Evening star., 1915-03-09
FIGHT OBST|NATELY
ASRUSS|AN ARMIES
FORCE ERET|REMENT
Germans Slowly Falling Back
Toward Own East PruSSian
Frontier. Is Claim.
HOT BATTLE GOES ON
IN NORTHERN POLAND
Teuton Center Holds Firm. But
Wings Are Forced Back by
Cars Forces. a
BOTH SIDES REPORT BIG LOSSES
Berlin Claims Capture of Many
Prisoners-Petrogra Says One
of Foes Corps Lost
Over $4,000.

Over $4,000.
LONDON. March o.-Obsti.
nate lighting marks the battle
along the eastern front on the
continent, with the Germans
slowly withdrawing from the
River Niemen in the direction OF
their own East Prussian frontier.
At the same time the new often
sive movement against Warsaw
and on the Pilica evidently has
not as yet developed into the
great engagement which has been
expected in this locality.
German Center Alone Firm.
Efforts to dislodge the right and left
flank of the German forces operating
in the Suwalki district of northern
Poland apparently are bringing some
success, and only the German center
in the region of Simno seems to be
holding firm in possession of the posi-
tions recently gained in the advance
from East Prussia. The German left
flank is reported to have retired to po-
sitions in the region of Marianpol-
Virzbalova and Eidvunen. The right
flank, reports from the front say, has
retreated hastily thirty miles from
Credno toward AHgustowo through
bogs and forests.
The retreat of the German right wing,
which Is now within eight miles of the
frontier. is regarded as especially dam
aging to the Germans.
Berlin Reports Losses to Foe.
notwithstanding the Russian claims
to general success. the Berlin official
statement of today sets forth that
Russian attacks south of Augustowa
have failed, with great losses to the
enemy. Northeast of Lomza 500 Rus
SLAMS fell into the hands of the kaiser's
forces after an unsuccessful attack.
according to Berlin.
In engagements near Przasnysz the
Germans Shy they have taken in the
neighborhood of 5000 prisoners. Will.
Russian attacks to the north OF Raw
have all proved futile. In these en-
gagements it is declared that 1850
prisoners have been taken.
Russians Answer Claim.
The Germans explain their retreat
from Grodno tnorthern Russian Poland,
by the necessity of employing then
armies there for other operations say
a statement issued by the Russian Of
fetal press bureau 'As a matter of fac,
Gus pressure in conformity with the orders
of February %. which were occasioned
by the events of February 81. Petrograd
declares. Then the complete defeat OF
two German army corps was a well estab-
lished fact.
when our troops. Petrograd says.
after several days of fighting, with the
tured height No. lO3, commanding the ell
tire Grodno section, we We're able to cap-
ture there 1000 prisoners. six cannon
and some mitrailleuses. This height
defended by the 2lst German Army Corps.
the best of them all. This corps lost dur
ing that fight from 1900 to $1,000 men
judging from the dead abandoned by the
enemy
Germans Fall Back.
The Germans, in view of the failure
of their counter attacks against height
No. 103. fell back to a completely pas
sive attitude. We continued capturing
one village after another. making pris-
oners everywhere. Our Offensive en-
countered only the enemys fire, there
being no counter attacks.
The German l2-inch mortars were
still shelling Ossowetz March 5. Since
then the enemy has used only guns OF
a smaller caliber.
Austrians Pour Into Kiev.
Austrian prisoners from East Galicia
and Bukowina are pouring into Kiev.
saws a dispatch from that Russian town
to Reuters Telegram Company. 5000
arriving there yesterday
The members of one Austrian party
when we captured. are reported to
have said that they had been without
food for week Many of the prisoners
were so famished, according to the dts
patch, that they were unable to resist.
and with the arrival of Russian pro-
visions hundreds of the Austrians sat
eating, Indifferent to all danger
Severe Fighting in West.
Roth German and French statements
reveal the fact that there has been
much fighting of severe character at
various points in the western arena or
war.
According to the German statement
of today, the Teutons have captured
two more trenches from the French in
the hills of Lorette. Six officers and
$50 men are said to have been cap
tured. Fighting of intense character
Is said to be still going on at Souain
in the Champagne district. Engage
ments continue to the north of Semi
helm and west of Munster i'll the
vosges.
A violent bombardment by the enemy
in the region east of Steenstraete,
south of Dixmude, is reported by tho
French Several attacks by the enemy
IT Reichackerkopf were all easily re-
pulsed, Paris declares.
Considerable ground has been taken
from the Germans in west of Pcrthes,
according to the French statement.
while in the same region more than