The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-24
CAUGHT IN MIDSTREAM.
Germans Were Moved Down when
Attempting To Ford River.

Special tdbic DcSpdfCh 10 The Sun.
LoNpoN, Dec. 23-The Daily Mdifs
Petrograd correspondent telegraphs the
following review OF the situation in the
east:
"wednesday mornings despatch from
the General stan caused an uncomfortable
feeling. but the Grand Duke very wisely
Is not attempting to conceal the progress
Of the German advance but is able hap
PLY to announce three partial successes
gained by the Russians.
THE number OF Germans and Austrians
attacking the Russians at many points on
the 200 mile battle line Is estimated
at 100000. The Russians are defending
for the most part the small rivers Bzura
and Ravka and the Fllitza and Nida. as
sisted in several districts by marshes in
front OF them. The lay of the country is
such that II Is difficult for the Germans
to ind suitable places to cross SO far
,hav have not succeeded in hoidiro thair
ground even when they have crossed and
have been forced to scramble back after
suffering heavy losses.
ION the Bzura they were observed to
he marching as secretly as possible to "A
ford and "A village where the Russians
had made no attempt to prevent a cross
ing. They gave no sign that they were
aware of the Germans manpuvre and lct
them follow the stream until they reached
a point where the water was deep and
fording was impossible. Then they fell
upon the Germans, the machine guns al
usual doing terrible execution.
~ dozen men were left BY the Germans
to protect as far as possible the hasty
retreat through icy water. but the Rus
sian sharpshooters picked these men of
one by one. Only three guns could be
saved by the Germans. The others were
abandoned In a field covered with bodies
The number of dead left there was un-
usually large owing to the difficulty OF
retreat
'Tre difference in spirit between the
Germans and Austrians is illustrated by
comparing this fight. In which no wounded
prisoners were taken, to the ENGAGEMENT
on the River Nda between the villages
OF Andriev and Panchof. where "A force
or Austrans. caught in much the same
sprt OF trap. surrendered when the Rus
Stars forced them toward the river at
the point of the bayonet, Eighteen OIL
GERS and more than 1000 men were
made prisoners.
"on the Cracow front. the Russians. al
though thirty miles further from the
fortress than they were a few weeks
ago. are doing we'll In the last engage
ments twelve miles south of Tarnow an
Austrian army corps engaged was Sc
verely handled This is the most lmpor-
tant area in the eastern theatre OF war
So long as the Russians can continue to
threaten Cracow, even the loss OF War
saw would be unimportant except for the
moral effect.
THE German efforts to capture the
capital OF Poland do not diminish in
violence. German pressure on the Rus
sian centre at SochacZow increases. while
The attempt to turn the Russian wing has
also developed far south, on the Pilitza.
After five days OF bombardment the in
habitants of Sochaczow fed to Warsaw
where they seetm med To be dazed and be-
Wildered. The awful din of cannonading
the fall Of shells the terror caused by
falling buildings, the horrible death OF
men and women, deprived th'm of mem
DRY, 1t is reported that "A number of Off.
GERS and men on both sides have lost theiI
reason