West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-02-04
AUSTRIANS LOSE
$4,000 IN TRAP
Russians Lure Enemy Into Over
Whdlnlng DlSastsr
SLAUGHTER IS NEAR CRaCOW

Cars Generals Then Play Fav6Nte
Game OF Withdrawing Skirmishers S
and Austrians Follow Sight into the
Jaws Of Death.
London. Feb. 2.-Acoording TO a re.
port from Cracow to the Tribune OF
Geneva the Austrian forces in western
Galicia have met with an over.
whelming reverse.
Lured into Russian trap sixty
miles from Cracow the Austrians lost
10000 men in killed, wounded and cap.
tured. The Austrians abandoned posi-.
tions they had held for long time
and fled toward Cracow, the retreat
ending at a point less than thirty five
miles from the forts.
For six weeks the Russians occu.
pying Tarnow and the lower Dunajec
were content TO wage defensive war.
fare, lacking troops and artillery suf.
ficient to risk general engagement.
They succeeded in the past week in
heavily reinforcing their lines.
Fresh corps arrived without the
Austrian intelligence service being
aware OF large movement OF troops.
Ignorant of the actual numbers of the
Russians defending Tarnow, the Aus
trian commander decided to launch a
general attack.
Employing a form OF strategy which
has often brought success to their
arms, the Russians withdrew skirmish
lines until the Austrian infantry di.
visions were within range of batteries
posted and concealed for the purpose
OF surprise. Suddenly the Austrian
columns were devastated by shrapnel
which came from three directions. AS
they fled from field covered with
their dead and wounded they wcrS
ridden down by Cassacks. A general
movement of tpe Russian infantry
completed the rCut and crowned de
cisive victory.
IL the Tribune's information is ac-
curate, the Austrians have again
failed to hold a position assigned
them by the German general staff.
nulliged General Won Hindenburg's
terrific exertions In Poland and left
the southern road to Cracow open to
the Russian invaders.
The Russian general stan reports
that the Germans have energized their
attack on the Warsaw front and are
beginning TO use large bodies OF in
fantry, instead OF small detachments.
In their day and night onslaughts
against the Russian positions.
Their increased offensive movement
began on Jan. 26, when they threw
10000 men against the Russian front
at Borjimow. After the successive
charges were repealed the Russians
questioned prisoners and learned that
four regiments had participated i'm the
drive against Borjimow.
The fighting was as desperate as
has taken place in this bitterly con.
tested region. Charge after charge
was delivered by the Germans on Jan.
30 and the Russians, holding firm until
the coming of night, made several
counter attacks in the darkness
bayoneting the Germans from all
trenches that had been taken, except
one line.
Inc RUSSIAN military authorities as
sumo on the basis OF these operations
that Marshal Won Hindenburg is not
yet contemplating retirement from
the Rawka and Bzura positions, but is
determined to make still another ef-
fort to smash the Russian defense and
seize Warsaw for the kaiser. The
activities of the past few days are
taken to be a development Of new
drive.
The news that the Russians in East
Prussia are advancing on Insterburg
from the north and west and are
threatening Tilsit with its store.
houses of grain, as well as driving the
Germans across tho Inster, reveals the
extent OF Russian activity in the most
northerly area OF lighting.