South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-08
Detailed Review of Military 0p-
erationS in Poland for Past
Month Given by "Eye Wit
ness" on Grand Duke Staff.
ATTACK OF GERMANS
FORCES A RETIREMENT
Vigorous Offensive of TeutOnS
and Their Allies Causes a
Modification" of Campaign
Plan of Cars General Staff.

PETROGRAD, Dec. S.-A detailed
keview Of military operations in Po-
land from the first of November up
10 the middle of last week, written by
an eye witness" on the staff of Grand
Duke Nicholas, the Russian COM
mander-in-chief, was issued by gen.
craI headquarters today. 1t tells of
the desperate fighting in which the
Germans were driven back TO the
East Prussian border after their un-
successful drive against Warsaw and
gives instances of Russian bravery,
one Of which was the fOrding of a
river in which the Russians waded
through ice cold water to their necks.
The narrative follows:
"On the left bank Of the Vistula
the warlike operations during the first
half Of November developed as fol-
lows:
AT the end OF October our troops
were pursuing the German and Aus
trian forces which were retreating g
toward the southwest. A front was
established along the Warthe and
NidsitZa rivers, where the enemy was
strongly protected by his right wing
and where our offensive was hamper
ed by the necessity of stopping TO re-
pair roads which had previously been
torn Up. The enemy prOfited by
these conditions which were imposed
upon us and was given time to repair
their railway lines.
Russians Forced 10 Retire.
This was the time we learned Of
the removal OF German troops toward
she north, which operation con-
stituted "a menace TO the right wing of
the Russian army and threatened its
line OF communication.
ION the Silesian front the progress
OF our other armies facing Austro-
Ha nv II
trians brought up from Galicia and
supported by Germans. These troops
held a strongly fortified line from
CracOw TO Czestochowa.
LAS q result OF this new military
com bination il was necessary to reor-
ganize our own plan OF campaign 10
some extent. The modification of our
front toward the north was carried
out
CNote-By modification the writer
means a retirement)
This modification was carried out
under the protection Of our right wing
which had to face a series of vigorous
attacks near WlOclawek. on the is
tula Leczyca, "a miles north of Lodz.
and KutnO, 20 miles northeast OF
Leczyca-
Having impeded the Germans in
the fighting at the points mentioned
we developed the necessary forces to
check the offensive which the Germans
were beginning TO put under way on a
line extending nearly north and south
from ThOrne in East Prussia to
Sfuipca in Poland.
Situation Changes.
"On Nov. % the general situation
was definitely in our favor. ON the
Zdunskawola-S a-Szadek-Lodz line the
Germans, having suffered enormous
losses, We're compelled to pause.
throw up entertainments and assume
the defensive. All the reserves they
could spare were directed toward
Strykow in o-Ser TO support the troops
that had been cut of from their main
army and that were retreating from
Tsyn toward BreZiny and Koluszin.
AZ the same time the Germans by
desperate attacks were endeavoring To
prevent US from drawing complete
circle around their forces in the neigh
bOrhoOd OF BreHny.
I'm this action
"As the Germans officially admitted.
their losses were enormous
Creates New Situation.
The Czestochowa region lost for a
time the Importance il previously
held. All these circumstances created
a new situation requiring a more ad-
vantageous occupation OF certain
points. ON Dec. the Germans at
tempted an offensive movement in the
.
hut were repulsed with severe losses.
During the next few days the enemy
shifted his pressure by attempting u
new hanking movement south of Cra-
COW against our left wing.
Fresh Russian troops were
brought up. Reinforcements near
Kurovo found the bridge over the
Dunaetz destroyed and the heights of
the left bank occupied by the enemy.
Although under a sustained fire one OF
our glorious regiments forded the riv-
eT the soldiers wading through icy
water that reached their necks. and
stormed the heights neld by the foe
at TnegOnberge. The taking OF this
passage secured n much needed rest
for the Russian troops.
According TO stories told by pris-
Oners some German companies that
originally numbered 260 OF ESQ men
were so badly cut up by the Russians
that only about 90 men We're left
alive.
Bring Up SiV Corps.
zone consequence of the battle on
the LoWicz-L0dz line. which result
Unfavorably for the Germans. was the
bringing up OF large forces 20 their
eastern front
In all the Germans have brought
up at least six army corps (240.O00
men1 five divisions Of cavalry, part II
which came from tho western theater
OF war and fresh artillery.
THE arrival OF their fresh troops
enabled the Germans 90 make "a con
tnuous series OF attacks against our
lines during Nov. - and up 10 Dec