Evening star., 1914-11-17
BERLIN CLAIMS VICTORIES
OVER FORCES OF THE CAR
Slavs' Losses Have Exceeded Whole
Army Corps, It Is De-
clared.
DOUBT AS TO FOES ADVANCE
Germans Admit Ignorance as to
Whether Invaders Have Been
Checked by Recent
Operations.

LONDON, November u
That Cracow was in flames after
a Russian onslaught, and that the
populace of both East Prussia and
Silesia was fleeing, was the news
conveyed in dispatches received
in London today from the east.
Though what really happened at
Cracow is not known here, the
news would seem to indicate that
the Germans and the Austrians
are, for the moment, at the bot
tom.
Official Berlin is interpreting
the retreat of the German forces
from Warsaw as strategic mas
terpiece, much the same as the
allied governments hailed Gen.
Joffre's retirement in the early
stage of the German invasion OF
France, but the German people,
according to travellers reaching
here, are expressing widespread
chagrin at the German retreat.
Situation at Cracow.
A Venice dispatch to the Morning Post
says:
THE fall of Cracow is expected at any
moment The city. is invested on the
north and parts are ablaze. The in
habitants are in flight. The Russian
forces have made very rapid advance
and reached Cracow sooner than ex-
pected.
J'For the Russians the fall of Cracow
means the key to the industrial districts
of Silesia, striking a vital economic blow
at Germany"
Rome reports that according to a spe-
cial dispatch from Petrograd to the
Giornale dItalia, the overwhelming ad-
vance of the Russians toward Cracow
Is overcoming all obstacles, both the diff
ficulty Of the passes and the desperate
resistance of the Austrians Cracow IS
entirely besieged on the northeast. A
sortie from Przemysl has been repulsed
by Russian artillery and cavalry, which
inflicted severe losses on the Austrians.
Whether the latest German victories
in the east have stopped the Russian
advance cannot yet be foretold. says a
Berlin dispatch, but German military
officials say, they undoubtedly have re-
suited in giving the Germans an excel
lent strategic position and at the same
time in increasing the difficulties of the
enemys situation.
Claims German Successes.
The Russians near Soldau, according
to reports from the German army head
quarters, were driven past Lipno to
NJ Il tod
by Gen. Won Hindenburg at Wloclawek,
was forced southwark over kutno in
stead of back upon the line of its adj
vance. The Nistula river is now be-
tween the two Russian forces and it
is pointed out in military circles that
the river is likely to prove a great
barrier in case of further Russian de-
feats.
In itself. the German authorities say,
the victory must not be overestima ed
and that the people should wait until
II Is known whether the Russians have
been made to retreat or even brought
to a standstil1.
The Russian losses, including prison
ers, are reported to have exceeded a
whole army corps. but the German Of
dcials say that it must not be forgot
ten that the Russians are operating in
great force.
A report received in Berlin from vi
emma, that action took place at differ
ent points along the front in Galicia
appears to show that Teutonic allied
armies there have now made the dis
positions of their forces and are ready
to reassume the defensive.
Gen. Potiorek, commanding the Aus
trian forces in Servia, declared in al
address to his troops today thai
thousands of prisoners had been taker
In the last nine days.
The Petrograd correspondent of the
Times sends the following:
According to the Army Messenger
the German plans against the Russians
have failed completely. The advance
Of the Russians into East Prussia com.
oel,ed the Germans to assume a double
onensive-from Thorn to induce the
invaders to withdraw from East Prus-
sia, and from Cracow, Galicia. Both
attempts failed. The Russian armies
thanks to the continuous and ublqui-
tous pressure they have been able to
apply, have retained the fullest free.
dom of action and have been able te
choose the points where they wishee
10 deliver their attacks
Germans Are Confident.
The Germans seem confident of q
favorable outcome to their renewed Of
fensive along the river Warthe, and
their ability to resume the aggressive
shows strikingly the advantage which
the possession of stragetic bases gives
warning power. 1t is the opinion o,
British observers that the German.
are determined to force the invaders
from East Prussia, and that they are
striking two blows, one from the north
and the other from the northwest, il
khe general direction of Plock anc
kutno. with the object of paralyZing
The Russian advance along the south
ern frontier of East Prussia.
Dispatches from Petrograd conveying
pfficial reports saw that the brilliant
Ind unexpected seizure of Johannis.
burg so disconnected the Germans thai
their offensive movement along the
liver Warthe was started prematurely
Russia is reticent regarding the sue
eess of these movements, while Berlin
kepOrts them as progressing favor