The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-09-18
THIRST and LEAD FAIL 10 STOP
DASH OF RUSSIANS ON lEMBERG

awning uSIallS Oh bn6 lalk Oh AemD6rS.
The commencement Of the fighting
which resulted in the capture Of Lem
berg began August 20, when the Rus
slams drove the enemy from zisczow
CAS- miles east of Lemberg) and moved
ON to Golaya Gorka--a name which
means the naked hill
I'VE spent the night on Naked hill,
and the actual storming of the town
was begun at 2:3O o'clock in the morn
Ing. Then followed four-days' battle.
A virtually continuous cannonade con-
tinued from dawn to darkness without
cessation.
Even In the darkness the weary
lighters got little sleep. Whenever a
single shot was heard the men dashed
for their places and the battle boiled
again with renewed fury.
Russian Advance lmpeded.
THE enemy's counter attacks were
delivered with great energy and a
dense hail Of lead and iron was poured
over our ranks. The Russian advance
was greatly impeded by the billy ma
ture Of the ground and the great num-
Der of extinct craters, which formed
splendid natural Notifications for the
enemy. which held them doggedly. Out
OF these, however, the enemy was
driven in succession.
We suffered much from thirst, for
the stony country was devoid Of
springs. The days were oppressively
hot and the nights bitterly cold.
Both sides fought with great OBJ
stinacy, but the nearer we approached
Lemberg the harder the struggle be-
came. However, it soon was evident
that we were superior in artillery.
AT length the enemy was driven
from all sides beneath the protection
of the Lemberg forts. Our troops were
very weary, but in high spirits.
For two days the fight ragged
around the forts, but we were always
confident of the prowess, of our artil-
lery. The big guns of both sides
rained terrific hail down on the ar
mics, which suffered terrific losses.
AT last we noticed that the resist
ance Of the forts was growing weaker.
A charge at double quick was ordered,
and we carried the first line of works.
1T was evident from that point that
many of the enemy's guns had been
destroyed. Not enough of them had
been left to continue an effective de-
Tense, but the enemy was undiscour-
aged and tried to make up with rifle
fire what it lacked in artillery.
Losses Become Heavier.
Between the first and second lines
our losses were heavier than before,
but under bayonet charges the enemy
broke and fed in panic
sour troops entered the town at the
enemy's heels. We ran into the town,
despite our fatigue, with thunderous
cheering.
An episode which had much to do
with ending the enemy's logged re-
sistance occurred during the fighting
between the first and second lines. The
Austrians, in the hope of checking the
Russian effort to encircle the town,
had thrown out a heavy screen of Slay
troops with backing of Magyars, who
had been ordered to shoot down the
Slavs from behind If they showed any
hesitation.
This circumstance became known
to the Russian commander, who or
dered a terrific artillery fire over the
heads Of the Slavs and into the ranks
Of the Magyars. This well-directed
fira est the whole line in panic"
Fall Of Lemberq.
"Le:nberg. anciently, and now to be
called Lvov, was captured by the Rus
slams Thursday morning, together with
another important center of admins
tration sixty miles southeast of Lvov,
on Dniester, Halicz, GaIich.
1.-THE fighting which terminated in
such great victory lasted over fort
night, of which the last eight days
has been uninterrupted action extend
Ing over front Of nearly 900 miles.
7 shall attempt to describe the prog
,ress Of this titanic struggle, according
to the data at hand, but in the mean
time it is well to consider the mean
ing of this victory. Lemberg or Lvov
is the capital of Galieia and commands
all roads and railways leading into
Hungary
Lemberg Strongly Fortified.
1T was defended by ancient FORTH
cations, modern intrenchments and
gun emplacements, being already in
a naturally strong position. AS the
administrative end and military center
of vast region it has provided rich
booty Of military stores to the victors,
thus correspondingly Gripping the en-
envy.
When the Russian commanders en-
tered Lvov they found 1t possible to
communicate by telephone the news
of their arrival to Vienna and Cracow.
The city has over 100000 inhabitants.
The houses were filled to overlooking
with Austrian sick and wounded, who
had been abandoned to the Russians.