The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-06-10
Heavy Ordnance of the Ger
mans Reduced the Fortress
and Drove Russians Out
Germans Lost Heavily.

London, June 3-Defnite news that
after a siege of three weeks the fort
ress of Przemysl, in Galicia, has fallen
to Austria, was received here with q
degree Of surprise. The Russians
were in possession a little over 20
days. While it has been well known
that the Russian position at Przemysl
was serious, and that the artillery fire
Of the Germanic allies was daily be-
coming more terrific, the announce
ment from Vienna Of the Austrian
victory was not expected so quickly,
particularly in view of an official state
ment from Petrograd of last Monday
saying that the Austro-German grip
before Przemysl had been broken and
that the offensive in the great Cali
clan struggle had passed to the Rus
slams.
The Austrians entered Przemysl at
$3.50 o'clock this morning after ham,
mering with heavy guns that lasted
more than twenty days.
The capitulation of Przemysl is
ascribed to the effectiveness of the
artillery onslaught. The occupation
Of the fortress by the Austrians will
,, remove the danger Of the Russian
, threat against CracOw.
When the Russians starved out the
! Austrian garrison at Przemysl, an
, operation which brought them into
! the fortress on March %, they did it
slowly and Systematically, conserv-
ing the lives of their men as much as
possible. The method which the Aus
tro-Germans have been employing re-
Gently to accomplish the same end has
been entirly different. Their expen-
perhaps outdone anything in this war,
not even excepting the German rushes
for Calais, and the terrible struggle
along the User river.
The retaking of the Przemysl fort
ress already has been characterized
by British observers as one of the
most remarkable feats of the war I'M
mediately after the surrender of the
Austrian garrison, the Russians began
a westward rush through Galicia and
it was predicted that they would soon
overrun both Silesia and the plains OF
Hungary. A terrific Austro-German
offensive was inaugurated, however,
the result of which was to drive the
! Russians back to the San river and to
enable the Teutonic allies to encircle
Przemysl and attack it from the north
and southeast.
An official announcement was made
today at Vienna that the great Cali
clan fortress, won by the Russians ten
weeks ago after long struggle, had
been recaptured. With Przemysl in
their hands, the Austrians and Ger
mans have concluded the first base of
their new Galician campaign which
was launched in drive from Cracow.
While the fall of Przemysl has not
been conceded at Petrograd, so far as
cable advises show, the latest official
statement from the Russian war Office
admitted that the besiegers of the
fortress had won some success includ-
ing the capture of two outlying forts
to the north.
Dispatches from the Austrian front
to Vienna indicate chat the attacking
forces relied largely on their heavy
guns, which they have used effectively
all through their advance through
Galicia. These dispatches say the
Russians had removed their men and
supplies from Przemysl in anticipa-
ton of it's fall, and that they consid-
cred it not improbable they would
lose Lemberg as well.
Roumania and Russia have appar-
emily been unable to compose their
differences concerning the adjustment
of Roumanian boundary lines. Rou-
mania's entrance into the war is said
unofticially to be conditioned on such
an agreement. Milan dispatches say
that King Victor Emmanuel, of Italy,
had offered his services as informed
larry between these nations.
Italian reports of steady progress in
its invasion Of Austria are disputed
in Vienna. The Austrian war office
announces that Italian offensive op-
erations have been unsuccessful and
that no material damage has been
done by the Italian artillery.