Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-10-10
BATTLE OF WIRBALLEN
ENDS IN RUSSIAN ROUT;
Acres DEAD ON field


ing the Russians had not succeeded
I'm locating its position II was only a
chance she'll or shrapncl that broke
within the danger zone But aside
from watching the German guns in
, action, there was nothing to see at
this point, as not even the objective
Of the fire. SO with my officer escort,
We moved upto the crest of the hill.
following the line Of the field tele-
phone 10 the point from which half a
dozen officers were watching the ef-
feet aud directing the German fire.
Now both the German and Russian
shells were screeching and scream
ing overhead in most uncomfor-
table. IL undangorous fashion.
In the morning sunlight. from the
summit Of the hill. ! got my first
view Of the lighting that will go
down In history as the Battle Of Wir-
ballen
The line stretched on 10 the left
as far az the field glasses would
carry. IA a great somi-circle, the ir-
regularity being caused by the ef-
forts of both armies TO keep TO high
ground with their main lines. AS we
watched. the entire fire of the Rus
sian artillery seemed 90 be diverted
ON a village situated ON a low plain
about two thousand Yards TO the
northward of our position The vil-
: lago already dosertod--was being
literally hattened under a dolugo of
iron and steel. The ruins we're In
| flames. After half an hour the rea-
son for shelling the deserted village
became evident A general advance
/ against the German center was
! launched aud the Russians were
making certain that the village. d.
reotly In the line OF advance, had not
] been occupied by the German ma
chine guns during the night
/ So far. though / had been Witness
ing a battle of obviously tremendous
magnitude I had not seen the enemy
From our position. slightly in the rear
, of the German flank, II was compare
lively easy to trace our own line
through the glasses, but the gencr-
al line of the Russians was hard to
determine, being indicated only by
occasional flashes of gun fire. With
the start OF the Russian attempt on
the German center, however, the en-
tire scene changed.
Yesterday, for the first time since th'
start of the battle ON SUNDAY the Rus
slams attempted TO carry the German
center position by storm, All sunda,
and Monday the opposing artillery ha'
been hammering away az the opposini
trenches. The craftsmanship on IN
Russian artillery had been bad, but
was told that Russian aeroplane hal
made reconnaissance OF the Germai
position shortly after dawn yesterday
saw no machines in hight. Iwic
under cover Of their field artillery Oh
Russian infantry advanced IA fore
Yesterday. Twice they were force
back to their defensive positions. No.
they were to Try again.
The prcliminaries were well und'
, way. without approaching their signii
canoe until one OF my officer escorts e.
planned
"t few points along their In
W observable TO NJ. but screened from q
3 observation of the German trenches
the centre. the Russian infantry can
tumbling out and rushing forward too
up advanced positions. awaiting the TO
nation OF the new and irregular bait
line. Dozens of light rapid hrcrs wei
dragged along by hand. Other troops
the reserves-took mp semi advance
positions. All the while the Russia
shrapnel was raining over the Germa
trenches
Every move Of the enemy was oh
yiouslv being communicated to the Ger
man center The German reserve col
umn moved in closer. The rifle fir
from the German trenches practicall
cea sed. The German officers move
/, along in the open behind the Trenches
encouraging and steadying their mel
preparing them for the check.
Finally came the Russian order L
advance. At the word. hundreds o
yards Of the Russian fighting lin'
loaped forward. deployed in open orde
and came on. One two. three. and II
some places. four and five successive
skirmish lines. separated by interval
OF from twenty to fifty yards. swep
forward. Some Of them came int
range of the German trench fire al
most at once. These lines began e
wilt and thin out Others we're abb
TO make considerable advance unde
cover. The smoke Of the burning vii
lago gave a grateful protection to sew
eral regiments. But on they came
all along the line, protected and un
protected alike. rushing forward will
. yell. pausing firing and advancing
again.
Guns Spit Fire at Close Range.
! From the outset of the advance. In
{ German artillery. ignoring for tn
moment. the Russian artillery action
began Smelling the onrushing mas
with wonderfully timed shrapnel
. which burst low above the advancin
!. lines and tore sickening gaps.
But the Russian line never stopped
For tho third time in two days the
came tearing on with no indication
Of having been affected by the ter
rible consequences OF the two pre-
vious charges. AS spectacle IN
whole thing was maddening I founi
my heart humping like a hammer am
with no weapon more formidable thai
pair Of binoculars I was mental.
fighting as hard as the men with IN
guns. For the first time I sensed tn
intoNication of battle and learned tn
secret Of the smiles on the faces o