The Meridian times., 1915-08-13
FIRST YEAR OF THE
WAR IN THE EAST

The first twelvemonth of fighting
between the Russians on one side and
the Austrians and Germans on
the other is story of great changes
of fortune, both combatants being re-
peatedly driven back only to show
the greatest resiliency In defeat and
soon to resume the offensive in most
surprising manner.
The end of the year, however, finds
the pendulum swinging strongly
against the czar 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 2,500,O00 and 4,000,-
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 l, 1914, 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 we'll
to the rear Of the line of great fort
resses running through Kovno, Grod-
no. Ossowetz, Novo Georgievsk, War
saw and Ivangorod.
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-
ters..
He sent General Samsonoff into
East Prussia from the south and
General Rennenkampf into East Prus-
sia 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 in
hand and about to be surrounded on
their eastern frontier, quickly with.
drew 250,O00 men from France and
hurled them by rail into East Prus-
sia. where they fell upon Samsonoff
with crushing force in the great Ger
man victory of Tannenberg (Aug. 2S),
Meanwhile, the tAustrians, leaving
only few troops in Galicia to hold
back the Russians advancing from
Tarnopol on the line of the Gniia-Lipa.
struck the Russians en- masce 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 Lublin
and ordered the line of the Gnila
Lipa river be forced at any cost. In
one of the most bloody drives of the
war the Russians advanced into east
ern Galicia and occupied Lemberg
| The Russians then advanced r.
hawa Ruska and took the Austrian
armies in Poland in the rear, outline
them up frightfully.
Meanwhile Won Hindenbury had
completed his victory over Samsonor
Dy turning on Rennenkampf and clear
ing East Prussia of Muscoyites p,,
though Rennenkampf had been de
feated and Samsonoff almost ann;
hilated, the Germans.
The Russians were now as far was
as Tarnow in Galicia, while thoi,
Cossacks were able to make raids int,
hungary farther south. Hindenbur,
concentrated a great force suddenl'
IN Silesia and began a drive from N,
west against Warsaw and Ivar
gorod. The Siberian corps arrive
in the nick of time to save Warsa,
from the enemy.
High Tide of Russian ,nvasio,
Hindenburg then drew off the now,
:rn section of his army in Poland /,
ne north, thinking to take the mr.,