The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-03-25
RUSS CAPTURE
: $4,000 TROOPS
At PRzENYSL
Big Battle Follows Fall of Aus
trian Troops.
TOTAL LOSSES ARE 100000
SIaVs Enter City Without Firing Shot
" Hunger and Disease Forces
Surrender---Grand Duke and
General Decorated.


was hoisted on the fortress of Pre-
mysl during the day and the Russian
army entered the city without firing a
| shot after a siege of six months to the
day that has few parallels in history.
Fifty thousand Austrian soldiers, 200
officers and nine generals threw down
their arms and surrendered, worn to
the last extremity by disease and
| hunger. The fall of the fortress is re-
garded in Petrograd and London as
the greatest victory for Russian arms
since the beginning of the war. ra
Following up quickly the advantage
gained by the capture of the Austrian
| stronghold, the Russian army has be-
gun a gigantic battle along the en-
tire Carpathian front. Reinforce
ments have been rushed into the
mountains in the expectation Of the
fall of Przemysl and everywhere the
Austrians are being attacked with
marked stubbornness.
The most violent conflicts are TAX
ing place in the vicinity of the Dukla,
Uszok and Lupkow passes, which are
the three principal passes nearest
Przemysl, from which they are dis
tant only about fifty miles.
Russian Official Report.
The official statement received from
Petrograd says: ....
In consequence of the joyful event
of the surrender of the fortress of
Przemysl, Generalissimo the Grand
Duke Nicholas has been awarded the
st. Georges cross OF the second de-
gree and General Seliwamoff, com
mander of the army before PrzemysI,
has been awarded the st. Georges
cross of the third degree"
Two Days Losses 10000.
Austro-German losses in the at
tempted sortie from Przemysl and the
fighting south Of Tarnow in the last
| As hours total more than forty thou
! sand, according to a semiotficial state
ment from the Russian war office. The
garrison originally numbered 100000
| men. The Russian armies engaged in
the siege are now expected to ad-
| vance simultaneously to besiege the
fortress of CracOw and to aid in the
invasion of Hungary.
Petrograd Crowds Cheer.
The news of the fall of the fortress
evoked the widest scenes in PetrO-
grad since the beginning of the war
Crowds massed in the street and be-
fore the government buildings. cheer
ing wildly.
For months the only means of COM
| munication between PrZemysl and the
outside world was by wireless teleg-
raphy and aeroplanes.
Under Fire Five Months.
1t was neagly five months ago that
the Russian army under General Dimi-
trieff, a Bulgarian. laid the formal
siege to Przemysl. That was early in
November, at the time of the Austrian
| retirement from central Galicia, and
| ever since the Russians have been sub
jecting the Galician city to a heavy
bOmbardment. Attacking forces of
Russians were sent against the forts
| defending the city. but were beaten
of. The siege went on. the Russian
lines drawing closer and closer FL
nally all communication between
Przemysl and the outside world was
cut off except by aeroplane.
General Dimitrieff is supposed to
have had 100000 men in the original
army which beleaguered the Galician
city and great amount Of heavy ar
tillery. chiefly mortars. The garrison
of the beleaguered city has been esti-
mated all the way from $4,000 to 49,
900. 1t is likely that the defending
army really numbered about $4,000.
The Austrian garrison was we'll sup
piled with ammunition and arma-
ments. but the food supply in the c'ty
soon began to give out, and after tho
siege had been in progress for three
months the people were suffering
keenly from hunger. ., .a
New Battle Opens.
Another great battre has opened in
Poland on the front extending from
Myszeniec to Kasidlo, according to re.
ports received from the front. The
war Office admitted that the Germans
had reached Kasidlo, which is only ten
miles from the fortress of Ostrolenka,
located at the junction of the Ranew
and Omulew rivers, but declared that
the Russians had halted their foes
advance there. infiicting heavy losses.
Dispatches from Siedlce state that
the Germans attacked the Russians
positions at Kasidlo with great valor.
advancing to the wire entanglements
in close formation. that enabled the
Russians rapid-fire guns to NOW them
down.
Almost daily the Austrian garrison
has sailed forth to attack the Rus
sian outposts. which were steadily
drawing a tighter ring about the in
ner forts. The Russian howitzers
finally wrecked all the outer forts and
the Russian war Office several days
ago made the significant announce
ment that Russian troops were with
in rife shot Of the main defense.