New-York tribune., 1914-11-18
GERMAN RETREAT ROUT,
GRAND DUKE DECLARES
Russian Commander in Chief Derdes Claim hat Retire
ment from Before Warsaw Was Strategic Move
or Anything Else Than Forced Flight.

Nci6cuburg obstinate fgntirZ mas Oeen
IN progress for nearly q week without
result sufficient. in the opinion Of the
cautious Rms sian cOmmander-in -ehief,
20 deserve communication 20 me pup
lie. although the fact taat the hus-
slams captured five Germsn siX-inco
howitzers may be taken as indicagiVs
of approaching success Wnicn ~ c,'n'
mon with the Russian forces operating
further north should insure the sd-
vance on the highly important strate-
gic poirt Of Alienstein, headquarters
Of a German army corps.
The Germans say their retreat from
the Vistuls was . strategic move. The
arnv marching on Warsaw included
brilliant bosy of men Of distinguished
names. many Of the principal military
names in Germany, many minor Ter
man princes and large contingent o.
Lesser satellites. These brought noun
tains o. baggage and sported the hnesJ
gala uniforrn- In public places.
As early a. their arrival at Lodz
printed invitations to p ball on GER
tain evening az Warsaw were found
IN the captured officers. Many officers
on leaving LODI consigned their heavy
baggage to residents well known 70 the
German authorities. with orders 10
send it on b. cer.ain date 20 certain
addresses I'm Warsaw, where they Would
then be in residence. The addresses
varied from select private houses 70
ordinary hotels. but all were marked
out beforehand b. the German spy sys
TEN. which could produce billetiug ilsta
for German armies m any country IN
Ecrope. England included, al mo
mcnt's notice.
Receipts for commandeered horses
and property we're made payable a.
Warsaw on and after OctC ber ~.
These are small. but significant. facts,
but in p military sense more telling are
the facts regarding the character o.
the fghting. The Germans got az one
point within FIVE or six miles OF ar
saw at Prushkoff, on the railway Their
big guns carry much further than that,
bat as the Germans expected 20 marcn
into Warsaw they we're not used.
Caught in the grand dukes strategic
tran. the Germans did not retire, but
fought a series Of desperate battles
lasting several days. ~ Prushkor
alone 5000 Germans were killed.
With cavalry in their rear and cav
airy. Guns and infantry on their leIt
Aank. the Germans AZ last began thaJ
retreat which for forty miles was an
urbroken run until they reached the
River Skernjayka, where. hndlng
wooded height commanding the sur
rounding country, they attempted an
other stand
The position being first ISOLATED by
the character Of she intfencnmeNt'
about the village of Modlo ana the vii-
lage itself. after prolonged bayonet at
tacks. the Russians IN two nights kol
within charging reach OF inc neiGhl''
notwths standing the appalling aftltierl
fre. and took them on the thlrd night
Tho carnage in this region was unpar-
alleled.
Before Lodz again the Germans had
nrenared triDle line of intrench-
merts. but after their experience at
Nodlo they could not get their men 10
make another stand at Lodz itself.
series of orders and counter orders
nroduced confusion eloquent OF the
/ stare OF mind Of the German generals.
and very far removed from an orderly
strategic retiremert
/ When the Russians entered they
captured several German soldiers VINO
+ had hidden themselves TO escape fur-
rbor hardships. Others also were
CAPTURED owing 20 the premature de-
striiction Of bridges. again showing
degree Of disorder uniting the men
for strategic retirement
The conclusion is that the 1etmaI
retreat before Warsaw was IN point OF
fact hurried fight. with desperate at
tempts 70 hold positions upon which
70 rally. Finally, the intrenched posi-
tions behind the Warlha seem not To
have been reached by the fleeing Ger
mans who we're unable TO cross the
. rfNar