Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-14
ESTIMATE PLACES TOTAL
AT THREE MILLION men
Field Not One Which Experts Had
Figured as Likely Scene of the
Decisive Struggle.
PRZEMYsL REPORTS MYsTIFY
Russians Contend Siege Is Progress
ing, But Austrians Insist Attack
ing Force Has Been Defeated
and Driven Away.


and Driven Away.
LONDON, October 14.-The
Morning Posts Petrograd cor
respondent in a dispatch dated
Tuesday says he believes great
struggle, which has now been go
ing on for three days between the
Russian and Austfo-Germau
forces along the Vistula river, 'in
en arena other than had been ex-
pected is the beginning of a bat
tie which will probably last for
weeks"
Front Sixty Miles Long.
Continuing his discussion of the con-
fict the correspondent says:
TT is occurring on front sixty miles
long on the left bank of the Vistu1a,
presumably representing the center Of
the German hosts. 1t may be supposed
that the Austrian remnants. filled up
with heavy levies from the last re-
iserves, have succeeded in recovering
some semblance of an organized army
under shield Of a German corps in the
neighborhood Of Cracow, and that the
Russian advance toward Cracow has.
during the week of silence which has
just passed. been Withdrawn.
Meantime, the Germans on. the East
Prussian frontier are utilizing their.
network of frontier railroads to throw
forces from flank to Hank in an en-
deavof to hold the few positions still
left untaken.
From descriptions given Of the war;
fare proceeding along this front 1t ap-
pears that neither side is anxious to
do more than mark time, the Russians
being content with having defeated
and thrown the Germans back onto
their frontiers.
Still Besieging Przemysl.
1t is officially announced at Petro-
grad that the siege of Przemysl is pro-
crossing, according to a dispatch to
the Reuter- Telegram Company from
the Russian capital. The Russian artil-
lery is rapidly destroying the forts.
which, however, continue an energetic
resistance.
The PrzeHysl garrison, it is further
announced, does not exceed 10000 men.
4 dispatch IL the Times from Petro-
grad says:
ION a conservative estimate the Ger
man forces known to be on the eastern
frontier number about million and
half effective men, not counting the
austrian troops. of whom there are
about 21G,G00 on the Silesian front. The
to;al number of men engaged is esti-
mated at 100000"
Fought Hand to Hand.
Details of the fight at Ratchka. a
town hear Suwalki. Russian Poland.
just received in Petrograd. indicate
that the battle was to a large extent
:. hand-to-hand encounter between the
Cqssacks and the German troops and
that the famous Russian cavalry scored
q brilliant victory. This statement Is
made In a dispatch from the Petrograd
correspondent OF the Reuter- Telegram
Company. The message continues:
Between the two forces lay the river
(Rospuda), which the Germans depend
ed upon TO secure them against attack
until it had been bridged. But the
Cossacks swan their horses across the
stream and emerging. covered with
slime and weeds. charged furiously
upon the surprised Germans, making
5000 prisoners and capturing two bat
teries.
'.rhe prisoners were taken by the
Russians into East Prussia. Most of
the captives belonged to the landwehr
and landstrum, and many of the latter
were armed with rifles which have
long been superseded in modern armies.
Some Of the rifles dated back to 1880.
The majority of the prisoners were
either under eighteen or over forty
ber of them had only one weeks rifle
practice before being sent to the
'front.'
Austrians at San River.
VIENNA, Austria, October 13, via
Amsterdam and London, October a.
An official announcement given out in
Vienna today reads. as follows:
"Our offensive has reached the San
river after numerous fights, most OF
which resulted VIGOROUSLY for our
troops.
The relief of the stronghold OF
Przemysl has been completed. To the
north and to the south of this fortress
what remains of the hostile army has
been attacked Jaroslaw and Lezapl
are in our possession.
"A strong force of the enemy has re-
fired from Sieniawa. To the eastward
OF Chryseu our offensive movement Ii
progressing.
In Russian Poland all attempt,
made by strong Russian forces to eros.
the river Fistula to the south of Ivan
gOrod have been repulsed. These troop!
came out of Ivangorod.
GEN HOEFER,
Deputy Chief of the General Staff"
Russian Announcement.
PARIS, October 1.-THE following
official communication given out Tues
day night in Petrograd has been re
ceived here by the Havas agency:
Operations continue to develop ol
our front, which extends from thu
region of Warsaw along the river
Vfstula and San to Przemysl and to tn
south as far as the river Dneister