The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-12-30
:CRACON RELIEVED
FOR SECOND TINE RUSSIANS
ABANEON sElGE OF CITY
BATTLES DESTRUCTIVE

DAE sLL0 DLJsEUUgsyE
Petrogad Explains Recent Wholesale
Withdrawal of Russian Forces as
Indicating Strategy Of Tactical
Movements to Secure Best Position
for Striking the Germans.
Asspecial cable to the New York
Times from Petrograd says the off-
cial bulletin of Tuesday evening
makes it sufficiently plain that we
are in for a repetition, with differ
ences, of the first invasion of Poland.
The Germans brought up vast forces
against Russia, including the stiff
fened remnants Of the Austrian ar
mics, and reorganized the, whole in a
manner highly creditable to tho ro-
+cuperatiye powers Of our formidable
enemy. The German emperor has
promised the war-Worn troops rest
and rewards at Warsaw, which he
ordered taken for Christmas.
The Grand Duke Nicholas has again
been compelled to abandon tempcr.
arily the main objective Of his strate-
gic scheme and draw his armies to-
gether so as to hold the inner line OF
the whole strategic front occupied
by the respective opponents.
Cracow and everything around Crae
cow thus have been abandoned, as
happened before. AS We know abso-
lutely nothing Of the disposition Of
the troops occupying the new posi-
tions, it is impossible to form any
opinion as to where the decisive bat
tie will be Joined.
The wholesale withdrawal Of the
Russian troops from all the positions
held few days ago, except those IN
front of Warsaw, indicates the STRAIT
egy of the tactical movements to se-
cure the best military positions for
striking at the Germans.
The latter have not yet succeeded
in forcing the passage Of the Bzura
river, about five miles upstream from
Sochaczew. The attempt nearly sue
ceeded-in fact, a certain number OF
German troops did get across, but
were flung back into the river and
lost enormously at various other
spots.
The Russians took several thou
sands of prisoners, and the Germans
left thousands Of dead on the field
after the Russians bayonet charges,
but the general result is perceptible
from this bulletin. All its definite
expressions, such as geographical
names, show plainly that the last few
days have been occupied almost en-
tireIy in forced marches away from
positions previously held.
On the other hand, account OF
fights are given without any indica-
ton of the numbers opposed to the
Russians at this or that point, 80 that
expressions like masses Of killed
convey no definite impression. Il
might be regiment which lost heay-
lily or an army corps, but pretty cer-
tanily was the former.
The withdrawal is believed not TO
be retirement after unsuccessful
fighting but a deliberate movement
intended to secure victory under new
circumstances. The elasticity Of
movement which the Germans have
shown by the aid Of railways onlS.
the Russians now are exhibiting for
the second time without other means
Of locomoti~n than those OF nature.
Very great forces are being press
ed into the battle of mutual destruc-
ton on the separate positions from
the left bank Of the Vistula near.
How southwark along the Bzursand
Rawka to the bend Of the Pilica be-
low Tomazow.
Sometimes the Rissials and some
times the Germans take the offensive
in these pitched battles, which can
not be described as general. The
German offensive, which Is the fierc-
est in the north, results more favor
ably to the Russians as they approach
the zone where the Austrians Predom-
mate in the enemy's ranks.
The most southerly Of the battles
in Poland is on the River Nida,
which flows from the north into the
Vistula, thirty miles eastward OF Cra-
COW. Here the Russians gained q
victory over Danki, whose task appar-
entity was to link up with the Austro--
German army on the Pilica twenty
miles east Of Novo Radcmsk and as
sist in the disposition Of the German
attempt to force wedge between the
Russian northern and southern ar
mics.
Immense slaughter is taking place
in these battles and will doubtless be
unabated until ascendency has been
definitely established. In the region
Of Sochaczew. thousands of civilians
have been killed. The Germans useo
eight-inch guns against the town anu
smashed the high tenement houses.
whose inhabitants were crushed 10
death under the masonry.
When the population tried to Zee
along the broad road to Warsaw the
German guns poured she'll among the
dense masses Of men, women ana
children. Hundreds were trampieo
to death. At Lowicz the same thing
occurred, hundreds being killed unaef
the wrecked buildings.
a Russian officer who was decorae-
ed for the capture Of six German
guns at Lowicz states that eighty
German prisoners were women VINO
had been fighting in the trenches.
Five Dies in Tenement Fire.
| Arthur Corso, night telephone op-
orator in New York, Thursday sent
i a1ax-., and haStan ed ont to