Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-12-02
Siege of Cracow Begun.

ed in battle south of the Vistula
and that $500 men were captured
Further south, in Galicia, the Rus
slams are said to have reached Cra-
COW and to have begun the siege of
the city. An Italian correspondent
at the front states that Cracow is
now being bombarded by heavy Rus
sian siege guns, and that one of the
suburbs is in flames. The CAPTURE
OF this fortress has been one of the
main objectives Of Russia's campaign
against Austria, on the theory that
its fall together with that of Pre-
mysl, now under siege, would mean
Russian ascendency in that part of
Austria which lies to the north Of
the Carpathian mountains.
Military critics in the capitals of
the allies, according to dispatches
reaching London, are convinced that
the German invasion of Russian Po-
land has suffered a check which only
the most strenuous efforts of the Ger
man commanders can save from de-
generating into disaster.
news report from Petrograd sets
forth that the Germans, apparently
| ignorant Of the extent Of the Russian
| opposition along the Vistula, or hold
| ing this opposition in CONTEMPT.
| threw heavy forces against the Rms
sian center, leaving very thin lines Of
| communication between their wings.
TEis created a situation said to be
without precedent in the history of
| military strategy.
In the meantime the resumption Of
the Russian offensive resulted in a
wedge, dominated by LODI, being
thrust into the German center. If
the Germans can hold their lines of
communication with their wings in
tact, the invaders may be able to
withdraw, in the view of British OBJ
servers. without suffering disaster.
Germans on Defensive.
According to the French official
statement, the German forces in Bel
gium are on the defensive, and the
allies have made progress "at certain
points" Fighting continues in .hs
Argonne, where, the French state
ments assert, German attacks were
repulsed.
Opinions differ sharply as to the
intentions of Germany concerning
operations in the west 1t is report
ed that Germany is about to embark
on a new offensive movement; that
the German line has been weakened
perceptibly, and that a new German
army is being rushed into Flander,
In view of these conflicting state
ments it is impossible to discern
even the probabilities Of the near
future.
Prisoners Are Badly Frozen.
Petrograd, Dec. 1.-The condition
of German prisoners captured in the
region Of LodZ is said to resemble
that Of the French troops during Ma
poleon's retreat from Moscow. Many
OF them have frozen hands and feet.
REPORTS from the front are that
relntorcementS sent for the army of
Gen. Mackensen near Lodz are taking
up positions along the ViStula river. |
where the German resistance seems
TO have been least effective The an
parent purpose of this move is to
hlnder the Russian enveloping move
ment until the main German column
is eXtricated from the line which
runs from Strykow through GZierz
to SZadek.
Semi-oflicial reports from Galicia
indicate that the Russian advance
along the foothills OF the Carpathian
mountains has reached a point due
south of Cracow, thus surrounding
the city from the northeast and
south.
Germans Resume Drive.
Berlin, Dec. 1.-The following Off
cial announcement was given out in
Berlin to-day:
'In East Prussia and Southern
Poland 1t was generally quiet yestor-
day. In Northern Poland, south of
the Vistula, our war booty was in
creased still further as result of
the successes announced yesterday.
"The number Of prisoners taken by
us has been increased by about 9. 800
men, and we have taken 10 more
cannon. In addition, 26 machine
guns and numerous ammunition
carts fell into our hands"
Latest reports from Russian Po-
land given out in Berlin indicate that
the Germans have resumed the exc
cution of their plan to encompass the
Russian right flank and to force it
back on the center, at the same time
| cutting off the Russians communi-
cation with Warsaw
AuStrians Retreat.