New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-14
BIG BATTLE NEAR
IN EAST PRUSSIA
Germans Massing Men
and Guns North of the
MaZurian Lakes.

London, Nov. 13.-Military men here
now look on East Prussia as the centre
of gravity of the war. In this held
a big battle is developing.
The Russians are pushing vigorously
a great enveloping movement. They are
engaged with the Germans along a
wide curve of $50 miles from Stallup-
omen, in the northeast, through Goldap
and Kruglanken, which is well within
the triangle OF lakes, down to Soldau,
in the southwest.
Military observers say the Germans
have apparently checked their retreat
in Poland, and by counter attacks are
trying to create a diversion. They say,
however, that the Russians are not TO
be turned from their plan, which is be-
lieved to be an attack on Dantzig. II
is argued that the Germans will have
to allow East Prussia to be overrun a
second time or bring up reinforce
ments, and that they can hardly
weaken their army along the Polish
frontier, for that would leave Posen
and Silesia open TO invasion. The Al
lies are hoping that an effort will be
made to relieve East Prussia at sac
rifice to the German armies in Bel
gium and France.
In any fighting in their own country
the Germans will have the advantage
over the Russians, as they have net
work of strategic roads to move their
troops quickly and, besides, they use
motors to larger extent than their
OF onents.
A Reuter- dispatch from Petrograd
says:
1.-THE Germans have concentrated
strongly north Of the Mazurian Lakes
East Prussia, with heavy guns from
Koenigsberg. Along the Soldau-Lyck
line they have constructed heavily
timbered, strongly armed blockhouses,
with barbed wire defences."
Paris, Nov. 13.-The Petrograd cor
respondent of the Havas Agency sends
the following dispatch:
"The conclusion is drawn from the
latest news that the German troops,
who in their retreat have occupied all
the defiles to the east of the Mazurian
Lakes, where they have placed heavy
artillery, intend to resist the Russians
tenaciously in that section. The Ger
mans hope that on these positions,
which they consider impregnable, the
shock Of the Russians will be broken.
However, yesterday the Russians were
successful in sorties to the east of
the lakes.
Throughout all Prussia railway
passenger traffic has been suspended.
The lines now are transporting only
troops, apparently with a view to a
new concentration, which is said to
have been decided upon by a recent
council of the Austro- German general
STATS at Cracow. This council is re-
ported to have decided TO change COM
pletely the plan of battle"
Petrograd, Nov. 13.-The following
statement has been received by the
Russian n-chief's staff:
ain Eastern Prussia the fighting con-
tnues in the region of Stalluponen for
the possession of the outlets in the
eastern chain of Mazurian Lakes.
"The fighting in the region of Sol
dau continues.
THE German offensive has been re-
pulsed in the direction of Thorn, on
both banks of the Vistula. toward
Ryfoin and Wloclawek and further
west. The enemy brought a part of
his troops from Lyck.
ain the Czenstowa region the Ger
mans are moving gradually toward the
Silesian frontier.
"In Galcia our offensive toward
Dounaietz nowhere encountered re-
sistsnce. We occupied Krosno and in