Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-03-24
FALLS AFTER
MANY MONTHS
PrzemysI at Last CapituIates
to Russian Forces
CALLED THE KEY TO AUSTRIA

Commander Throws Away Reserve
Ammunition So 1t Will Not Fall Into
Hands of Russians-End of Bitter
and Relentless Siege of Strongest
Fortress in Galicia Greatly Strength
ems Russia-Half Million of Her
Men Available For Advance Upon
German Frontier-AlIies Watching
ItaIy-DardaneIIes Operations May
Be Protracted For Long Period
PrZemysl. the strongest Austrian
fortress in Galicia, has fallen after
stout resistance for many months.
1t has been a bitter and relentless
siege, which has been relaxed only
for short time since the Russians in
vested the city. Several attempts OF
the Austrians to raise the siege have
failed.
With the fall of Przemysl, the only
important fortified town in Galicia
which is still in the hands Of the Aus
TRANS is Cracow, in northwestern
Galicia, close to the German border.
In the early days of the war the
Russian offensive campaign, as out
lined unothcially, contemplated the
invasion of Germany through East
Prussia on the north and simultane-
ously into Silesia from Galicia. The
Russians succeeded in penetrating
Galicia, but the success of the Aus
TRANS in holding Przemysl and Cra-
COW blocked attempts to invade Ger
many across the Silesian border.
The siege of Przemysl has been
one Of the most picturesque phases of
the war in the east. The Austrian
garrison defended the city with deter
minatiOn and vigOr, and during the
earlier months inflicted considerable
losses on the Russians by frequent
sorties. The only means of commune
cation with the outside world was by
wireless telegraphy and aeroplanes.
Was Short of Food
Although there have been several
reports recently that the surrender of
Przmysl was imminent, news from the
city itself described conditions there
as nearly normal, except for the regu-
lations imposed by the military au
thOrities. All supplies of food were
tken over by the army officials, who
issued rations to soldiers and civilians
alike.
The last direct word from Przemysl
before the announcement Of its sur
render was that the Russian attacks
were infrequent and that the defend
ers had little to do. The fall OF
Przemysl was forecasted in a Petro-
grad dispatch last week, which said
that the capitulation of the fortress
was matter of only few days. The
outer defenses Of the city were said
to have been put out of commission.
Sunday nights dispatches said the
garrison fired 20, 600 shells in twenty
four hours and it was suggested as
proved to be the case, that they we're
deliberately wasted so as not to fall
into the hands of the Russians.
With the strong Russian line tight
ly drawn around the fortress, the eff
fort apparently was hopeless from the
start, and 5000 Austrian prisoners
The loss of the Teutonic allies in deGd
and wounded was fully as much mere.
The shattered remains of the force
fed back to the fortress, and the
now have fallen into the hands Of Tie
Russians.
Garrison Greatly Reduced
The garrison of PrZemysI origi cl.r
sorties and shells have cut cen ! :
cradle number Of thousands from ihl.
total.
The capture of PrzemysI is th1
greatest blow struck for TIE elias
since the Germans were chectc9 IT
their drive On Paris last fail Corge-
quently the official announce ae1
from Petrograd aroused the e~22tas.
enthusiasm in London OfEicie; circles
The fall of the great Austrian f1rt-
ress came at a crucial m0-12-t 20,
the Austro-German allies. Il tn
north Prussia has been :n-GIoi b.
the Slavs, Won Hindcnbe~S's iCrc2s i
Poland apparently are being fCrcec
back upon the Prussian frontier. aDc
the Russians have taken al energetic
offensive. At the extreme end Ct thc
eastern battle line the S.avs are agar
advancing into BakOwina.
Przemysl has been described as tn,
key to the Austrian empire. Tn
opinion has been expressed by Rus
sian commentators that its occuDa
ton would facilitate operations agains
the interior of Austria, which hither
to had been attended by only insig
nitcant results. Beyond Przemys
lies the great and prosperous whea
country CT Austria.
Path Cleared For Russians
Russia's way is now open west int
Germany and south into Hungary. Al
L. L