New-York tribune., 1914-12-03

omen country is reached near Lask'
From Lask, which is cut by the rail
wav. there run also half dozen good
highways, three of them fanwise 70
the northwest, west and southwest
They served the Russians admirably
giving them the advantage Of interior
lines. while the Germans had only the
railway embankment. The vanguard
Of the Russian forces met and stopped
the advance on Monday, fighting stub
borply the whole day, while other
troops were brought up by road and
rail 70 cope with the new direction ot
the German attack.
At the conclusion OF the days fight
ing the advantage remained with the
Russians, although their full strength
had not then developed. Eighteen
miles south Of Lask the Russians on
Monday repulsed a flank attack Of the
new German forces which had moved
up from Wielun.
German Reinforcements Strong.
Il is thus plain that the Germans
have put forth extraordinary efforts 70
recover their position TO enable them
TO push the attack into Poland. Twice
they have brought up reinforcements
from the west, those officially de-
scribed as considerable" which were
detected in the neighborhood of Wie-
lun by aviators more than week ago.
and more recently the strong forces
sent by rail from the west and attack
ing from Kalisz toward SiePadz and
Lask. A days march south OF Lask Is
Szczercow. about half way between
Wielun, and the high road TO Petrokoh.
On Sunday the Russians repulsed a de-
termined attack by the Germans IN THIS
neighborhood.
When the fighting was over for the
day the Germans remained in occupa-
tion of Szczercow. On Monday the
Russians cleared them out, and then
discovered that among the forces hold
ing this neighborhood was brigade
Of the Prussian Guards, with five bat
teries. Szczercow is now occupied by
the Russians. The German retirement
is over a country entirely unfavorable
for forces reduced TO disorder. The
roads run in every direction save tow
ard the German rear, and the terrain
Is much wooded, features which oner
precisely the opportunities which the
Cossacks thoroughly appreciate mad
will certainly make the most OF.
Hammer Surrounded Corps.
The German attack in enormous
strength upon the Russian left has
thus failed, while the Russian centre
still is occupied in hammering the par
TALLY surrounded corps into surrender
by heavy cannonading, which has al
ready continued for three days.
On the Russian right a success has
been scored in an attack directed north
ward from Lowicz. From the west the
Germans developed a strong attack on
Monday in concert with the out
fanking movement carried out nifty
miles further south as already de-
scribed. The German front here ran
from northeast 10 southwest astride
the Bzura River. The main efforts
were made in the corner formed by the
confluence Of the Merga with the Bzura
ut Bielawy, where the hilly ground
provides an admirable commanding
position for the artillery over the plain.
Bielawy is twelve miles west OF Lowicz
on the high road running through
Piatek to Leczyea.
The successes of the Russians on
the north or right wing are not yet so
marked as on the left wing, but the
strategic position of both fanks is ad-
mirable. The troops have been fight
ing yesterday and to-day with tenfold
ardor in the knowledge that the En-
peror is among them. To-day the rein.
forcements are in positions allotted
and tomorrow a bulletin is expected
with confidence containing the best
possible news for the Allies.
Five Steamers Captured.
On the Vistula, near Plock, the Rus
SLAMS have not been content with the
capture of the four barges previously
mentioned. but have now captured five
steamboats, and one more barge en-
tirely laden with rifle ammunition. The
loss of the FIVE steamers engaged in
towing heavy barges against the strong
current of the Vistula has paralyzed
the German arrangements for their
supply of ammunition with which they,
especially their artillery, have been
go lavish.
The activity of the Russians at
Plock, on the right bank of the Nistula,
IS significant, for the Germans orig
inally planned to march along both
banks Of the river, and, indeed, reached
Plock, on the north bank. As an illus
tration of the magnitude of the Rus
sian operations. without counting those
on the East PrussiAn front or against
the Turks in Armenia, IT should lie
noted that the Grand Dukes dispatch
yesterday tells of the capture OF three
locomotives and trains in Bukovinar
400 miles from Ploek.
Germans Lose Heavily at Lowicz.
"The Army Messenger" in a review
of the fighting during the period from
November rs TO 80 says:
"On the Russo -Prussian frontier the
Germans have maintained their forti-
fed positions, and have been making
attacks Of little Importance. These
operations were without success, AND
our army corps have kept their dispo
sitions.
"The German offensive in the regior
of Lowicz was repulsed by the ad
vance guards and cavalry, who inhict
ed heavy losses on the enemy. The
same fate befell the German offensive
at Dombrcvo and Schutsoff.
"On the Thorn -Cracow front the
German guard, which attempted tht
offensive, suffered a serious defeat in
the Trzbitz-Bogomilof district. Our
troops took large number OF prison,
ers, assumed the offensive and captured
several important points. Counter at
facks by the enemy were repulsed.
"The Austrian troops defending the
approaches 70 Cracow have been de-
fested and are falling back in disorder