South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-06
Thousand Heavy Guns Are
Used in Terrific Combat in
Region of Bzura and RaWka
Rivers to Decide Campaign.
GERMANS HIT CENTER
IN DRIVE ON WARSAW
Gen. Won MaCkenzen Leads
Brilliant Attack Against the
Main Body of Cars Troops
Over Front of 10 Miles.

PETROGRAD, Feb. 6.-More than
n quarter of a million picked troops
and more than 1000 heavy guns are
engaged in a terrific battle in the
region of the Bzura and Rawka rivers
IN Poland. and upon the outcome of
this conflict hangs the fate of the
present campaign for the mastery of
western Poland. For week the
heavy artillery has been shaking the
blood-soaked earth with its thunder
and the attacks Of the Germans and
the counter attacks of the Russians
have left the battlefield carpeted with
rorpses.
Gen. Won Mackenzen, one of the
most brilliant commanders in the
German army, was selected by Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg to smash the
Russian center and open up the way
for the drive the. Germans are trying
TO make against Warsaw. With 1O0.-
600 licked infantrymen and 500 big
guns under his immediate command
Gen. Won Mackenzen has locked with
the Russians in a death grip. the
ferocity OF which has not previously
been known in the present war.
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg
planned 70 cause a withdrawal of the
new Russian forces from their ad-
,vanced positions in East Prussia and
also to lessen the Russian pressure
against the AustrO-German forces in
western Galicia by striking a decisive
blow at the Russian center west of
Warsaw. II the Germans fail in their
present assault against the Russians
The battle line will undoubtedly be
pushed westward 20 the border OF
East Prussia. The Russian general
staff hopes that within. the next fort
night German soil viii be bearing the
bTunt of the heavy fighting
Germans ReckIessly Brave
But in the present conflict, which
s. raging over a front not more than
10 miles long. the Russians have to
reckon with the reckless valOr of the
Germans. The first line German
troops have been dubbed the death
brigade and each man has been
warned that death must be expected.
IN spite OF the blasts from Russian
rifles. machine guns, and heavy ar
tillery, the Germans have attacked
lime and again with bravery which
,ompels the admiration of their foes.
Trenches have literally been filed
with corpses until they offer no fur
ther protection and the Germans and
Russians battIed with bayOnets in
and-tO-hand fighting over the bodies
af the dead. over the frozen soil of
.he battlefield, now plowed with
shrapnel and sprinkled with cOrpseS,
the tide Of battle has swung back
ward and forward. btt official dis
patches from tho front now declare
that the German offensive has been
checked Inspired by the presence of
gzar Nicholas. who has gone to the
Polish front. the Russians are cOun-
.ering all along the line.
German losses Heavy.
The losses OF the German legiOns
sre enormous. Within the past five
5ays Il is estimated that $4,000 Ger
mans have been killed wounded or
aiken prisoners. The Russian losses
we're necessarily very heavy. but no
dgures were given out Again the SUI
periority of numbers has come 20 the
aid Of the Russians. Tens Of thou
sands Of fresh Russian reserves have
oeen hurled forward against the Ger
nans I'm the 4S hours 20 break down
nc resistance OF the TeutOn troops
whose endurance has been taxed 20
he utmost by the incessant fighting
pf the past week.
IN East Russia, north OF the Mazu-
ian lake district. the pressure Of the
Russians continue unabated. lnl
Galicia artillery duels are reported
and in the Carpathians the Russian
and AustrO-German forces are again
n grips battling for strategic ground.
Near Quick Gin the northern Car
oathians) the Austrian defensive
prolSe down under the drives of the
Russians. who took nearly 5000 pris-
bners and some war materials. The
Austrians retreated after blowing up
heir trenches. Southeast of Ouiok
he Austrian lines still hold thanks
20 the advantage OF their artillery.
Terrific Artillery Duel.
Tho artillery duelling in the vicin-
fv of BorjimOw and Goumine. in PO-
and. is spoken of as the most terrific
~ the war
South OF the Skierniewice- Warsaw
-aiIwav another fight is developing.
following a long artillery engage
ment
Attempts OF the Austrians 90 launch
an offensive movement on the Ntda
N order 20 prevent any ianking
movement against the German army
of the cente~. has failed. However
another Austrian attempt In that re-
zion is looked for Immediately.