The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-13
EASTERN BATTLE
IS Still RAGING
Millions of Men Locked in
Death Grip in Calician
Section.
RUSSIANS DRIVEN BACK
Quit Carpathians After Terrific On
slaushts by Enemies. Admits
Petrosrad War Office.
BY FRANCIS LAvELLE MURRAY.


Petrograd, May 12-Regarding the stu
pendous battle which for nine days has
been raging In Galicia an explanatory
statement has been issued as follows:
THE big battle between the Vistula
and the Carpathians continues to develop.
The front during the past few days has
been changeable, at times extending over
forty miles. The enemy concentrated
thirteen divisions. and on the main sec
tor Of pole-Novotanetz. with an ex-
tension of about thirteen miles. he as
sembled seven.
THE enemy's line gradually assumed
convex form. which enabled us to
operate on his tanks. In this work our
cavalry especially distinguished itself.
fighting chiefly dismounted. but also with
horse batteries.
Opposed to Giant Teutonic Force.
by the enemy's own admissions no
fewer than 1OO,0c0 Of his men dropped out
Of action during eight days Of the battle.
On the general front of 1000 miles the
greatest number Of the Austro-German
forces is concentrated between the Car
pathians and the Vistula from the mouth
of the Nida to Gorlitz. Here they have
deployed approximately one1fifth of all
the forces with which they are operating
against Russia. They have In front Of
them only one Of our armies.
Thus there are operating against Rus
STA nearly the whole Of the Austro-H Hun
garian army. the entire German cavalry.
and one-half of the landwehr and land
sturm. The enemy nearly always can
make use Of a network of railways.
whereas our troops are for the most part
to operate outside the zone of
the Russian lines.
sTr, 81, 81
which the enemy derives from the rail-
ways. the tactics adopted by us between
the Carpathians and the Vistula were to
occupy successfully fortified zones. with
the object of delaying the enemy until
our reserves could be brought together
in full concentration.
The importance of what is happening
now should not be overestimated. The
development of events can be awaited
with absolute calm"
Russians Fall Back.
Terrific onslaughts by Austro-German
forces in the Carpathians have forced the
Russian army to retreat. The war Office
admitted today that the Cars troops had
from the Beskid ranges, but
stated that the retreat was effected In
orderly fashion and that practically all
the artillery had been saved
Our troops havo fallen back without
disorder to the positions assigned them"
it was stated. There they have check
ed the enemy's impetuous attacks which
for time threatened disa ster to a large
part of our forces.
THE Russian lines are intact upon the
new front. At not single point has the
foe succeeded in piercing our front"
The war office asserted, however. that
Cor ri Of to
Baltic provinces and Galicia were false.
1t issued the following statement denying
the Berlin announcements of magnificent
victories:
German official reports last week dis
seminated misleading information in re-
gard to the position of the Russian front
German statements referring to the cap
ture of twelve guns during the occupa-
ton of Libau were untrue. The Whole
artillery detachment covering Libau con-
sisted of only four guns.
I'm the region of Rossijeny the Ger
mans neither inflicted heavy losses upon
he Russians nor achieved any general
success. 1t is not the Russians, but por-
lions of the enemy's forces that are being
forced to retreat. while the Russian Of
fensive gains daily from 10 to so versts
Sc to % miles,.
1.-The report that Russian attacks Mt
Augustowo and Przasnysz
we're repulsed with heavy loss is I'M
rue"