The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1914-10-23
RUSSIAN SUCCESSES
HAVE PUT GERMANS
ON THE DEFENSIVE
PLAN OF LATTER Is TO HAVE
NAVY AND ARMY COOPER.
ATE IN BALTIC.
COSSACKS | ARE ENCOURAGED
Gen. Rennenkamf Is in Command of
Russian Forces-Newspapers Have
Proclaimed That Great Victories
Have Been Won.
international News Service.)

| PETROGRAD, Oct. 16.-In general
the Russian press is very careful in
discussing the latest success of Rus
sia's glorious army. Russian papers,
while welcoming the great victory
over the Austrian army, criticised
very sharply some of the others
which professed to see in this sue
cess the complete defeat of both the
Dual Kingdom and of Germany. and
recommend them to heed the words
, of the we'll known Count Witte, who
in Odessa advised the representatives
of the local press to be most cautious.
We have struggled, he said, SO long
only with a part of the German and
the Austrian armies, and we ought
! not to lose our heads over the first
success. The main forces of the en-
envy are hidden, and before us is a
very difficult task Of destroying them,
which will cost us enormous effort
and sacrifices. The press, continued
Count White, must prepare the popu-
lace for unexpected difficulties which
may arise at any moment. r-'
OF course the words of the famous
Russian politician, are very impor-
tant and reasonable, but they must
be read in the light Of the situation in
which our enemies are now. Germa-
ny is in a very difficult position. Be
| ing blockaded by sea by the British
navy and pressed eastward by the
allies, she cannot help the Austrians,
and even if such help were given it
would be too late. .. ..
| Germany, as can be seen from the
latest move of her army, is concen-
trating her forces in East Prussia in
an endeavor to cooperate with the
navy in the Baltic. The rapid ad-
vance of General Rennenkamf's ar
my and the decisive success of the
Russians over the main Austrian
forces, sas we'll as the Servian victo-
ries at Jardar and Drin, of course,
distracted the attention of the Ger
man general staff from France to
Russian offensive move in Germany.
From August % to Sept Z the Ger
mans continually transported troops
from the western front to the east
ern. The Kaiser kept his promise
to support his beloved East Prussia
as soon as possible, and did so at the
expense of the army which was fight
ing against the allies in the western
war area.
When the Germans had completed
this concentration in East Prussia
they started their offensive in an at
tempt to envelop the army General
Rennenkampf on the line of Norden-
burg Goldap-Suvalki. They brought
very strong pressure to bear, and it
was extremely difficult task for the
Russians to hold the advanced posi-
tons they had won, for they were in
very unfavorable circumstances. But
with great self-sacrifice and bravery
they contested every step by the ad-
vancing enemy, and this fighting cost
the Germans very dear.
General Rennenkampf, in view of
further operations decided to adopt
favorite Russian tactics of exhaust
ing the enemy by fighting a success
sion of rearguard actions in retreat
ing on the most favorable positions.
In one of my former articles I tried
to explain the difference between a
partial success and a victory. The
Russian press, or instance, in dis
.cussing the circumstances in which
Cent Samsonoff's two army corps
were defeated, makes clear that
though the Russians suffered very
heavy losses they moved backward
in complete order to avoid the fire of
the siege artillery of the enemy and
to entrench themselves in case the
Germans brought their heavy can
mons into use again. To remove such
big machines takes time, and the
Russians succeeded quite we'll in &C.
complishing their retreat.