Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-12
CZAR TRIUMPHS
IN GREAT FIGHT
IN EAST PRUSSIA
Takes 10000 Prisoners and
Large Quantity Of War
Supplies = Russians at
Gates of Cracow.
PETRoGRAD, Nov. 12.

PETROGRAD, Nov. IL.
1t is semi-officially reported that the
Germans have suffered a serious defeat
on the East Prussian border.
1t is stated that the Russians captured
more than 10000 prisoners together with
large quantities of guns and munitions.
Austro German forces continue their re-
treat in Southwest Poland and in this
field are following back on Cracow. The
civil authorities have warned non-com-
batants to leave the city. as the Russian
advance has passed Tarnow and Michow
on the Ivangorod- -Cracow direct line,
while Cossacks already are on the out
skirts OF the city. Heavy field guns are
being rushed to the Galician capital by
the Car and reinforcements from the
Kaiser are on the road from the eastern
theatre of war.
The city is virtually under investment.
A message from Prague admits that the
Austro- German army is retreating on
Cracow and says that the Russians are
approaching the fortress. AS a matter
of fact the Russians are already at
tackng the outer forts. Thousands of
German prisoners are now employed in
Poland filling the trenches their armies
had dug, removing the wire entangle-
ments and restoring the country to some-
thing like It's former state.
An official statement says:
"All along the fringe of Poland from
Thorn to Cracow the Austrian and Ger
man armies continue to fall back under
the increasing Russian pressure.
THE northern army, commanded by
~ II.
north of Kalisz. while the southern
army. commanded by the Crown Prince,
apparently is concentrating around
Czcnstochowa."
The Austrians are being pushed back
to the gates of Cracow and now arc
probably we'll within the line of their
forts.
ut is now clear what a gigantic
blunder the German General Stan made
in ordering the advance on Warsaw.
The advance was certainly based on an
of the Russian strength.
The defeat near Warsaw has been a
heavy blow to the Germans, while for
the unfortunate Austrians it has been
disastrous.
"Tbe Germans. instead Of helping the
Austrians to prolong the resistance in
Galca and so protecting their own APP
proaches to Silesia. rlsked the remnants
of their ally's forces in the Warsaw
hope the Austrians may have had of re-
covering lost ground, or even effectively
defending the still unconquered area in
Gslca-
"At the same time the Germans
greatly weakened their defensive force,
for the total German and Austrian loses
during the brief Polish campaign prob
ably amount to 100000 and have cleared
the ground for the Russian advance"
Przemysl is now completely invested
again and operations on the rest of the
front will probably have to wait until
the reduction OF that fortress, which is
said to have been much weakened by
the battering to which it has been sub
Jected.
The disposition of the Russian armies
for the next attack on the Germans
within German territory is proceeding |
steadily. The Germans have found It
impossible to maintain their positions on
the western side OF Kalicz. The Rus |
Sian cavalry which worked it's way along |
both banks of the Warthe westward to-
ward Posen prevented the enemy from |
keeping its frontier defensive position at
Kalicz.
There appears to be a slight feeling OF !
dissatisfaction In some circles here, judg-
ing from dispatches received here be- |
cause the German armies have been en-
abled TO escape to their own soil virtu-
ally intact, Some argue that the capture |
or Warsaw should have been permitted, |
as In that case the Germans could not |
have escaped disaster In the end
The War ofiee estimates that during |
the recent fighting In East Prussia the |
Germans lost fully 70 per cent. OF their /
officers. The Russians captured. between /
q and November 5. s23 officers. I
2l.750 soldiers, four mortars. 50 cannon, /
81 quiek-fireFs and large quantity OF
munitions OF war