Imperial Valley press., 1914-10-26

! -
titantic struggle between the Teuton
and the Slav has ended in a heavy
reverse for the boasted might of Ger
many. The scene of the conflict is
from the north and west of Warsaw
before the first class fortress of Novo-
Georyievsk, southward past Warsaw,
along the course of the Vistula river,
it's tributary, the San river, to Prz-
emysl, and again southwark to the
Dniester river and the Carpathiars
mountains.
AS the crow flies it is well over
23O miles, quite 800 in reality.
The Grand Duke Nicholas maneu-
vered his troops into positions chosen
over many score of miles on roads
that are sloughs under the autumn
rains, moving along the right bank of
the Vistula, which is bridged at
Ivangorod, Warsaw and Novo- -Geor-
gievsk, all three first class fortresses.
The Russians made other bridges
where required.
Warsaw was left apparently in
adequately defended and the popula-
ton was in panic, while innumerabla
German spies abounding in this cap
ital conveyed every item to the head
Quarters staff of the German armies
1t was universally believed Russia
might not defend Warsaw. About
so miles south of Warsaw, not far
from Ivangorod, but ON the other
bank, on the left or west of the Wis
tula, small force Shtrenehed near
Koenitze, with strict orders to hold
out to the last man. Main Russian
forces kept on the right bank of the
river, which is here a quarter of a
mile wide. The usual thick cavalry
. screen was thrown across the Wis
tula to the west to keep in touch witt,
the German advance.
The German advance occupied d
line equal to the Russians, but diff
ferently composed The entire force:
were under German commander anC
the Austrian troops were chiefly rem
nants of the beaten army left after
the Galician battlefields, pulled into
; some military shape with much shuf
, fling of regiments among the diff
ferent corps and general shortage
/ of artillery.
To these was assigned the right Of
the German line, stretching 100 mile.
from the Carpathians to where thu
San flows into the Vistula at Sando
mir erd some way further along th'
Vistula. They were stiffened by ;
few German regiments of artillery.
From this point northward to th'
confluence of the Pilica river, som'
IS miles, the German corps, includ
ing an active army corps and the bes
reserve corps, among the latter ;
corps of the guards, held the line
North of the Pilica river the bes
German troops were assembled for tht
attack on Warsaw.
The German center approached
right up to the Vistula river over q
considerable distance in the region op
posite Ivangorod, where it attempt
ed vainly for three days and nights
to drive the small Russian force ou,
of it's entrenched position on the left
bank of the Vistula near Kozenitze.
Near Warsaw the battle was re-
newed some thirty miles away, but
the Russians were slowly driven back
fighting Germany's finest corps, who
felt the growing assurance they would
make a present of Warsaw to the
emperor.
But the Germans have learned their
warfare at autumn maneuvers, where
the unexpected plays so little par;
in their scientific schemes. In real
war IT is everything.
At Warsaw the Germans thought il
a mere walkover, so their renowned
General Won Hindenberg decided to
break the Russian center, and, get
ting in the rear, either rout the Rus
SLAMS or drive them back on the Bug
river line of defense, 80 miles to the
east Of the Vistula.
Ivangorod was bombarded, but th'
bridges We're spared. The Germans
here also felt full of confidence.
The battle being set, the grand duke
assumed the initiative. In pursuance
of his strategic plan he poured into
Warsaw from the east by three rail
ways corps after corps. They dashed
through the city and plunged into tn