New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-30
Wide Gap Made Between
AustrO-German Forces
Of North and South.
DESPERATE STRUGGLES
UNDER FOREST COVERS
Northern Wing Facing Almost
Certain Defeat - Central
Forces in Full Retreat.

have won another great victory, which
marks in all probability the penulti-
mate stage Of the struggle between
Slay and Teuton. The German-Austrian
armies, operating from their northern
most position in about the same lati-
tude as Warsaw down to well south Of
the river Elzhanka, have been broken
in two. The northern part, which was
defeated week or more ago in an at
tempt to march into Warsaw, is still
fighting desperately north Of the River
Pilitza. South of that river Grand Duke
Nicholas has inflicted a heavy defeat
on the enemy, who is in full retreat,
leaving a gap between the two main
groups of armies equal to one days
march
The victory has been won by four
days of the severest fighting on a front
extending from Bialobrzeeg, on the
River Pilitza, twelve miles west of the
Vistula, southeastwards through Glova-
chev and Politchna to Tanovatz, on the
left bank of the Vistula. opposite the
village of Kazimerieff. The length Of
this front is forty-two miles.
The two theatres Of the main strug-
gle are divided by the River Pilitza,
which flows into the Vistula from the
west, twenty-eight miles south of War
saw. 1t is a considerable stream, more
than 100 miles in length and with a
width of from 100 yards to 200 yards.
With a marshy tract about its confiu-
ence with the Vistula, it is most
formidable at the present season of the
year, after long continued rains. The
Germans have not bridged it, and
therefore the main battlefield has been
resolved into two separate theatres Of
war, in both Of which severe Sighting
has been in progress for a week.
Steadily Driven Back.
North Of the Piitza the Germans
were by Sunday driven from fifty to
seventy miles back from the line of the
Vistula South of Pilitza they we're one
march further forward. In the imme-
diate vicinity Of the river and then
southeasterly, their line was extend
ing nearer the Nistula until it reached
il at Ianoyeti, sixteen miles south of
the fortress Of Ivangorod.
1t is over this front, which extends
more TIM forty miles, that the Russians
have gained their latest victory. The
armies opposed to them had their base
at Mekhof, north of Cracow, and the
staff was at Radon. From Radon to
the Vstula runs the only railway in
this theatre, its track being parallel to
and twenty miles south Of the River
Pilitza. From Radon to Kozenitze.
forming a very narrow "V" with the
railway, runs the only good road to the
Vistula.
The greater uart of jnis area is COW
cred with thick forests. traversed in
all directions by tracks which at this
time of year are clay sloughs. Only
three considerable open spaces of near
ly level country are available for army
operations amid the forests. One o.
these. about kozenitze, running four
teen miles along the Nistula, is only
si- miles wide in its widest part. This,
Grand Duke Nicholas selected for the
deployment Of mis- force when the time
came 70 cross the Vistula, and the
KoZenitze intrenchments were held,
with yalor never exceeded in this var,
by d small force against most desperate
assaults for more than a week.
The other two open spaces are each
about fifteen miles by ten miles, and
Glovachef is the most cons idersble
township near the centre Of the north
ernmost as Politichna is of the other
Under Cover of Forests.
The Germans had moved forward
under cover OF the forests another
eight miles along the right bank of
the Plitza, while their armies north
of that river were being driven back.
The fighting in the forests was of the
most savage character, the bsyonet be-
ing most effective in the hands of the
Russian troops. Artillery and Maxim
surprises also accounted for much of
the slaughter which was. perhaps, the
heaviest yet experienced. The Ger
man losses cannot be under 100000
and probably exceed this.
The Germans appear 10 have had
somewhat the better Of it at the out
set. the Russians being the attacking
party and unable TO use their guns
with the freedom enjoyed by the Ger
mans. From their batteries in the open
spaces the Germans were able 10 keep
up a heavy fre on the Russians, who,
As thev advanced through the woods,
drove the Germans back with the