Russia.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 285, 30 November 1914, Page 5

Russia.

RUSSIA’S GREAT VICTORY.

GERMAN PLAN FAILS.

ANOTHER PAARDEBURG.

United Press Association Petrograd, November 28

In the battle of Koluszki’s lasi, stages the Germans made a desperately struggling fight through to Strykou. They were exposed to incessant Russian cavalry charges. The Russians, knowing the difficulty of surrounding three army corps in [open country, are seeking to cut oir every supply of ammunition. Prior to the advance the Kaiser gave an audience to General Hindenberg at Thorn. He said: “The eyes of the world are upon you.” j General Hindenberg then launched a Napoleonic attack, aiming at breaking the Russian centre and surrounding the Russians between Czen. tochowa and Cracow. The array under General Francois attacked Lowiez, while General Mackensen marched on Lodz. General Mackensen duly broke the Russian centre at Brezink, but found his three army corps cut off. General Francois, who was decisively defeated at Lowiez on Tuesday, retreated in a north-westerly direction, making Mackensen’s position increasingly difficult.

Meanwhile the Russians on Monday defeated General Wielet’s force of Germans at Czentochowa, where they had been entrenched on a line of low hills running to the Vistula. The Russians have driven a wedge into the line at Wlodwize, twentyfive miles south of Czenstochowa, and are now attacking the Germans’ northern section in the flank.

The Russians are converging on Cracow on three sides, continually capturing guns. The General Staff complains that Germans are placing anti-aircraft guns, machine guns, and wireless apparatus on church towers, with the evident purpose of forcing the Russians to bombard these ancient build, ings. An official statement says: “Our troops, advancing from Lzura, reached Goobin. We captured Brezing any other villages in the Morga valley by bayonet attacks. Cavalry charged the retreating enemy, and captured guns and many prisoners. The position on the whole WartaYistula front is favorable. Our success between Czenstochowa and Cracow is of marked importance. We took over 4000 German prisoners. The Russians forded the Raba, which was running neck high, amid rushing ice-floes, and carried a strongly fortified position. :*.• v > i . We carried Bochnia against a desperate resistance, capturing 2000 men, also ten guns and a number of machine guns.

The enemy’s retreat is disorderly near Cracow.

Latest unofficial reports suggest that the Russian victory on tne Vistula and the Warta is likely to exceed previous estimates. The three army corps seeking to escape to Strykow are now being subjected to terrible artillery fire. They are short of food and big-gun ammunition, and suffering appalling losses. The situation resembles Paardeburg. The Daily News’ Petrograd correspondent states that the Gormans are in a crooked triangle, with its apex west of Kolusyki, and its base between Lowicz ; - and Lodz. The Russians have a force turned inward upon the triangle, hut the main body is resisting determined efforts from Thorn to reach the isolated army corps. The railway from Thorn is exposed to constant raids of Russian cavalry.

An official message records the Russians’ decisive success on the Nos-zowice-Brzesko-Bochnia.Wisiricz front on Thursday. They routed the enemy, captured 7000 prisoners and 30 guns, ten of them with complete teams, and 20 machine guns. A Russian battalion captured a. commander, 20 officers, and 1200 men, with their colors, the remnants oi the 31st Honved Regiment, ac Brzesko, also a motor car with several members of the General Staff. We are energetically pursuing the enemy. Wo progressed at certain points near Lodz, and are attacking important forces in the Carpathians. GERMAN GENERAL’S REPORT.

Amsterdam, November 29

A telegram from Thorn states that General Hindenberg, in an army order, announced that he had brought Russia’s offensive to a standstill. The order reproduces the Kaiser's telegram congratulating General Hindenherg on his success and promoting him to the rank of Field-Marshal. Hindenberg claims to have captured sixty thousand prisoners, 150 guns, and two hundred machine guns. Ho adds; “The enemy is not yet annihilated.” BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORT. London, November 29. It is officially announced that many exaggerated statements of the dimensions of the Russian victory on the Vistula, based on private letters, I should be accepted with reserve, but it is beyond doubt that the German plan to break the Russian front failed, and the Germans were compell-

od to filll back, suffering immense losses. The enemy continues an obstinate resistance, ami it is impossible to consider the operations concluded. Apparently the main .Russian success wore against General Mackensen north-east of Lodz. General Mackensen at one time got between the Russian right and War-

General Hindenberg sought to relieve Cracow by threatening Warsaw. Mackensen was unable to retain his position, and Hindenberg rapidly concentrated at Wielum and tried to turn the Russian left and simultaneously to turn the Russian right operating against the Austrians. The German advance near Lodz failed, and the Russians, holding the Austrians firmly at Czenstochowa, began to hem in the Germans from the south, at the same time enveloping them from the north. General Mackensen was forced to retreat along the Vistula, but many regiments were broken, and are wandering to the eastwards of Lodz. OBSOLETE TACTICS. London, November 28. The Times, in a leader, says: “The Russians do not hesitate to say that German generalship has broken down. German strategy is so bookish that it has everywhere failed to survive practical tests. The Prussian arrogance revealed in all the German movements is gradually producing the worst disaster that could ever overtake a great Empire.” RUSSIA’S TEEMING HOSTS. Copenhagen, November 28. Private advices from Berlin show that the Germans are uneasy as the result of the heavy Russian reinforcements. It is stated that new forces seem to spring up out of the ground. Russians have been marching through Warsaw day and night for five weeks without a break. It is estimated that four millions have passed through. AUSTRIANS DRIVEN OUT. H i. (Received 9 a.m.) Petrograd, November 29. The Austrians abandoned Clernowitz, which the Russians occupied after a fierce bombardment.