Fall of Przemysl

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 245, 25 March 1915, Page 5

Fall of Przemysl

• DESPERATE LAST SORTIE. SOLDIERS REFUSE AX ATTACK. Pctrograd, March 23. Tile Germans have withdrawn several heavy batteries from Osowicc. General Kusnanek gave a stirring address to the garrison of l'rzemysl on Thursday, saying: ' We have shared out Ui-t j revisions, and I lead vtiu to pierce the enemy's iron circle. You must crush everything and open a way oat.'* Each soldier was given five days' biscuits, warm clothing, and new boots. It >vas arranged that twenty thousand men should make the sortie, but several units refused, and only the 23rd Honved Division and parts of the Landwehr and 4th Hussars made the sortie. They were, principally repulsed by territorials and reserve infantry, for the Russian forces were never large. London, March 23. Reuter's correspondent at Pctrograd states that the Russians at the fall of Przemvsl captured nine generals and 117,000 men. TO HELP DOOMED CITY. ENEMY'S FURIOUS EFFORTS. THOUSANDS SURRENDER. Pctrograd, March 23. Hie Austrians at Lupkow Pass and the Germans at Kosiomoka Pass responded to Przemysl's wireless signals of despair, and struggled furiously to reach the San Valley. The Russian trenches met each wave with merciless rifle volleys, and towards dusk chargeil with the bayonet. There was great bloodshed, especially among the Germans on the llunzack road. Thousands of Austrians surrendered at Lupkow. DESTRUCTION OF THE FORTS. AMMUNITION STORES BLOWN UP. THE TOWN INTACT. Received March '24, 5.30 p.m. Pctrograd, March 24. A correspondent proceeding from Lemberg towards Przemvsl saw the fortresses round the town burning like a circle of volcanoes. From the southern and western sectors came a suecessi >n of violent explosion* and dense smoke as t'ie Austrians blew up the ammunition stores. When the Russians heard the explosions they rushed past the forti and occupied the inner sectors. The Austrians meanwhile shot their horses to prevent them fulling into the Russians' hands. Then the parliamentary deputies announced fie surrender. Many of the garrison dropped from exhaustion. Some had insufficient strength to leave the trenches. Most of them gnawed scraps to keep themselves alive. There were twenty thousand woumfcd among the prisoners. T;i" town is intact, the outskirts alone having -suffered. "A WELCOME EPISODE.'' SHOULD OPEN TITE ROAD TRROUOTI OALTCIA. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) Received March 24, 5.25 p.m. London, March 24. The Times, in a leader, -ays that t'ie fall of Przemvs! i- the must welcome and important episode >inee the N"v Year. "We congratulate the Russians on this new vindication of their prowess inviiK-ihl" iH > Uninatioii. jwhicii will stimulate the whole of the Alles to more and more vigorous efforts. The end of the siege, coinciding with tint end of winter, ought quickly to result in a general clearing up in "East flalieia."