The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-12-24
Capture Of LODI
Characterized AS
Turning Point Of
Campaign in Poland

Lodz Russian Poland Monday (by automobile courier to
Posen Prussia Dec. 28) London, Dec AThe capture of
Lodz according to declaration by General Hin
denberg the German commander to correspondents OF the
Associated Press the turning point of the campaign IN
Poland. ss@ .ar
The lines northern Poland rested this city,
for the possession Of which there occurred the most bitter
struggle of the entire this front After the Russians
following most obstinate resistance their part forced
to evacuate the town. general Russian retirement In the
direction Of Warsaw became necessary II.
Under the guidance of Major Holeben cousin of the
late Baron Hoeben who at one time German am
basador to the United States the Associated Press CORE
sponden today visited of the bateeld the vicinity
of Lodz and gained idea OF the nature OF the operations
which led to the capture of the city.
According to the general alignment OF the Ausro German
forces they might have been expected to advance from the
AS matter of fact the attack made largely from
the north and northwest. Ia .4.. ..
They drove their columns Russians in the form Of
hugh ptchfork with another large force between the tines
the fork It looked for time as if the Russians would be
forced to retreaf all possible in the face of
the gigantic enveopng movements by the Germansn the
direction of their Warsaw base The intention
ba Russians into the arms of large Aro German forces
massed off their retreat but the timely arrival of Rus
from Warsaw resulted in breaking the eastern
of the German fork and relieving the situation
the Russians. #.s~
of the operations around Lodz occurred the ce
brated cuttng off, of two German corps which, after be-
entirely surrounded by the rapid advance of Warsaw
turned and cut their way out and brought with them
1000 of their would-be captors.
The of this exploit which the members of the
staff characterized of the most brilliant of the
About the distance from Lodz is located the little
churchyard of Beschc where the Russians of the
final phases OF the struggle for Lodz showed that spite
of defeats and dcouragement they knew how to fight and
die.
The churchyard lies on small eminence which formed
salient into the German lines The Germans able to
make the attack from three sides with infantry and artillery
the Russian trenches enfaded by shrapne from
direction another but the Russians cung their positions
obsnaey When the Germans finally captured the trenches
876 Russian found about eighty yards
1t resistance of this nature which the Germans
had to overcome to capture Lodz.
The Russians again offering obstinate resistance,
learned from the German staff officers along the and
Rawka rivers their positions running north and SOUTH
along line thirty to thrty-fve miles west of Warsaw
captured Russian officer said that what impressed him
and his most the Prussian "anprall'the silent
advance of German troops-an assault by line after line Of
dark figures moving toward the Russian position like
lets of rising tide and their utter heedessness of Russian
fire. which appeared to be wasted them The Russians
from the line, and the advance kept on.