New-York tribune., 1915-03-16
Charge Amid Blizzard on
Its Chief Defence. Three
Miles from Citadel.
GERMANS HALT
ADVANCE IN NORTH
Fear of Early Thaw SuspendS
OperatiOns-CZar's Troops
Retire in CarpathianS.
lRr Cahl, to N. rrhune !

Petrograd. March II. All the middle
tarpathiau passes are still locked IN
the blizzard. and the Austriars are
making desperate efforts TO eNtricatc
themselves from the snow-choked ra-
vines among the sources Of the rivers
which flow into the valley stretching TO
the region OF Przemysl, Stryl and
Lemberg. The storm swept this region
also, and the Russians promptly seized
the advantage amid the hurricane and
snow 10 charge into the chief eastern
defence Of Przemysl. only thrcc miles
from the heart Of the fortress.
+ The position there is held b. a
strong force of infantry and artillery,
but the vehemcncc Of the Russian on
slaught was such that an entire bat
TALON surrendered at the first charge.
Others maintained a confused -esls-
tance. frequently shooting their com
rades. Then they fed in panic. leav-
ING many guns imbedded in the snow
DRIFTS. The siege ring - now drawn
much tighter.
The Germans in the north evidently
dread the possibility of thaw. Their
large forces on the border OF Poland
have practically halted. The weather
would permit a general battle with the
movement of artillery and heavy cav
airy. but the season has reached the
time when a complete thaw is prob
able. This would prove a disaster to
the Germans if il caught them in q
half developed movement near the
swamps north Of the Narew.
Austrian forces. supported by large
German contingent, again are making
a determined effort to relieve the
Pr-emySl fortress. Having failed IN
their movement IN East Gahcla, near
Stanislau, whence they hoped to strike
northwest in the direction Of Przcmysl,
and. having transferred .hc centre Of
their operations further TO the west,
they are now attempting TO take a d.
rect route from Ujok Pass 20 the north.
I'm the vicinity Of Stubcn, almost half
way between Ujok and Pr1emysl, the
a strians encountered serious Russian
resistance, and the success OF their
movement depends upon the outcome OF
thor concentrated efforts TO break
IN. ough the Russian lines At this
point,
The simultaneous closing in OF
the Russian besieging forces upon
Przcmysl and the occupation Of Nal
kovitza. within three miles Of the fort
ress, make the situation at Przemysl
more interesting than any other just
now in Galicla.
Recent operations IN which Russian
forces in occupying hostile positions
have taken large number of men and
guns reveal that Przemysl Is much
stronger in artillery and infantry than
had been believed. lt is evident that
the fortress has kept in constant com
munication with Austrian points out
side by means of wireless telegraphy
and the flights Of aeroplanes.
Russian military authorities to-day
EXPRESSED confidence in their owl Sc
curitv I'm Galicia In view of the re-
ported success of their troops in ,nech-
ing Austrian attacks at important
places on the Carpathian front. they
are confident that the present advance
toward Przemysl viii result in failure.
Berlin (via London, March l6 The
Budapest correspondent Of the 81 okal-
anzeiger" sends the following dis
patch;
The tactics against the Russians
are being radically changed. The con
fict is raging under terrible weather
conditions 10 the north of Clsno and
Boligrod. As a result Of effective at
tacks the Russians are retreatlng slow
is from one mountain TOP TO another,
and the Austrian troops are forced 70
capture each elevation a. bloody
price.