IN THE EAST

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1915, Page 5

IN THE EAST

RUSSIA'S STRUGGLE. BEE UNWAVERING ENDURANCE. A PICTURESQUE STOIiV. Received August 12, S p.m. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) London, August 12. Mr. Stanley Washburn says that the capture of Warsaw undoubtedly represents the greatest German achievement in the war. It would be unfair to magnify the fact that an important city was not lost through defective generalship or inferiority of troops, but the inability of the Russian Empir« to convert, quickly her vast resources for war purposes. "I've been in and out of Warsaw constantly," he says, -'since the evacuation started, and there has not been the slightest confusion or panic. The troop* were neither demoralised nor discouraged, though they were bitterly disappointed. None wanted' peace, and all were saying, 'Wo must retake Warsaw, and beat the Germans.' If the enemy found anything valuable in the city I'll be greatly surprised. "The army practically vacated the city on Wednesday night, thus blocking the Herman hopes of causing a disaster. The Allies can have the satisfaction of knowing that the Russians played the game to practically the last minute, and the last round of shrapnel. They then retired in perfectly good order, leaving to the Germans an undefended eity. The armies throughout the movement acted upon a symmetrical plan, following the timetable in conjunction with the whole front, taking the maximum toll from the enemy, and then escaping intact. If the Germans consider that by capturing Warsaw they have struck a decisive blow at Russia, they should recollect that after years of warfare they stand to-day at practically the same point at which Napoleon commenced his disastrous campaign. The Russians will gladly fight on, indefinitely, and one feels a greater admiration for them than ever. In their Galician successes they were fine; in to-day's trial they are superb." AN OBSTINATE RETREAT. A GERMAN REPORT. Berlin, August 11. A ooninuinii|ue states that General von llindcnberg easily repulsed strong Russian advances along the Riga-Mitau road. There is no change northward of the Niemen. A strong Russian attack from Kovno failed. We captured lien; 2110 men since August 8. We are advancing east from Loniza in the direction of the Tiohr-Narew line. The enemy still hoi Is the bridgehead at Wysma. Tiie entire Russian line is retreating. Our pursuing troops crossed tin; Caerwony and Brok rivers, advancing eastward, and captured a railway junction southeast of Ostrow. The Russians evacuated the Bcniaminow fortress eastward of Novo Georgievsk. Our airships bombed Novo Georgievsk and 'Brest Litovsk. Prince Leopold's left, wing lias reached Kaluezyn. General von Woyrsch, upon the right win", stormed the rearguard positions on both sides of the Olcnka westward of Lukov, capturing a thousand men. REPARATIONS AT KOVNO. T'etrograd, August 11. The Government departments at Kovno have been transferred to liobrinsk, and various factories an being removed to other towns. AN EMPTY HUSK. THE OCCUPATION OF WARSAW. Received Augu-t 12, d.j p.m. London, August 11. The Daily Telegraph's Rotterdam correspondent states that the first German description of the entry into 'Warsaw h'trav (he truth that the Germans gra-ped an empty husk. Everything of military value was destroyed, leaving the impression of a gaping emptiness. A superior-ranked German officer describes the extraordinary character of the lighting, when tli£ Russian rearguard, with iudoiiiiliatnWe courage, were harassed from Piaga. The advancing enemy, motoring into Warsaw, past scorched fields, burned farms, wrecked carts, and fresh graves, were compelled to stop and remove trees the Russians had placed across the roadways approaching the suburbs. On arriving in the city, the Germans found a fortress of carthein walls, wit!, antiquated defence works. Endless streams of refugees were coming out along the roads, watching the German* marching in. Every window and balcony was occupied by residents, eager to see the entry: the cafes were crowded and shops were open. Received August 12, 5.20 p.m. London, August 12.

Though the city was calm, a few hundred yards away, on the riverside, the Germans were lying behind the street barriers, hiding in corners and houses, and liring across the river where the Russians were entrenched. The ma-chine-guns' rattle from both sides was occasionally louder than the greeting from the heavy guns. Blaek smoke now rises beyond the river, where the Russians continue their destruction.

Alloti'.i-r oltk-cr writes that the popu'.atiem did nut sleep on Timi-nlay iiighl on account of tin- loud explosion-, forts were blown up. and military l»u':Ur.M K .-, .i,,,! uork-diip., tired. At eleven o'clock in Uie evening (lie control of the citv was fiivrii In the civil police, and the troop-- tomnicnced to cro>s the lirlilfjps in ma-si's. At live o'clock in the nwirniiiJ the bridges were blown up. and at six o'clock an automobile, with two Herman officers, arrived, followed by six cavalrymen (lancers), decorated with llowei-,. ' Miisriii" Die Wurht nni Khoino. Tin- higher olib-crs arrived in motor-cars at midday. Ilu.ssian shells and siira'pnei were fulling in the town on the third d:iy after the Cernian occupation. The occupation gave one the impression that it was a (Je.nuan town festival day, except that Hays were absent. THE TRUE OBJECTIVE. A WAUXIXCi TO TH!-i CAPITAL. Received August 13, 11.'.0 a..m. Petrograd, August 12. Chiiiiiirs are evacuating Dvinsk, and officers in fiovernniont iiul-it'.ilioiiß are proparim; to leave. fount Mcik-lii'kofl.', in an article in Ihp Novoe Vremya, says the true objective of the. fiannim offensive is Petrogrod, The distance does not offer any insuperable difficulties, and it is necessary to boldly recognise the fact.

ENEMY DRIVEN BACK. RUSSIAN REPORT. Received August 12, !U0 p.m. Petrograd, August 12. Olliical: On the night of August (1-10 the Germans persistently attacked, but we annihilated three German battalions. We made one hundred prisoners. On the whole of the Bug front we wore reinforced, and are no v. .esisting vigorously. The Germans advancing from Ckulm were driven back towards the River Ukeharka. The Auslrians in the region of Strylia are using explosive bullets. AT PRAGAN. CIVILIANS KILLED AND INJURED, Received August 12. 0.-10 p.m. Berne, August 12. During the Russo-Gennan street fighting at l'ragan, fifteen civilians were accidentally killed, and two hundred were wqunded. POLAND'S NEW ICING. A RIFT IN THE LUTE. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, August .11. Tine Frankfurt Gazette states that Germany and Austria are not in accordance regarding Poland. Germany desires to create some Polish Prince 'King of Poland, and Austria desires an Austrian Archduke.