The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-08
DEFEATED BY RUSE.
Russians Used strategy I'm Beating
Won Mackenscn's 100000 Men.

Spcc,ai Cable Despatch TO The Sun.
LONDON. Feb. IA report reached
Petrograd from Warsaw to-day that
the Germans west OF the Bzura and
the Ravka are Withdrawing to positions
occupied west of LODI in the early
part OF December. and that the retire
ment is the first stage of general
retreat from Poland
The report is accepted with reserve,
since there Is no confirmation by the
Russian General staff but military
critics who have studied the probable
results of the Russian victory at Borji-
NOV believe that a retreat is not at
all improbable. and may he indeed
logical outcome OF the terrible losses
sustained at BorJimow and Goumine
aSd of the rapid advance of the Rus
slams to the left bank OF the Bzura and
Ravka.
II the retreat has begun, the Germans
will not be able to maintain a defence
on the old line of Lodz and Lowisrz
the critics assert 1t was impossible
for the Russians TO utilize LODI in their
scheme or defence. ana II Will he SINH
larry impossible for the Germans to
fortify themselves behind this open city,
with the Russian offensive in fun tide
the Germans are not likely TO oppose
more than a few days of trench to
The latest news received to-day of
the situation on the short front thirty
miles west Of Warsaw is confirr1atorv
OF yesterdays announcement Of breaches
In the German line. According to des-
patches from Pctrograd the Russians
have nrade further advances along the
Bzura In the movement designed to
turn the German left flank. and have
crumpled the German centre by fierce
NJ nalT 10 u
Bzura line.
II is reported that the Germans were
saved from complete rout on February
I and only because of the immense
numbers of heavy guns they had in
support OF their infantry. The divisions
thrown back at Boriimow and Goumine
would have been annihilated or captured
had they not been able to take advan-
tage of the protection of nearly 100
batteries of krupps
Petrograd hears that the Russian VIC
tory contaminated on February 4 by tho
repulse OF 100000 of Won Mackensen's
veterans was due in part to a rinse em-
ployed by the Russian commander-In-
chief Suspecting that the general situ-
ation-Russian advances in East Prus-
STA, North Poland and I'm the Carpathl-
ans--would drive the Germans along
the Bzura and the RaVka to n sunrene
effort the Russian commander made a
feint on February l of detaching what
amounted to an army corps from the
first and second lines defending the
Bzura and the Ravka.
The troops were spectacularly paraded
and ontralned toward the Vistula. I'M
doubleday the movement was observed.
as It was meant to be. by the Germans.
and Won Mackensen ordered an attack
AT daylight on February 2. on the
night Of February /, however, the Rus
sian regiments that had been detached
from the first and second lines We're
returned under cover of darkness. and
with every precaution taken to enforce
silence, to their original positions. In
addition, at least 80, 900 fresh troons
that had been held In reserve were
deployed on the second line, As silently
as was possible, Russian batteries of
light artillery were posted on the prob
able flank of the German attack. nu-
merous batteries being stationed in
wooded ground southeast of Borjlmow.
When the German lcgions advanced
In solid masses 70 attack on the early
morning Of the 2d they found a
reinforced Russian army awaiting
them Instead of a depleted army. Their
mistake was apparent TO them. no-doubt.
In the first two or three hours of the
conflict, but they persevered with mag
nihcent courage until their columns
were fairly shattered by the Concentra-
ted fire OF the Russian artillery and ma
chine guns.