The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1915-07-22
FIRST YEAR OF THE
WAR IN THE EAST

The first twelvemonth of fghGn-
between the Russians on one side and
the Austrians and Germans on
the other is a story of great changes
of fortune, both Combatants being re-
peatedly driven back only to show
the greatest resiHency in defeat and
soon to resume the offensive in a most
surprising manner.
The end of the year, however. finds
the pendulum swinging strongly
against the car He may recover
and take again the roads to Cracow.
Vienna and Berlin. but just at pres
ent he is on the whole in worse plight
than in any hour since the war
started
Russia's losses in the first year of
the war are not approached by those
of any nation in any war of history.
According TO reliable estimates. she
has had between $500. GOO and 4.OOO.-
600 men killed, injured and captured.
Despite these horrible gaps made in
her ranks, She still has millions in
the field. and her great reservoir OF
personnel does not show signs of ex-
haustion. 1t is not men she lacks, but
guns, shells and brains.
Slow to Mobilize.
On August /, 1919, Germany de-
clared war on Russia Almost imme-
diately the Germans crossed the from
tier at Thorn and the Austrians south
of Lublin. They were practically un-
opposed because of the slowness of
mobilization in Russia The Grand
Duke Nicholas Nicholaievitch was
forced to gather his main armies well
10 the rear of the line of great fort
resses running through Kovno. Grod-
no. Ossowetz. Novo Georgievsk. War
saw and IvanCorod
On account of his desire to do all
he could to relieve the French. who
were being driven from northern
France by the amazing German rush
through Belgium. Nicholas attacked
sooner than he otherwise would have
done. AS result, he met two disas-
tiers.
He sent General Samsonof into
East Prussia from the south and
General ReurenEampf into East Prus-
STA from the east. the latter winning
the first large engagement of the war
in the East at Gumbinen.
At this moment the Germans. be
lieving that the French were well i'm
hand and about to be surrounded on
their eastern frontier. quickly with
drew 250.o0O men from France and
hurled them by rail into East Prus-
STA. where they fell upon Samsonoff
with crushing force in the great Ger
man victory of Tannenberg aug. 2S).
Meanwhile. the Austrians leaving
only few troops in Galicia TO hold
back the Russians advancing from
Tarnopoi on the line of the Gnila-Lipa,
struck the Russians en- masse at Kras-
mix and routed them TO Lublin.
Most Bloody Drive Of War.
With two armies in difficulty. the
grand duke decided TO abandon one
TO its fate and save the other He
threw re-enforcements into LubHn
and ordered the line of the Gnila-
Lipa river be forced az any cost In
one of the most bloody drives of the
war the Russians advanced into east
ern Calicia and occupied Lemberg.
The Russians then advanced 10
Rawa Ruska and took the Austrian
armies in Poland i'm the rear. cutting
them up frighuully.
Meanwhile Won Hindenburg had
completed his victory over SamsonoT
by turning ON Rennenkampf and clear.
ing East Prussia of Muscoyites Tut
though Rcnnenkampf had been de.
faatei and Samsonon almost amir
Inflated The Germans.
The Russians were now as far west
as Tauow bon Gaic'a. while their
Cossacss were able Co make raids into
hungary farther south Hndeuburg
concentrated great force suddenly
iu Slssia and began q drive from the
west against Warsaw and Ivan.
gorod THE Siberian corps arrived
u the nick of time to save Warsaw
from the enemy
High Tide Of Russian Invasion
HuIcnburE then drew off the north.
eru section of his army 300 Poland 90
the north. thinking 90 take the pursu-
The royal commission Of England
reports chat in that country the feeble.
minded are increasing at twice the
rate OF the general population The
importance OF providing. by the estab.
lishment OF additional institutions and
the completion Of those under way
for the custodial care or control OF
greater number Of feeble-minded can
not be overestimated. Averments Of