Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-24
Emperor Plunged Into
Thick Of Fray at Grand
Climax of Hindenburg's
Sweep of Slav Invaders
From German Soil.
Two-thirds of Russian Force of
10000 Captured or Ami
hilated in Mighty Smashing
of Muscovite Columns in
Mazurian Battles.
BY KARL H. Won WIEGAND
WITH THE GERMAN ARMY AT sU-
WALKI, Russia, Feb. "a.

WALFI. Russia, Feb. "a.
Kaiser Wilhelm was on the actual firing
line when Won Hindenburg swept the
Russians out OF Prussia. He sped into
Isyck 30 minutes after the Germans, at
a heavy ioss had stormed the city.
The Kaiser was with his men when they
took Weszesellen, near Lyck, by bayonet.
His stan officers could hardly restrain
him from taking part In the fighting. 1t
was impossible for them TO keep him out
OF Immediate danger.
His entrance into Lyck teemed with the
dramatic. II was as II his arrival had
been perfectly timed as the climax to the
third great scene Of triumph for German
arms IN the eastern theatre of war His
big automobile rushed into the East Prus-
sian city just as the Cars armies, after
four days OF desperate, bloody resistance,
began fleeing the town.
Before the Emperor's eyes Won Hin
denburg and Won Ludendorf delivered one
OF the miEhtiest smashes of the war, once
more clearing German soil of Russians.
The 10th Russian army, under General
Sievers comprising II divisions (about
5000 mem. was two-thlrds captured or
annihilated.
SLAvs sCURRY IN RETREAT.
Won Hindenburgs mighty machine
swept through East Prussia with star
Ting velocity. sending the Slavs scurryins
In retreat The Russian 10th army. that
since last October had occupied the mar
row strip I'm East Prussia, extending from
north of Gumbinnen southwark to
Darkchmen. and below JOHANNESBURG
was rolled out of Germany, crushed and
disastrously beaten the result of des-
perate battling east and south of the
Mazurian Lakes.
Beginning at Darkehmen have been
with the German army for the last six
days. following the retreatlng Russians
From Goldap south to Lyck their retreat
became panicky. This was evident by
the abandoned equipment the stranded
automobiles and the countless bodies OF
Russian dead. The character of the
battle ground and the roadways over
which this great conflict was waged Is
best illustrated by the fact that we made
less than 30 miles day as we moved
southwark. Our automobile frequently
stuck in huge snow drifts
For four days there was desperate
fighting at Lyck IS miles inside the Prus-
sian frontier. There the Russians made
q final stand. The city was defended by
the Third Siberian Corps, reputed to be
the best fighters in the Russian army.
The stand they made at Lyck did honor
to their fame as soldiers. The city was
taken by storm only after the Germans
had suffered heavy losses. But the bril-
part of the Cars beaten armies to es-
cape over two roads leading out of Prus-
sia through the swamps to Augustowo
and Suwelki
While this onslaught was In progress
the Kaiser.B northern army. forming the
German left wing was advancing by
forced marches to effect q junction with
the central army. The third German
army on the right wing was swinging
In from the south over Grajivo squeez-
ing in the Russian left
Despite the most tremendous efforts and
the unprecedented endurance of the
German troops In making forced marches
through snowstorms and vast stretches
Of marshes and Swamps, the attempt COM
pIetely to surround the Russian army, as
evidently planned, did not wholly sue
ceed. Fully third of the Russians got
past Augustowo before the Germans could
close up the gap.
But yesterday when left the army at
Augustowo the Germans were hanging
on the TANKS and the rear of the fleeing
Russians. Eight miles east of the town
the Russian rear guard was making
desperate stand to cover the retreat, while |
Russian endorsements. coming from
Grodno. were laundering a cannonade.
When left the Germans hoped to sur |
round an entire Russian division in the |
swampy forests. Large bodies OF Rus |
SLAMS were still surrounded in the |
was fleeing In the direction OF the fortress |
OF Groduo. II was known at that time |
that the Russian prisoners numbered Ga |
600; that II guns. over 100 machine guns,
1b0 ammunition wagons and thousands or |
rifies had been taken. The Russian dead
and wounded was estimated at between
fo.o0o and 5000.
SOLID COLUMN OF TROOPS.
At crajevo I met General Won Hahn
dorf. who ever since October with a
brigade OF 1900 had defended Loetzen, in
the centre OF the Mazurian Lakes region,
against a Russian force estimated at
to,ooo His army is now part OF the Ger
man right wing.
General Won Hahndorh told me that the
Russians sent part of the Imperial Guard.
with other troops. from the fortresses OF
Ossowitz, Lomza and ostrolenka I'm an
endeavor to turn the German right wing.
but were defeated. I reached Augustowo
q Few hours after the Germans took the
town. making 5000 prisoners.
Between Crajevo and suwaIki I passed
more than 20 miles OF solid columns of
troops marching through binding snow
storm. This endless snake OF human units.
vending its way In marvellous order and
through the sWamps and
forests, formed most impressive and
imposing sight
The long columns Of Russian prisoners
which ] saw made a remarkably good i'm
preston. The men were Well fed and
vel equipped. Generally they were OF
splendid physique.
The Russian commander OF Augustowo.
Whe vas eempellod At the last moment
70 abandon his wounded at the railway
slatfon with one OF the Germans left
this note to be handed to the Kaiser's
fprces entering the town;
= am compelled 10 leave my wounded
ia yolr hands They are no longer enc
niles. bat helpless human beings I beg
81 you % treat ours Is We did yours"
Yhe German wounded spoke In the high
esf praise Of the care and attention given ,
them 81 the Russians. Needless 10 say
ihIs kindness saa reeiproaated