Eastern Mews

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 57, 10 March 1915, Page 5

Eastern Mews

THE RUSSIAN STRUGGLE IN EAST PRUSSIA. A BRILLIANT STORY. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8,0 a.m.) Loudon, March 9. A German officer who had been taken prisoner, describing the struggle of the Russian division which cut its way through the German hosts from East Prussan says: “We descended on a retiring division, which immediately bristled with bayonets, and made a counter-attack on every convenient opportunity, though strng. gling deep in mud, being wracked with weariness 'and having no hot food. Such a struggle could not last long, the forces being so uneven. The division shrank and melted, but declared for a fight to the last. Our troops surrounded three sides, the fourth being an impassable swamp. The Russian. burned the German colours, bid the Russian guns, and the survivors formed into a solid mass and dashed in all directions,forcing their way with the bayonet.

THE EAST PRUSSIAN STRUGGLE. RUSSIANS’ REAL OBJECT.

United Press Association. London, March 9

The Paris Journal’s t correspondent at Petrograd describes the unshakeable determination of the Russians to expel the Germans from the Masurian Lakes region and to invest or besiege Konigsborg in order to clear the road for the march to Berlin, when they will compel the Germans to engage in a general battle.

Petrograd, March 8

Official.—Our offensive at Suwalki is developing. The German offensive at Pilitiza has been checked. By a counter attack we surrounded an Austrian outflanking column in the Klause region, and a battalion surrendered.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Petrograd, March 9

General Eichorn’s army is rapidly retreating. He is now clear of Augustowo and within a doEen miles of his own border. The valley of the Niemen is also clear of the enemy, who have lost touch with the force operating against Osowiec.

The Russians are making slower progress in the Mlawa region, where General von Hindeuberg has a large force guarding the communications. Twelve thousand 1 prisoners from Galicia have been sent to Siberia. Four thousand Austrians in East Galicia were marching without food for three days. Before the commissariat arrived the Russians appeared, and the Austrians hoisted the white flag and surrendered.

GERMAN RETREAT FROM NORTHWEST RUSSIA.

KILLED NUMBER NEARLY 15,000.

(Received 8.5 a.m.)

Petrograd, March 9

A communique states : During a battle which lasted several days preceding the capture of a hill commanding the district around Grodno on the 21st, a German corps lost 12,000 to 15,000 killed. The discomfiture of two other corps followed, and thenceforth the enemy’s operations were strictly on the defensive, and retreat ensued under continual pressure.

enemy’s General offensive CHECKED.

(Received 9.55 a.m.) London, March 9

The Times’ military correspondent estimates that twelve Austro-German army corps are operating at Pilica. The last move of the enemies was a general offensive, which was checked in East Prussia and the centr.al Carpathians.

TURKS REPULSED WITH HTiAVY LOSSES. (Received 11.45 a.m.) Petrograd, March 9. A communique states: Wo occupied an important position in the Transchorok region, throwing back the lurks to the south-westward with heavy losses.