The herald., 1915-08-12
FIRST YEAR OF THE
WAR IN THE EAST

The first twelvemonth Of fighting
between the Russians on one side and
the Austrians and Germans on
the other is a story Of great changes
of fortune, both combatants being re-
peatedly driven back only to show
the greatest resiliency in defeat and
soon to resume the offensive in a most
surprising manner.
The end Of the year, however. finds
the pendulum swinging strongly
against the car. He may recover
and take again the roads to Cracow.
Vienna and Berlin. but just at pres
ent he is on the whole in worse plight
than in any hour since the war
started.
Russia's losses in the flrst year OF
the war are not approached by those
Of any nation in any war OF history.
According to reliable estimates, she
has had between $500. 900 and 4,000,-
600 men killed, injured and captured.
Despite these horrible gaps made in
her ranks. she still has millions In
the field, and her great reservoir Of
personnel does not show signs OF eI-
haustion. II is not men she lacks. but
guns, shells and brains.
Slow TO Mobilize.
On August 1, 1914, Germany de-
clared war on Russia. Almost tmme-
diately the Germans crossed the from
tier at Thorn and the Austrians south
Of Lublin. They were practically un'
opposed because of the slowness OF
mobilization In Russia. The Grand
Duke Nicholas Nicholaievitch was
forced to gather his main armies well
to the rear of the line of great fort
| resses running through Kovno, Grod
nc. Ossowetz, Novo Georgievsk. War
saw and Ivangorod.
On account OF his desire to do al
he could to relieve the French, who
were being driven from northern
France by the amazing German rusl
through Belgium, Nicholas attacked
sooner than he otherwise would hav'
done. AS a result, he met two disas
tiers.
He sent General Samsonoff int
East Prussia from the south an
General Rennenkampf into East Prus
sia from the east, the latter winnin
the first large engagement OF the wa
in the East at Gumbinen.
!, At this moment the Germans, bt
lieying that the French were we'll i
hand and about to be surrounded o
their eastern frontier, quickly Will
drew 100000 men from France An
hurled them by rail into East Pru
STA. where they fell upon Samsono
with crushing force in the great &c
man victory of Tannenberg Aug. rs
Meanwhile, the Austrians, leavin
only a few troops in Galicia to hol
back the Russians advancing frol
Tarnopol on the line Of the Gnila-Lip
struck the Russians en- masse at Kra
mix and routed them to Lublin.
|, Most Bloody Drive Of War.
3 With two armies in difficulty. II
2 grand duke decided to abandon or
to its fate and save the other. =
threw re-enforcements into Lubl
and ordered the line Of the Gns.
Lipa river be forced at any cost. :
one of the most bloody drives OF u
war the Russians advanced into eat
ern Galicia and occupied Lember
The Russians then advanced
;. Rawa Ruska and took the Austri'
armies in Poland in the rear, cuttii
.ho,, nm fr;ohtfiIlIv
Meanwhile Won Hindenburg nj
completed his victory over Samson'
II by turning on Rennenkampf and Gle;
!" ing East Prussia of Muscovites. B
u though Rennenkampf had been
y feated and Samsonoff almost an
hilated, the Germans.
The Russians were now as far We
as Tarnow in Galicia, while thu
Cossacks were able to make raids In
Is Hungary farther south. Hindenbu
n concentrated a great force suddeI
a in Silesia and began a drive from
ic west against Warsaw and lv'
le gorod. The Siberian corps arri'
u, In the nick Of time to save wars
al from the enemy.
IL Hioh Tide Of Russian Invasion.
m Hindenburg then drew on the mol
so ern section Of his army in Poland
Il. the north, thinking to take the pun