Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-03
Russian Advance Engages
Austro-German Host On
Long Battle Line From
Carpathians to Poland.
Cars Successful Campaign
Forces Germans to Accept Bat
tie at Point Nearest Berlin.
Defense Extends to Posen.
PETROGRAD. Oct. s.

PETROGRAD, Oct. 8.
The battle of Cracow, as 1t will prob
ably be called, is still in the initial stages.
The Russian advance has engaged the
Austro- German line along the Donajeo
River, Just west of Tarnow, which forms
a natural barrier flowing almost directly
north and south, "a miles east of Cracow.
The battle line extends to the foothills
of the Carpathian Mountains and flows
over into Russian Poland north of the
Vistula River, where the Austrian and
German lines are in contact
Roughly speaking, the new line of the
Germans, which is designed to withstand
the entire Russian advance, follows the
River Wartha, where the Germans have
constructed strong entertainments. 1t Is
only about 80 miles inside of the Rus
sian frontier The Austro-German right
flank is centered on Cracow while the
left extends to the fortress of Posen
The entire line is strongly held, it being
estimated that the German forces alone
number at least 10000 men, while ad-
ditional troops are constantly arriving
The War Office declares that with the
Germans in full retreat from the vicinity
Of the Niemen and from Suwallli Prov
ince, and with the Austrians retreating in
Galicia. the original first plan of the Rus
sian General Staff has been successfully
carried out. The plan provided that the
Russian right wing was to crush the Ger
mans. the left wing to crush the Austri-
ans, and that then all were to be COM
bined for general offensive movement
which would compel the Germans to ac-
ccpt battle southwest of the Polish from
tier and at point nearest to Berlin. AS
a consequence. the million Russian troops
that have been held in reserve in the
mobilization centre at Warsaw have be-
gun their advance. They have already
forced the Germans to withdraw from
the vicinity of Lodz and Kalisz, and are
now driving the entire German line to-
ward the Cracow battle line.
The highest military authorities declare
that a Russian victory in the battle of
Cracow, now under way, will force Ger
many to seek peace terms.
Precautions are being taken to prevent
a fanking movement by the Germans
against the Russians now in GaIicla.
The Petrograd official statement is as
follows.
ION the front our troops are in con-
tact with ,those of the Germans. Heavy
skirmishes have been fought in Kielce
These were the opening of a general
engagement to which the Germans are
advancing in force in an attempt to drive
us back along the Nistula and avert
the peril that threatens CraCow.
The Germans have advanced from ST.
lesia and fortified the Kalisz-C -Czestochowa
line, which they hoped to prove an CT
fective barrier to our progress BY COM
ing east of that line, however. and at
tempting to strike us along the Vistula,
they have committed strategical error
that will benefit us.
They plainly show the intention of
taking the offensive. This will be of ad-
vantage to us, as our defensive positions
are Of great strength. The Germans will
endangcr their line of communications by
proceeding too far from their base OF
supplies"