New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-03
fRr Cahl. 70 The Trihnns

Petrograd, Dec. General Rennen-
kampf, whose late arrival with his
army at the appointed place on the
battle front in Western Poland. rob-
bed the strategic scheme OF Grand
Duke Nicholas Of it's complete sue
cess a week ago, has been superseded
in his command. As this army came
into position a couple OF days later
than the time set, the ring Of steel
which should have hemmed in the
German armies entirely could not be
closed. A weeks heavy fighting and
the hurrying up Of large reinforce
ments by the Germans followed.
No information as 10 causes OF the
failure Of General Rennenkampf 10
reach the post assigned him at the
proper time is available. It IL known,
however, that war under the Grand
Duke Nicholas admits Of no excuses.
The soldiers say OF their commander
in chief that "he clips the generals a
great deal closer than he clips u.s."
Attacks North of LODI.
The following official statement given
out tonight is noticeably lacking in
detail:
"On December I there was a relative
lull on all the fronts. In the region Of
Lowicz the action continued, but with
less intensity.
Toward midnight the enemy, march
ing in compact columns, made a fierce
attack against our positions 10 the
north Of LODI, but were repulsed.
an the region south of Cracow our
troops have entered velitchko (wie-
liczka)."
The wording Of the offciai dispatch
makes II problematical whether the
fierce attack" was delivered by the
Germans against the Russian right on
the River Bzura, west Of Lowicz, or by
a section Of the partly isolated corps
between Zgierz and Strykow. Both Ger
man positions are north Of LODI.
Germans Resume Decisive.
That the German army which, with
the aid of reinforcements, succeeded In
escaping from the ring that the Rus
SLAMS had forced around il nas formed
a new front and at some points has re-
sumed the offensive is now generally
admitted. The Germans assertion that
in this series of maneuvres they made
$4,000 prisoners, however, is denied.
The Russians declare their own capt
ures greatly exceed this number. Ths
losses on both sides have been heavy.
1t is unofficially reported that the Rus
slams are "nearly in Cracow."
The German attack on the Russian
left with new forces brought up by
train from the west, which developed
Sunday, was delivered with great de-
termination, and on Monday the fight
ing occupied the entire day. The Rus
SLAMS had been quite prepared for
this outhanking movement on their
left. Last week scouts reported the
OF German troops in the
direction OF Kalisz, toward Sieradz. The
numbers were reported to be consid.
cradle and Russian aviators ascer-
tanned they had come from Kslisz by
train.
Russian Left Repulses Germans.
Sunday these new German forces
crossed the Warthe River at Siersdz.
where two bridges carrying railway
lines facilitated crossing for all arms.
and advanced by rail and road toward
Lask. The Russians did not oppose
the advance until it had reached .
convenient locality south of Sieradz.
where the river Warthe has sharp
bend. The terrain for about twelve
miles forms a good natural defensive
nosition, with ranges of hills, convent
Ont clusters Of heights whence a COM
mand of the surrounding country IL
secured. Parallel to this range OF
high ground there stretches a level,
omen strip several miles wide. along
which runs the high road Beyond
that the country again becomes rather