The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-02-24
KAISER ON FIRING
LINE IN THE EAST
Continued from page II

1
and vast stretches of marshes ano
swamps, the attempt completely tc
surround the Russian army, as evil
IDENTIFY planned, did not wholly sue
coed. Fully third of the Russians go,
past Augustof before the Germans
could close up the gap.
But yesterday when left the army
at Augustof, 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 a desperate stand
to cover retreat while Russian rein
forcements coming from Grodno were
laundering cannonade.
When I left, the Germans hoped to
surround an entire Russian division
in the swampy forests. Large bodies
OF Russians were still surrounded in
the swamps, while the balance of the
army was fleeing in the direction of
the fortress Of Grodno. 1t was known
at that time that the Russian prison
ers numbered $4,000, that II guns,
over 100 machine guns, $50 ammuni-
ton wagons and thousands of rifles
had been taken. Russian dead and
wounded was estimated at between
10000 and 10000. In their retreat,
Ithe Russians destroyed property ruth
lessly. Between Lyck and the border
they took revenge by burning every
house and farm establishment.
In Lyck itself, they demolished the in
teriors Of houses, wrecked furniture
and smeared the walls with vile filth.
The frontier town Of Prostken,
twelve miles south of Lyck, appeared
as If it had been cut in two with a
knife. The Russians destroyed every
building on the German side of the
town. They didn't touch the buildings
on the Russian side.
1t must be said for the Germans
that with the exception of half doz-
en- houses damaged by she'll shot,
hardly building was destroyed by
the kaiser's troops this time, or when
they retreatsd from Russia many
weeks ago.
At Crajevo, met General Won
Hahndorff, who ever since October
with a brigade of 10000 had defend
ed Loetzen, In the center of the
Mazurian lake region, against a Rus
Sian force estimated at 10000. His
army is now part of the German right
wing
General Won Hahndorfr told me
that the Russians sent part of the
imperial guard, with other troops,
from the fortresses of Ossowetz,
Lomza, and Ostrolenka, in an endeav-
or to turn the German right wing, but
We're defeated.
reached Augustof a few hours
after the Germans took the town, tax
ing 5000 prisoners. The forces in
Russian barrack three miles from
Augustof had been taken by surprise
and the barracks stormed the night
before. The dead were lying every
where. In one barrack. dead and
wounded were still lying together. A
German captain told me that the Rus
sian wounded clune So pitaously to
their dead comrades, 1t was difficult
to remove them. One Russian, his
clothes partly torn off an6, weltering
in blood, said he had been wounded in
the fighting three days before and
had been without medical attention.
II am not guilty Of anything" he
moaned. "Why let me die this way"
Owing to the fearful pace of the
pursuit, no physicians were left be-
hind The wounded were told that
they would be removed to hospital
within few hours. Outside the bar
racks, r saw countless bodies, partly
covered by snow and scattered about
beneath the trees and around the bar
racks itself and NEARBY church.
Numerous German divisions which
concentrated concentrically on Angus
tot, converged on single road in
places. marching three to five col
umns deep through the frozen swamps
and lake region. AS / arrived, the
work of disentangling them and set
ting tn EN- at new operations was beino
begun. 500
Between Crajevo and Suwalki, 4
passed more than twenty miles Of
solid columns Of troops, marching
through binding snowstorms. Horses
were continually falling on the icy
roads. Every piece Of artillery and
wagon was accompanied by sleigh
runners to be used under the wheels
when it became necessary.
This endless snake of human units,
vending its way in marvellous order
and organization through the swamps
and forests, formed a most Impressive
and imposing sight.
The long columns OF Russian pris-
oners which saw, made remarkably
good impression. The men we're well
fed and well equipped. Generally they
were of splendid physique.
The Russian commander Of Angus |
tot. who was compelled at the last
moment to abandon his wounded at
the railway station, also left behind
the German wounded, who were left
at Augustof by the Germans when
they gave up the city several months
ago. after the fighting along the Me
men. With one Of the Germans he
left this note to be handed to the
kaiser's forces entering the town:
Il am compelled to leave my wound
ed in your hands. They are no longer
enemies. but helpless human beings.
l beg of you to treat ours as we did
yours"
The German wounded spoke in the
highest praise Of the care and atten-
ton given thcm by the Russians. !
Needless to say this kindness was