Eastern News

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 48, 27 February 1915, Page 5

Eastern News

THE GREATEST BATTLE OF THE WAR PENDING.

HEROIC DEFENCE OF VILLAGE

BY RUSSIANS. *

(Received 9.40 a.ra.) Petrograd, February 26. The battle on Niemen-Bober-Narew •Vistula front is developing into one of * the greatest in the war. Aviators report that the Germans are pouring in reinforcements at all sectors. Russian motor cars near Prasnysz did splendid service, in several instances foiling the enemy’s flanking movements.

There was heroic fighting in the Mlava district between the railway and the Orgyc river, where a large German force repeateedly attacked a village which was of great strategic importance. The Russians retained the village, hut only sixty of the defenders were not wounded.

RUSSIAN HOPES. ■m

EXTRICATED FROM LABYRINTHS OF THE FOREST.

ARRIVAL OF DETACHMENTS.

(Received 8.20 a.m.) London, February 26,

The Daily Telegraph’s Petrograd cor respondeat reports that the Russian military leaders expect that a considerable part of the Russian Twentieth Army Corps in the Carpathians will succeed in fighting its way out in East Prussia and will rejoin the main farces. The hopes are based on the continual arrival of small detachments, which extricated themselves from jthe labyrinths of the forest. Reports indicate that the German losses were greater than the Russian.

FIGHTING AGAINST TIME.

GERMANS LOST 50,000 AT THE RAWKA RIVER.

(Received 8.20 a.m.) Paris, February 2G. The Journal’s correspondent declares that the Germans lost fifty thousand in attacking the Russian positions at Rawka liver, and adds : “The Germans were gradually and implacably worn down. Whether they will attack or merely defend, their armies will melt away. Their feverish activity and frightful sacrifice of life show that they realise they are fighting against time. ON THE CARPATHIAN HEIGHTS.

United Press Association , Budapest, February 26. Fierce fighting occurred at Stanis-

lavoff, the Russians hurling their reserves into the fighting line and defending their positions stubbornly. The chief struggle took place on the heights surrounding the town, where the Austrian right threatens the whole Russian Carpathian front. The Austrians are literally fighting evejry inch of the ground. Petrograd, February 26

In connection with the fighting at Stanislayoff, an Austrian battalion, wishing to surrender, hoisted a white flag. When the other Austrian forces perceived this, they turned their guns and quickfirers on their comrades, killing and wounding the majority of the battalion.

Official: The Germans took the offensive hear Moghely. We drove them back, and penetrated their linfes. We captured two lines of trenches. Desperate fighting occurred in Eastern Galicia. Wo dislodged and overwhelmed the Austrians in a night attack on the Tchetchwa river. The enemy fled in disorder, leaving dead heaped in the defiles. Bucharest, February 25. Russian reinforcements are arriving at Bukoviua. • *

PRUSSIAN OPERATIONS.

DESPERATE FIGHTING AND GREAT LOSSES. Petrograd, February 26. Official: Our advance guards between Kovno and Olyta progressed a long distance from the Niemen. We repulsed several attacks in the Novogroisk and Pasnysz regions, with great losses, and captured a farm at Carnoseltz, after desperate fighting. The retreat of General Betulgakoff’s army corps is likened to that of Mons. It occupied nine days.

The trial of five Socialist members of the Duma and six other Socialists for treason and conspiracy has begun. The evidence shows they started an anti-war movement, fearing that Russian victories would strengthen the Government.

The German onslaught in East Prussia reached the. border at six points between Wirballen and the Vistula,

General Betulakoff’s losses were tragically great. Whole battalions sac rificed, themselves with the utmost heroism to save the Tenth Russian Army. Two regiments which broke through performed one of the finest feats in the war’s history. Without ammunition, they flung themselves on the enemy, and bayonetted a path to safety. When their bayonets were broken and twisted, they, used the butts of their rifles, and, takiugr advantage of every kind of cover, they awaited the opportunity for short, desperate rushes, going without rest day and night until they escaped.