Gilpin observer., 1914-09-17
THIRST and LEAD FAIL TO STOP
DASH OF RUSSIANS ON LEMBERG

lowing details Of the fall Of Lemberg:
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
(4b miles east Of Lemberg) and moved
on to GOlaya Gorka-e 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
single shot was heard the men dashed
for their places and the battle boiled
again with renewed fury.
Russian Advance Impeded.
"The enemys 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 hilly ma
ture Of the ground and the great num-
ber 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.
I'VE 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, 1t 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-
fense, but the enemy was undiscour-
aged and tried to make up with rife
fire what 1t 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.
Our 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 dogged 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 heavy screen of Slav
troops with backing of Magyars. who
had been ordered to shoot down the
Slavs from behind II they showed any
hesitation.
This circumstance became known
to the Russian commander, who or
dered terrific artillery fire over the
heads OF the Slavs and into the ranks
OF the Magyars. This well-directed
fire set the whole line In panic"
Fall Of lemberg.
"Lemberg. 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. Galich.
The fighting which terminated in
such great victory lasted over a fort.
night, Of which the last eight days
has been uninterrupted action extend
Ing over a front Of nearly 800 miles.
Il shall attempt to describe the prog.
ress Of this titanic struggle. according
to the data at hand, but in the mean
time 1t is well to consider the mean.
ing OF this victory. Lemberg or Lvov
is the capital of Galicia 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 crippling the en-.
emy.
when the Russian commanders en-.
tered Lvov they found It 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 overfowing
with Austrian sick and wounded, who
had been abandoned to the Russians.
THE Russian attack was so swiftly
pushed home that everything In the
CaDital of Ga1icin WAS found intact