The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1915-08-12
FIRST YEAR OF THE
WAR IN THE EAST

The iirut twelvemonth Of fghtlng
between the Russians ON one side and
the Austrians and Germans on
the other Il story Of great changes
OF fortune. both combAtanta being re-
peatedly driven back only to show
the greatest resiliency IN defeat and
soon 20 resume the offensive Ia 4 most
surprising manner.
The end OF the year. however, finds
tho pendulum swinging strongly
against the car. He may recover
and take again the roads 10 Cracow.
Vienna and Berlin. but Just az pres
ent he IL on the whole IN worse plight
than in any hour since tho war
started.
Rnssta'a losses IN the first year OF
the war are not approached BY those
OF any nation IN any war OF history.
According 10 reliable estimates. she
has had between 100000 and 1000.
600 men killed. injured and captured.
Despite these horrible gaps made In
her ranks, she still has millions IN
the field, and her great reservoir 81
personnel does not show algna Of OK.
haustion. Il II not men she lacks. but
guns. shells and brains.
Slow 10 Mobilize.
On Angusts 1. 1914. Germany de.
clared war on Russia. Almost imme.
diately the Germans crossed the from.
tier At Thorn and the Austrians south
OF Lubiin. They were practically un.
opposed because Of the slownesa OF
mobilization In Russia. The Grand
Duke Nicholas Nicholalevltch was
forced 10 gather hts main armies well
70 the rear Of the line or great fort
resses running through Kovno, Grod.
no. ossoweta. Noyo 0eorgievsk. war.
saw and Iyangorod.
On account OF bis desire to do al
he could 10 relieve the French. who
were being driven from northern
France by the amazing German rush
through Belgium, Nicholas attacked
sooner than he otherwise would have
done. A. result. he met two disas.
tiers.
He sent General samnonoa into
East Prussia from the south and
General Rennenkampf into East Prus-
STA from the east. the latter winning
the FIRST large engagement Of the war
In the East Ut 0umbinen.
AZ this moment the Germans. b.
iieving that the French we're well in
hand and about TO be surrounded on
their eastern frontier, quickly with.
drew 100000 men from France ana
hurled them by rail- into East Prus.
STA. where they fell upon samsonoff
with crushing force In the great Ger.
man victory Of Tannenberg (Aug. 2el.
Meanwhile, ths Austrians. leaving
only . few troops IL 0aIicia 10 hold
back the Russians advancing from
TarnOpol on the lire Of the Gniia-I.ipa.
struck the Russians en- masse az Kras |
mix and routed them to LubIin.
Most Bloody Drive o. War.
With two armies IN dlficully. the
grand duke decided TO abandon one
70 lie fate and save the ether. He
threw rs-enforeementn into Lublln
and ordered the line Of the 0niia.
'eAkN EfFSt " tVfceo ~ any cost IN /
1ne OF the most bloody drives Of the
var tbs Russians advanced into east.
Urn Galieia and occupied LENDERS.
The Russians then advanced 70
iawa RuskA and took the Austrian
irmies In Poland In the rear. cutting
hem up frtghtfully.
Aeanwhile Won Hindenburs had
completed his victory over aamsonon
y turning on Rennenkampf and clear.
ne East Prussia Of Musoovltea. But
hough Rsnnenkampf had been de-
Gated and Bamsonoa almost ami
Iilated. the Germans.
The Russians we're nov Is far west
. Tarnov IN 0aiieia. while their
were able 70 make raids into
hungary farther south. HlndenburK
. great force suddenly
4 Silesia and began a drive from tho
rest against WARSAW and Ivan.
orod. The Siberian corps arrived
! the nick Of time TO save Warsaw
rom the enemy.
High Tide 81 Russian invasion.
HiBdenburg then drew on the north.
RI section q his army On Poland 20
- norfh thinning "a faka fAs ,.,.-.,. .