The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-01-07
BIG VICTORY OVER
TURKS TOLD ONLY
BY RUSSIAN NEWS


fensive against Warsaw is partly
checked while the troops wait for
the Rawka river and the swamps on
their front to freeze up Whereas
winter spelled destruction TO Ma
poleon, it will spell success to the
Germans, according to the officials
at the front.
l have been able to spend eight
days at the extreme front along the
| German eastern position. 1t is a gi-
! gantic struggle that is in progress.
The present campaign will not only
decide the fate of Warsaw, but end
the present winter campaign and
have a most important bearing on
/ the war
Fighting Under Difficulties.
The Germans are operating under
the most tremendous difficulties
which are only possible of being
4 overcome by the superlative mill
tary organization which General Won
Hinderburg has built up. His 'strat-
egy, backed with wonderful work on
the part of his chief aides, Generals
Mackensen, Litzman, Hans, Won De-
low and the others, forced the Rus
sian steamroller back with heavy
losses until the swamps which front
Warsaw were reached. There the
Russians at once again came into
possession of a distinct advantage, as
they had constructed three separate
positions OF great strength, one be-
hind the other, and all fanked by
impossible swamps.
May Outtlank Enemy.
The question now confronting
he and his aides will be able to de-
wise a plan of breaking through these
lines or, through a general thanking
movement from the south, now in
progress, will be able to force the
Russians to abandon them and leave
Warsaw as prize to the Germans.
LII the weather turns sufficiently cold
to freeze the swamps, SO that the
transports can be of use, the Ger
man commanders are certain this will
be the result. If not, the situation
must resolve itself into a ceaseless
long-distance artillery duel similar
to that now in progress on the west
ern front.
Trenches Arc Bog.
The muddy trenches are sheer bogs
through which the men slop, sinking
at times almost to their thighs in
the slush. All roads have been de-
stroyed and the railroad lines blown
up by the Russians, but, despite this
handicap, the Germans have been
able to bring up their heavy guns.
Through long-range glasses the
Russians can be seen Strengthening
their trenches at every point They
are bringing up bags of sand, which
are put in position along the entire
front
All day long and far into the night
the Germans pour shells and shrapnel
into the Russian trenches. All sorts
OF guns are used, ranging from light
held artillery to the heavy Austrian
lZ-inch guns, mounted on motor car
r1ages. The roar of the exploding
shells and of the discharging guns
is terrifying.
Night Assault Big Spectacle.
The Germans are now utilizing
along the front here a new improv-
ed mlhe-thrower, which operates with
the most deadly effect.
L was permitted to witness . night
assault with the heavy artillery on
Sklerniekce. 1t was wonderful spec
lacle. The ground trembled under the
ceaseless detonations. The sky was
streaked with light from the explod-
ing shells and from the timber set
ON fire by the explosions Twice Ger
man infantry crossed the river under
cover OF the guns. only to be forced
to withdraw again in the face OIL
vastly superior forces. The Russians
had material advantage of position.
They were on high, hard ground, with
both Hanks protected by impossible
sWamps, and finally the attempt to
take the position was abandoned.
100000 Men Battling.
Ihere has been no apparent at
tempt on the part of the Russians
again to take the offensive. Along
the immediate front with Skiernie-
vice as the center, there are probably
100000 men engaged. The Russians
are for more sparing with their am
munition than in the early stages OF
the war, and this is believed to indi-
cate that their reserve supply is run
ming low.
The private theatre and massive
bunting lodge of the czar at Skiern;e-
vice has been transformed into a
hospital for the German wounded. A
few cases of cholera are reported
among the troops.
Russians Tell of AnniIlilating More
Thousands.
Petrograd. Russia.-The Novoe
Vremya says recent sortie by ~the
Austrian garrison, which is defend
in Przemysl, date not given, result
ed in the complete annihilation of
the Austrian force.
The sortie was preceded by an ex-
tensive cavalry reconnaissance. Then
the Austrian infantry advanced in
force in the direction of forest near
the city. The Russians opened fire,
but the Austrians rushed forward
and gained the cover of the woods.
Ihey continued to push forward and
the Russians permitted them TO ad-
vance close to their positions before
making a serious effort to halt them.
With the fighting thus at close range,
the Russians opened terrific fire
from rifles and machine guns. 1t is