Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-24
DEAD AND WOUNDED
PLACED AT $4,000
More Than 10000 Russians Are
Prisoners in German
Hands.
WHOLE ARMY Is DESTROYED
Complete Defeat and Demorali-
cation Beyond Words to
Describe.
WHOLE ARMY Is DESTROYED

SUwALKI. POLAND. February 20
tv!a Berlin and London, February 23).
The German forces under Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg by hard
hIhting and extraordinary marches in
hicted such striking defeat on the
Russians opposed to them in the re-
cent battle OF the MaZurian Lakes
country that the Russian remnants are
negligible quantity in the operations
now In progress. The Russians killed
and wounded in the four days fight
ing are estimated at 10000 men.
over 10000 Russians. out OF "a total
of 10000 engaged, are prisoners in
German hands.
The fighting has been described as
the February campaign III East Prussia
and North Poland. and IL is regG rde ed
here as second Tanncnberg.
SUCCEEDS IN SAVING
MUCH OF HIS ARTILLERY
The Russians. composing the tenth
army. were commando. by General
Sievers. BY skillful use of the rail
roads at his disposal and by the sacri-
fee of entire battalions In order TO
bring off q few guns. he succeeded in
saving greater part of his artillery
but no fewer than $4,000 of his l5O,-
coo men already are counted among
the German prisoners. while the Rus
slams killed and wounded in the four
days battle and the subsequent run
ming fights are estimated at 10000
men.
In Suwalki there could be heard yes
tcrday and to-day the sound of artil-
lery from a swampy region to- the
southwest. where an isolated Russian
division. perhaps 10000 strong has
been completely surrounded but still
is Offering resistance. Several thous-
and more Russians probably still re-
main in small scattered bands or are
wandering as stragglers within the
ring which the German troops have
now closed around the woods and
swamps between Suwalki AuEustowo
and the German frontier. but the cap
ture OF these wanderers is expected
here and is regarded as merely an In
cidcnt in n campaign to which this
great success is called only the pre-
lude.
German military men at Suwalki do
not believe General SieSers will be able
TO bring one of his troops safely be-
hind the fortress at Grodno-a safety
which may not he of long duration.
COMPLETELY DEFEATED
AND D%MORALIZED
The above statement may seem to be
exaggerated, but n corrcspondent OF
the Associated Press. motoring along
the line of the Russian retreat over
roads deep in snow and through a
dcsolate and swnmpy country. gained
an impression of complete defeat and
Generalization which scarcely can be
conveyed in words. Abandoned guns
and automobiles; wrecked and over
turned wagons, sledgcs and ammuni-
tion caissons encumbercd the way.
Rihes. blankets. knapsacks and other
equipment had been thrown away by
the tie,inE soldiers. Dead horses and
an occasional fallen soldier were
everywhere along the roadside
A; street corners In Suwalki Au-
sustowo. Lyck and other towns are
great heaps of abandoned rifles and
hayonetc. Large bands Of Russian
prisoners, many of whom surrendered
without firing n shot. were encountered
along the way. The Russians In re-
treat seem TO have had only time
enough to burn the houses on the Ger
man side of the frontier and destroy
the live stock which they were unable
10 drive away. This they did so
thoroughly that in Il scvcntcen-mile
ride from LyCk to the frontier village
of frostken. only one house with a
roof on II was seen. The Russian part
OF Prostken and the Russian villages
beyond had not been touched
The first phase OF the campaign-
the phase resulting in the destruction
OF the Russian northern army-may
he compared TO gigantic rabbit drive
or surround in which men were the
prey.
While the attention Of the Russians
was concentrated on the Warsaw line,
Field Marshal Won lIindenbure. quietly
assembling an overwhelming force in
East Prussia behind the Mazuriau
Lakes. suddenly launched ii in two
colmns against General Sicvcr
one column drove in from the south
and threw back the Russians, who for
months had been bcsicging the lake
EatcwaNs to East Prussia. and the
other column from the north, swung
round TO the eastward and southward.
aiming 10 Join the southern German
column and cut off the retreat of the
russians.
FEW TROOPS ESCAPE
CLOSING OF GERMAN TRAP
The two wings closed TO the east of
Suwalki and Auglustowo only Il few
hours too late to catch the cntiro army.
Most of the units of the Russian force
however. were caught.
The delay which enabled the remnant
TO escape was due TO nature. The line
OF advance OF the southern column Law
through the belts of swamps which
form q natural defense of the Russian
frontier. 1t is almost without roads.
and troops attempting to use the cross
country trails became almost helplessly
begged. The correspondent saw col
umns of infantry. many of whom had
passed Though mirc more than ankle
deep
Nature" said one German com
mandcr to the correspondent. always
helped the Russians. Two days of
hard front and we should have had
every man."