The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-02-17
Start new ATTACK
GERMANS BEGIN SUCCESSFUL OF
FENSIVE In EAST PRUSSIA
RUSSIAN line Holding

Petrograd Reports Activity Of Ger
man Trops in East Prussia Where
They Have Gathered in Consider
able Force -Carpathian Battles
Continue.
A strong German movement has
begun in East Prussia where large
German forces have been concentrat-
ed. Contemporaneously the Russians
are retiring from the Mazurian lake
district to their frontier.
Petrograd reports Thursday: 1T
has been definitely established that
the Germans are concentrating very
great forces in East Prussia. These
forces have started an offensive,
which they are developing, especially
in the direction of Wilkowyszkl
(north of Augustowo) and Lyck. The
presence is reported Of units compos-
ed OF new recruits from central Ger
many"
Berlin reports: "On the East Prus-
sian frontier engagements were con-
tinued with results which we're alto
gether satisfactory to US, although
deep snow hindered the movement OF
our troops. The results OF these en-
gagements can not yet be seen.
Petrograd reports: In the opinion
of military experts here Russia has
finally established superiority as a
fighting power over Germany and the
turning point of the war on the Rus
sian side has now been reached.
While the German soldiers and
minor commands continue to fight
with a courage and determination
that are almost superhuman, it is evil
dent to those who are in position to
know all that must be known before
a trustworthy opinion can be formed
that the German plans have gone to
pieces.
The bottom has fallen out Of the
campaign against Russia, and all that
the Germans are now seeking to ac-
complish is to cover the failure of
their strategic plan, or possibly the
absence Of any adequate plan, by
frantic rushes at frightful cost in
every direction.
The steady forward movement of
the Russians in East Prussia, their
great advance over the lower Vistula,
their advance along the lower Wis
tula on the left bank, he defeat of
the German divisions in the Carpa-
thians, all occurring simultaneously,
are an indication unmistakable to the
soldiers eye.
1t is believed here that political
necessities broke up the unity OF the
German plans. for this war; but po-
litical necessities are factors in every
war and are only found inimical to
the strategy of the losing side. The
really great strategist makes allies of
these political factors. which are al
ways present in every war Russia's s
successes are in no small degree due
to this fact.
Crank Duke Nicholas from the out
set of the war based his strategy
scheme upon Importance in every
sense Of Galicia. Whether advancing
or retreating, marching or fighting.
the Grand Duke has never lost his
grip on that strategic scheme. 1t is
now being put into execution in the
Carpathians.
The Germans sent thither three
army corps to stiken the Austro-Hun-
garian main attack, but the Germans.
if they bore the brunt of the fighting
likewise suffered the worst defeat.
In the battle north Of the Tukholka
Pass the Russians were distinctly in
ferior on numbers to the Germans.
Internationally Russia has many
more men under arms than Germany,
but she can not dodge them about
from front to front as the German
commanders do. In the fighting line
the Russians have no superiority in
numbers and in many memorable bat
ties they have been largely in, the
minority.
The Grand Dukes numbers are
mostly standing ready for use when
the proper moment comes. In the
actual fighting no more men are en-
ployed than is necessary to effect the
purpose CT the moment, and those
men are not wantonly wasted, but
the Russians, unprovided with close
network Of strategic railways special
~ designed in every way for military
purposes, must have numbers to hold
all points of their 700-mile front.
The Germans have hammered at
every link in that chain and broken
none. It has cost them ehree-Quar-
ters of million men to learn that
the Russians are fighting men Of the
best stamp.
From the dimensions Of the battles
in the Carpathians and their rapid
sequence it is believed that the decl-
siye moment Of the southern cam
paign is very near. This view is
strengthened by the hurried redistri-
button of the German forces in Hun
guary, which number about 100000
They are attempting the task OF
capturing the initiative in some Sc
lected openings toward the north
while the Austrians maintain pas
sive defense in huge numbers in the
better known passes, especially those
westward of the region where the
fighting has been heaviest.
The German offensive has already
been crippled by their appalling
losses In men both along the Rawka
and Bzura last week and in the fierce
struggle for the heights commanding
the Tukholka Pass, which opens into
the Stryi Valley in Eastern Galicla
Both these failures following In i'm
mediate succession leave them with
the bitter consciousness that an alb
| solute want Of men is running theil
compaign.
Berlin reports: Important develop
ments in the East are generally eX
pected at an early date. Rumors
have been repeatedly circulated from
time to time in the last few week:
that the hour Of a big victory was al
hand. without, however, materializ
ing into fact.
| There is reason to believe that tht
! Germans are now in sufficient force
to attempt decisive stro.,e at
chosen point.
| Major Moraht, the military critic
of the Taeeblatt, who is virtually tht
] -