New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-03

IhF idIie 10 iNt illNNi'.I
Petrograd. Nov. Fighting along
the East Prussian front, which began on
October 25, developed into an attack
of great force by the Germans on the
Russian positions west of Suwalki,
centring on the large village Of Baka-
larjcvo.
The Russians seized the opportunity
Of German inaction TO establish them
selves strongly in Bakalarjeyo, which
is situated at the southern end OF a
long, narrow lake I'm country dotted
with patches OF firwood. The eastern
bank of the lake rises steeply, and here
the Russian position commands a con-
siderable stretch Of country.
Behind the frontier, in the town Of
Margra b0wo, on the railway, for days
past the Germans have been concen-
trating troops and guns of the largest
calibre. The soldiers include many di-
visions Of reserves and large number
of regiments Of the Koenigsberg gar
rison.
4 feint toward Duck. on the south,
where the Russians had taken Ger
man strategic railway, was beaten OIL
with ease. The Germans were under the
impression that the Russians were
weakened here because of reinforce
ments they had sent TO Poland, and the
enemy's object was to thrust the Rus
SLAMS back from certain points and so
enable the Germans 10 attack the rail
way line near MargrabowO and cut the
Russian line between Suwalki and Au-
gustowo.
Four Days of Cannonading.
From October % to October 30 there
was a constant and tremendous artli-
lery fire across the lake and over the
low ground south Of the village. The
Russian forces on this front include
men who were with General Rennen-
kampf i'm his advance on and retreat
from Insterburg. They are strong
leaven of hardy men, expert in the art
of using ground. Their disposition in
the labyrinth of wooded hills and val
leys made it impossible for the Ger
mans to ascertain the effect OF their
own fire.
Many times, following observation
signals Of aeroplanes, the direction of
the Germans fire was seen 10 change
and ground often was heavily shelled
on which there were no Russian troops
at all. Russian aviators explain that
this was due to wet and misty weather,
which made it next to impossible to
distinguish from safe altitude between
a patch of wood and a body of troops.
Seventy shells from a 32-centimetre
Krupp gun fell at spot over a mile
from the nearest Russian battery.
Some of them which failed to burst
have been sent to GrodnO and Wilma
and placed on exhibition.
On October 30, the Germans began
10 move up and tried to assault the
Russian positions south of the village,
but only on Saturday did the attack
prove to be Of any weight Snow fell
that day and the cold was intense. The
Germans tried desperately to reach the
Russian trenches. sacrificing men be-
yond the possibility of counting.
Dead Left in Long Mound.
Line after line pushed forward in
the face of a murderous rite and
machine gun fire, which often ami
hilatcd whole German bodies, and left
their dead not in heaps, but IN a long
mound like breastworks, which at one
point actually impeded the fire from
the trenches. The slaughter was in
deed colossal.
To the west of Bakalarievo alone
more than 1000 German dead were on
the ground. A. no point was the Rus
sian line broken.
To the west Of the lakes the Ger
mans succeeded in intrenching, despite
she'll fire from across the water. On
Saturday afternoon the Siberian bat
talons moved forward from the village
10 dislodge them.
One thing at which the Russians
excel is in cooperation between infan-
try and artillery. This engagement
was fine example of sheer scientific
coordination of both arms. A storm of
raked the German trenches
for an hour, and when it was seen that
the enemy was shaken the Siberians
rolled in and drove the Germans back
after three terrific bayonet charges. At
this point the German defeat was COM
plete and utter. Many soldiers were
simply paralyzed with cold, so that
their rife firing was nOticeably feeble.
The Siberian losses were slight. The
Germans are bringing up reinforce
ments, and the battle continues. From
those who have been taken prisoners IL
is seen that landwehr and landsturm
troops are elderly men in old blue Ger
man uniforms and boys Of sixteen or
seventeen years.
Cold Troubles Germans.
from cold, their winter clothing not yet
having been issued. On the other hand.
the Russians are clothed in regulation
sheepskins. with the leather outward.
Al first this clothing assumes d rather