THE EASTERN THEATRE

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 62, 12 November 1914, Page 5

THE EASTERN THEATRE

FIGHTING IN EAST PRUSSIA. GERMANS LOSE 70 PER CENT. 0* OFFICERS. INVADERS CAPTURE SIXTY-SIX GUNS. (Received 12.30 a.m.) PETROGRAD, November 11. The Germans in recem: fighting in East Prussia lost 70 per cent, of their officers. The Russians captured four howitzers, 62 guns, 60 machine guns and immense quantities of ammunition also 323 officers. RUSSIA'S GREATEST ALLY. INFLUENCE OF WINTER ON THE WAR. GERMANS UNFITTED TO STAND THE COLD. (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, November 11, A writer in th© Daily Express points out that the winter will play a most Important part for those countries only which are engaged in East Prussia, Silesia, and in Galieia, ,/here the frosts become some times very severe, especially in'East Prussia, which is an open> fla£ country situated pa the coast of the Baltic Sea. Strong, icy, north winds often blow ceaselessly for many days, and snow covers the whole country as in Siberia. The rivers streams, and lakes become Icebound in Silesia. In the second half of November, Russia and East Prussia are, with rare exceptions, covered witn snow, and very shortly afterwards the winter begins in Silesia as well, where severe cold weather reigns from the middle ' of December to the end of January and sometimes the beginning of February. Of course, the Gorman General Staff knows very well the great difficulties which the German army must undoubtedly face with the approach of winter, and it is hastening to achieve some postitve success before this trouble comes. The military operations during the winter, even if it is mild, necessitate a considerable change of tactics, lightening some tasks on the one hand, but increasing the number of sick among the soldiers on the other. The movement of troops in the snow is also more difficult, as well as the masking of the march of the army, The use of fires on the bivouacs or in the fortified positions, without which no army could exist during severe cold, also brings many disadvantages; It attracts the attention of the enemy and the fire of his artillery. Russian soldiers like the winter; | they become like new men, smarter and more active. From his childhood the Russian peasant is quite familiar with deep snow, to temperatures of lOOdeg below freezing point, and the snowstorms of Russia, which are unique. The writer recalls the passing of the army of General Gurko through the Balkans in 1877 and 1878 during the Russo-Turkish war, and the celebrated winter battles on the Schipka Pass. Tie Russian soldier can sleep in the snow with the same comfort as in his bed in barracks, and he is specially trained as Russian sappers are, to manoeuvre and work in it. |He concludes:—"The war has come, i s.nd 'i can say positively that the i German army is not trained to fight i in a severe winter." j RUSSIANS DELIRIOUS WITH ENTHUSIASM. LONDON, Nov. 11. The Russian troops are filled with delirious enthusiasm, which they attributa to superhuman powers, a*d they regard their advance into Germany as irresistible. —Times and Sydney Sun Services.