New-York tribune., 1914-12-23
REAR OF INVADING
ARMY MENACED
Russians Fall Back from
Positions in Pilica
River Region.
AUSTRIANS CHECKED
IN CARPATHIANS
Columns Driven Back Into East
Prussia Spread Out to Rein
force Troops to South.

force Troops to South.
Petrograd, Dec. 22.-The following
statement from the General staff of
the Russian commander in chief vss
issued tonight:
"On December FL. Oh the left baaL
OF the Nistula River. between its Low cr
course and the Pilica River, q number
OF fierce encounters took place. Among
these the fighting on the left bank of
the Pilica developed particularly.
"ln general, We repulsed all these at
tacks, inficting heavy losses upon thc
enemy
I've only evacuated some small I,o.
/ sitions and fell back toward the oafI
in order 10 occupy more adyantageous
/ positions.
sour counter-attacks resulted in th,
throwing into the river OF the Germau
troops who had crossed the Bzura nosl
Sachaczew. These troops suffered
heavy losses in killed Also. We cal
ured nine quick-hring guns.
Bayonets Repulse Austrians.
"1he situation between the Pill
River and the upper Vistula River
without important change, except
the region Of Skrzynno, where q
Austrians, after having crossed q
Nida River, were pushed back upo
that stream by the bayonet attacks
our troops Eighteen Of their Officer
end about 1000 soldiers surrendered
at has been established that in Il
region of Przedborz, on the 10Th inst
we took seventeen officers and abo,
900 men.
I'm Galicia our operations on III
2lst inst continued 20 develop sue
cessfully Near Ryglicc an Austria
division made a sudden attack upo
our troops. but eventually was throw
back in disorder, leaving behind 1900
dead.
Another Austrian division, which
attacked US with the bsyonet at God
lowo, also fed, leaving on the battle
field the bodies Of five hundred OF
their men. In this same region the
Austrians, under the pressure Of OUT
offensive, lost many prisoners, three
guns and some mitrailiouscs.
The sorties attempted by the gar
rison Of PrzcmysI were all repulsed
The Austrians were thrown back
toward their fortihcations and suffered
heavy losses"
German Column Spreads.
The heavy German column which has
been driven across the East Prussisn
frontier from Mlsws, Russian Poland.
by the Russians, is spreading out 70
the east and west, according to reports
received here from the front.
The purpose Of the German move
ment is to debouch TO the right Of the
intrenched Mazur Lake position and 10
reinforce the troops in the vicinity o.
Thorn for protection against the con
tinued Russian advance on the Thorn
Allenstein-Insterburg railroad, which
is the main strategic line psralleling
the North Poland frontier.
The Russian successes here not only
threaten the right Of the German
Mazur Lake position, but also threaten
the left wing Of the army operating
before Warsaw.
Berlin Claims Success.
The Berlin official claim, received
here to-day through London, that the
Germans after desperate lighting had
crossed branches Of the Bzura and
Rawka rivers toward Warsaw, brought
forth no comment from general head
quarters II the report is true the
main bodies OF the opposing armies
should now be close together and the
final struggle in the invaders attempt
to reach the Polish capital probably
begun
Fighting also continues in Galicis,
but here, as along the East Prussisn
frontier, the Russians seem 20 have
been successful in holding back the
Austro German forces.
The "Borsc Gazette" calls attention
10 the shifting of the weight Of Ger
man troops from Belgium TO the
Polish front. but the newspaper Is of
the opinion that this action means no
tightening of the task Of the Allies.
since the Withdrawals Of Germans
from the western battle front arc from
parts Of the line where elaborate in
trenchments have proved sufficient 10
the French and British forces.
New German Le,ics for East
II is stated that the heavy draft on
the seasoned German troops OF the
frst line is being filled out with the
nicL nf Tho rnanrNi.fa and thal nc0