Evening star., 1915-03-27
FOE PUSHED BACK
OVER EAST PRUSSIA
LINE, SAYS BERLIN
Russian Invaders Expelled
After Brief and Sharp Fight.
II Is Claimed.
SLAvS ARE SAID TO HOLD
THE GATES TO HUNGARY

Dispstches Emphasise Success Of
Osars Men in Desperate Car
pathian Encounters.
FIERCE FIGHTING ON BTALA
Austrian Attacks Reported Repulsed
With Losses of 5000 Killed.
Wounded and
Missing.
LONDON, March 27.-Russis
today, for the third time. holds
the gates to Hungary, and British
observers are virtually united in
the expectation that the Teutonic
allies will make supreme effort
to prevent the forces of Emperor
Nicholas from again pouring onto
the Hungarian plains.
Although apparently succeed
ing in the Carpathians, Berlin to-
day reports that the Russians
operating i'll East Prussia have
been pushed back over the from
tier.
Claims From Berlin.
The Berlin message announcing plo-
tory for the kaiser's arms, follows:
The Russian offensive movement
against the East Prussian territory to
the north of Tilsit came to an end
Friday night with the expulsion of the
last Russian from the province.
The invaders were thrown back
across the border after a brief but
| hard fight, and the Germans advanced
to a point in front of Polangen The
Russians were at Krottingen and Jak-
ubow. Steps have been taken to guard
the inhabitants of this district against
a further invasion of this kind.
Cavalry Plays Great Part.
Cavalry played a great part in driv-
ing the Russians out of East Prussia
The reason was that heavy fog made
the use of artillery and infantry very
difficult The infantrymen were him
dered also by the swampy nature Of
the land and the high water. which pre-
vented rapid pursuit
although the damage done by the
invaders in this district is considera BILE,
is has
and reported.
"A large number of the fugitives al
ready have returned to their homes.
while others are returning, and the
damages soon will be completely re-
paired.
Renewal of Offensive.
The conclusion appears to be Justf-
fed that the Russian advance on
Memel, on the Baltic in East Prussia
had a certain connection with the gen.
eral renewal of Russian offensive
activity. the purpose of which, accord
ing to military opinion in Berlin, ap-
pears to have been another threat
against East Prussia.
THE offensive against Memel was
closely followed by advances in the di-
rection of Tilsit through TaurogSen.
through Mariampol. and finally through
Augustowo. This aforementioned move
ment undoubtedly was taken from the
direction of Grodno, to which plac"
the right wing of the Russian tenth
army made its way in retreat
Lines May Be Filled Out.
This offensive activity is taken in
Berlin to indicate that the Russians
have finished filling out the gaps in
their line caused by the latest victory
over them of Field Marshal Won Hin
deburg, and that they are now ready
for new operations.
News reaching Berlin from the Car
pathianS indicates that desperate
ghting is still going on along that
entire line.
Emphasize Slavs' Success.
Dispatches continue to emphasize the
success of the Russians sin the battle
which is still in progress IN the Car
pathians. The struggle in UJok and
Lupkow passes March % is said to
have been particularly desperate, with
heavy losses for the AuStrlanS.
Sanguinary encounters also are re-
ported on the banks of the Biala "a
branch of the river DonaJec and now
way between Przemysi and cracow)
where Austrian attacks are said to
have been repulsed with losses placed
at 5000 killed. wounded and missing.
cesseS all along the line of the Pruth
in GaIicia and Bukowina). where they
dislodged the Austrians from their
strongest positions.
Memel Country Devastated.
The town and provincial authorities
at Memel, according to dispatches from
Tilsit, have begun to bring order out Of
the chaos wrought by the Russians last
week 1t is impossible to estimate the
property damage and loss. The country
from Memel eastward and northward
to the Russian border has been devas-
tated.
The presence of large body of soldiers
at Memel and several war vessels in the
harbor has done much to reassure the
people that the Russian will not trouble
them again, but in many quarters the
anxiety is still very keen. The worry
ceased somewhat today with the burial
of III Russians, who were killed when
the Germans moved in.
F'ugitives travelling from the Russia
border with wagons loaded to their
capacity are a familiar sight over this
section Of East Prussia. The sufferings
creased by a steady downpour Of rain.
Destruction Is Denied.
AMSTERDAM. March 81. via London.
AS q pendant to the German communi-
cation concerning the Russians ip Meme
East Prussia, the Vorwaerts publishes