The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-31
Long DEFENSE ENDS
RUSSIANS GIVE PARTICULARS OF
PRZEAIYsL CAPTURE.
FOOD HAD given OUT


Besides Deaths From Starvation a
Quarter Of Garrison Suffered With
Scurvy and Typhoid-London Says
Garrison Which Surrendered Num-
bered Nearly 10000 Soldiers.
London reports: 1.-THE size OF the
garrison at Przemysl and the number
of men who surrendered to the Rus
SLAMS greatly exceed all estimates.
According to Petrograd dispatches the
garrison originally consisted Of 179,-
900 men, Of whom 10000 were kill
ed. Nearly 10000 surrendered when
the fortress capitulated.
Petrograd reports: "The com
mandant at Przemysl, Ger. Won Kus-
manck, accepted our demands for an
unconditional surrender Of the garri-
son. Our troops who entered the
fortress have taken possession Of the
Notifications and begun to prepare
lists of the prisoners and to ascertain
| the amount of artillery and war ma
terials captured"
The lack of official details from
Przemys1 is said to be due to a heavy
snow storm, which broke down tele-
graph lines. 1T is reported, however,
that nearly quarter Of the garrison
had suffered with typhoid and surVy.
Although the rations were growing
limited, none but a few higher of-
GERS, up to the end Of January, knew
| that actual starvation was near.
The real condition Of affairs was
learned by the troops when an aTia-
tor, who was starting with messages
for Vienna was shot down by the
Russians and fell within the defend
ends line. After that there was much
grumbling in the garrison and almost
a mutiny. Some-of the Austrtans
slipped through the lines at night
and surrendered to the Russians.
The investing Russian force In
creased the intensity Of their bonn
bardment and the strain on the de-
tenders began to tell more rapidly
during February. Many were rem
dered insane by pri' stions' and dis
lease. The death list was high. -
Civilian Inhabitants, who had been
unable to escape when the seige be-
gan, swarmed about the forts beg
| ging for food and refugee but the
commandant could nft care for them..,
The death of two prominent generals
in. February from typhoid weakened
the determination Of Gen. Won Kus-
manck, commander Of the fortress
By the end Of February actual
famine prevailed; scarcely a living
animal was left. For weeks virtually
the only systenance was obtained
from small supplies of concentrates
foodstutfs brought by aeroplanes.
I A council of officers daily consider
ed the situation, but not. until they
were convinced that there was no
| hope of help from an Austrian relief
column did they decide to surrender.
During the last days before the
final sorties the garrison received In
creased rations. Each soldier was
given biscuits to last five days, warm
clothing and new boots. officers
were instructed to explain to the
troops that If they returned to the
fortress an inglorious fate awaited
them and consequently they must
pierce the Russian front at any cost.
/ San easterIy direction was chosen
| for the sortie as the line Of least
resistance as well as because 1t led
to the district where the Russians
had large stores of arms and ammr-.
milton. More than 10000 men were
ordered to participate in the sortie,
but several units refused to move.
Only the 23rd Honyed division and
some parts Of the S5th Landwehr and
4th Hussars took an active part. They
were promptly and decisiTeiy defeat
led.
! can official Austrian communities
ton states that the garrison returned
to Przemysl because it encountered
| Overwhelming Russian forces. In
this connection it should be noted
that the Russian forces near Prem
ysl never were large and the great
sortie was repulsed principally by
territorial troops ana reserves. The
total number Of the captured garri-
SON exceeded Russian expectations.
Following is the text Of an order
| issued by Gen. Kusmanek to the gar
rison of the fortress on March 18,
the day before the sortie:
/ Soldiers: Fer half q year We
\ children of almost all nationalities
of the beloved fatherland have been
incessantly opposing the enemy. With
the help Of God and your bravery. we
/ have successfully deferded the fort
ress against the enemy despite at
lacks priyations and cold.
/ "'You already merit the gratitude
of your commander in chief and
! country and have won the admiration
even Of the enemy. In the. beloved
| fatherland thousands of hearts beat
for you and millions wait with 5ated
| breath for news from you. Heroes, I
announce to you my last summons.
The honor Of your country demands
lit. I shall lead you to pierce with
YOUR points Of steel the iron circle OF
the enemy.
"On then. March on. Even fur
ther. unsparing in your efforts until
we reioin the main army, which af-
ter a hard fight row nears us. We
are on the eve of a great battle, for
the enemv will be reluctant to aoan-
don prize he has coveted so long.
Know then. true defenders Of Prem
vsl, each must have but one thought.
That is forward, ever forward Smash
everything that bars your path.
"sSoldiers, we have shared our
last provisions. The honor OF our
country and ourselves forbids that
after our glorious struggle we should
fall an easy prey to the enemy. Be
heroic, warriors, and we shall open
the way"
.,