie liad no anxiety for tho ultimate issuo of tho terrible conflict. He viewed tho dark clouds rolling up in the East with anxiety, but not with dread. Ho coulcl seo a roy of hope on the horizon—namely, the regeneration, of the great Russian people. Our enemies could not understand what they wero doing in tho East. Their mighty cannonading and hammering was shattering tho bars that wero fettering the soul of Russian. "Austria and Prussia," ho said, "aro doing to-day for Russia what their ancestors did.for France. They aro hammering the sword that will destroy them. Our duty is clear. Tlio weight of the world is on Britain's shoulders. If wo aro overweighted, wo sink out of sight; our freedom goes.' l FURTHER SHORTENING OF THE RUSSIAN; LINE, (Rec. August 6, 7.35 p.m.) Petrograd, August 6. Tlio Russians at Ivangorod have evacuated, .the loft bank of tho river; blowing up the bridges. . / AN AUSTRIAN COMMUNIQUE, . (Rec. August 6, 9.20 p.m.) London, August 0. A' Vienna communique records that Prince Leopold of Bavaria has reached Warsaw. The Austro-Germans .between {lie Vistula and tho Bug are pursuing the Russians, and are fighting battles en route. Austrian cavalry reached Ustilug, and Gorman cavalry .Vladimir and Volyuski. ' . RUSSIAN CLERGY LEAVING RIGA. Petrograd, August U. Tho Archbishop of Riga and the clergy Lave left Riga. Fighting continues near the Messa River, ten miles south. ' POSSIBLE NEW KINGDOM OF POLAND THE OPINION CURRENT IN DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES. (Rec. August 6, 9 p.m.) London, 'August 6. The "Daily Chronicle" states that diplomatic circles opine that Germany will proclaim a new kingdom of Poland, under Holienzollern-Hapsburg suzerainty, with tho Archduko Paul Stephan, an Austrian, as king, and comprising Russian Poland, Rosen, and tho greater part of Galicia._ Tlie_ Archduke is a nephew of Emperor Francis Joseph, and has long lived in Galicia, where ho is popular, and his two daughters are married to members of Polish aristocracy. Tho Poles, however, are unlikely to bo deceived by the Prussian blague (vain boasting) after tho previous bitter experiences under German.rule,.: AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF MODERN WAR. (Rec. August 6, 9.20 p.m.) Petrograd, August 6. r A curious illustration of tho possibilities of modern warfare is that during tho fighting at Piasetchno, ten miles south of Warsaw, an Austrian patiol lost its way and wandered into tlo suburbs of AVarsaw. Tho men, recognising that the} woro helpless, sought the opportunity to surrender, hut no Russian troops could bo found. Finally tho patrol entered a restaurant, asked that a messenger should be sent to iho rearest Russian troops, and meanwhile o.cerod dinner,°and waited until a convoy arrived and completed tha c&pturo.. 1 ENORMOUS LOSSES INFLICTED ON THE GERMANS. (Rec. August 6, 10.55 p.m.) Petrograd, 'August 6. Official.-—ln view of the general situation the troops west of AVarsaw have been ordered to fall back to tho right A r istula. Tlio troops at 5 o'clock oil the morning of August 5 withdrew..without being attacked, crossed the Vistula and blew up all tho bridges. In the direction of Riga the enemy retreated in great haste from Missa- to Ekau, abandoning a krge quantity of munitions. The enemy advanced slightly east of Ponievesz. The enemy assumed the offensive on the Ostrolenka-Rozani' front towards Ostroff with considerable forces There was an extremely desperate battle on August 4in the Oje sector where the enemy crossed tho river at several -points. AVe repulsed tho attacks south of tho Blonio Road to the west of AVarsaw on August 4. Tho oremy advanced to our entanglements where wo stopped him, and where ho suffered enormously. AVe were, unmolested crossing the Tistula and tho Bug on the evening of August 3, inflicting enormous losses. AVe were thus enabled to occupy a better front on tlio left bank of tho Bug, also in the direction of Vladimir .VoljTiski. ; - WHY THE RUSSIANS WERE FORCED TO LEAVE WARSAW 1 : iVIVm ACCOUNT, OF NUMEROUS, HOT BATTLES, (Rcc. 'August 6, 11.50 p.m.) Petrograd, 'Auguts 6. The situation at AVarsaw on August 3 was'complicated by a third Gorman menace in tho shapo of the crossing of tho Vistula and threatening to break our lino of communications, General A r on AA'oyrsch crossed on two pontoon bridges at Maciejowice, meeting with no serious _ resistance until Saturday, when he was thrown back heavily to tlio river with the loss of 800 prisoners. Tlio Germans wero still retaining tho bridgeheads, and fought stubbornly, potiriii" reinforcements in witli such speed that four divisions wero across the Aristula bv Sunday afternoon, and this forced tho Russians to retire, to Carwolm. General A r on AVoyrsch's offensive was pushed with desperation, arid proved tho most serious attack menacing AVarsaw. The Russian communications wero excellent but after three months of constant fighting it was becoming difficult to' throw largo masses of reserves when so many points were attacked simultaneously. Eye-witnesses marvel that human beings can live in tho'hell which the German artillery was creating in Poland, yet the Russian soldiers fought, and later when tho enemy's guns wero m full blast, they mado a block rush attack dealing blows as terriblo as they were unexpected. Tho fighting went on all 'day long on Tuesday on a thirty-five milo front against General A r on Mackensen's and the Archduke's packed batteries. After tho trenches were destroyed, tlio Russians refuged in tho shell-pits, and when night- camo they charged Genoral Von Mackonsen's phalanx and drove it in headlong flight. It was a. pity that such a noble victory was only a stage of tho retreat. The machinery ill tho AVarsaw factories was brought to Moscow. Great German cavalry 'raids from Courland upon tho A\ arsaw-Petrograc railway aro now expected. General Dimitrieff (the Bulgarian) has resumed command of his former army defending Ivangorod. . General von AVoyrscli's troops engaged in tho latest eruption arrived from Franco tlrreo days ago. AVith fresh troops and unlimited shells tlio Germans wero slowly pushing back the Russians though at terriblo cost. Even at this late liour tho Russians might hold out, but each day brings reports of fresh divisions supporting the enemy. Tlio country beyond the Mussa River is only suitable for rearguard actions. -The streets aro packed with dense crowds and tlio stations aro besieged.: HOAV THE NEAVS AVAS GIVEN TO BERLINERS, (Rec. 'August 7, 0.10 a.m.) Amsterdam, August 6. The Kaisai: telephoned tlio news about Warsaw to tho Kaisorin, who ortiered General von Kcssel. tho Commander at Berlin, to dispatch cyclists throughout the capital. Hundreds of cyclists-dashed through the streets yelling tho news, civilians kissed tho uoncpmcii) crowds siuig.ths National An» diem, 1)11(1 the selinnls were closes. Jlo Bavarian population was almost ae* .jgptfid .with inx» xm ermdti