New-York tribune., 1915-11-12
Rains Make Swamps OF
Forest District Around
SChlOk.
RUSSIAN WARSHlPS
JOIN IN FIGHTING
Fierce Battle Still in Progress
at Czartorysk and on
Southern Front.
fBy Gable TO The Tribune /

Hindenburg has abandoned the drive
at Riga from the West, where he hsd
reached a point twenty miles from the
Baltic port.
Pushing along the railway from
Tukum, the German forces more than
fortnight ago pressed to positions
west of Schlok. Attempts to reach the
city on the Dvina had failed in thrusts
from the south and from the south
west. and this new attack was hhai
effort 70 take Riga before winter set ln'
But with the positions around Schlok
attained, the Kaiser's troops could
make no progress. The district Is
thickly wooded and the heavy rains OF
the last week have converted 1t into
swamp. Through this marshy GROUND
the German artillery could make no
headway, and without the heavy guns
which have battered the way to victory
before this the Germans could not ad-
vance.
Berlin admits the retreat. During
the night" says the official statement,
"our troops. undsturbed by the enemy,
have withdrawn" The Russians are
following up their advantage IN TINS
sector closely Berlin tells OF three at
tacks west Of Riga which were sup
ported by fire from the Russian ships
in the Gulf OF Riga. All these assaults
the Germans claim to have repulsed.
Southeast of Riga the Russians are
also attacking. Around Dvnsk the
fighting has quieted down somewhat.
The Cars troops continue to launch
an occasional attack, but the Germans
evidently are confined to defensive op-
erations. The thrust which was to
carry them TO the Dvina has been DIS
continued. momentarily at least.
The Germans are moving their heavy
guns from the east front 10 the west.
The swampy lands which they have en-
countered makes progress Tor the heaVy
carriages impossible. Intent on reach-
ing the Dvina line and there intrencn-
ing for the winter, the Germans con-
centrated their efforts in iinai des-
perate assault on the north. Apparent
ly il has failed.
Along the southern end OF the Rus
sian lire. west of Czartorysk, desperate
battles are still in progress. Petrograd
here and to have put large forces 70 re-
treat. Berlin, however, in its statement
to-day claims that the Austrians, sup
ported by German guns, drove the Rus
slams out of their positions at Kos
ceushnovka, north OF the Kovel-Sarny
line. South of the railway the Ger
mans declare that Russian attacks were
epulsed.
on the Galician front and in the
entire. where Prince Leopold's forces
re stationed, no great activity is re-
orted.
The statement issued by the German
Var Office says:
Army group Of Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg.- Kemmern, west
Of Riga. three attacks made yester-
day by the Russians, supported by
ire from ships guns, were repulsed.
During the night our troops, un-
disturbed by the enemy, have with
drawn from the wooded land TO the
west and southwest of Schlok, which
on account Of the rains OF the last
few days has become a swamp.
Near Borsemuende. southeast OF
Riga. an enemy attack could not be
carried out In small counter at
tack we took more than one hundred
Russian prisoners.
Army group Of Prince Leopold OF
bavaria The situation is unchanged
Army group Of General Won Lin
s.ngen.- Supported by German artil-
lery, Austro- Hungarian troops drove
the Russians out of Kosceushnovka,
north Of the Kovel-Sarny railroad
line. and out Of their adjoining po-
sitions 20 the south thereof. We took
seven officers and more than 200 men
prisoner and captured eight machine
guns To the south of the railway
Russian attacks failed.
RUSSIAN OFFICIAL
The following official communication
was issued at Petrograd:
On the left bank Of the Dyina near
Ikskul our troops, with the assistance
Of heavy artillery. captured the farm
Of Borsemuende and took some doZ-
ems of Germans prisoner. beside
capturing two machine guns. Two
counter-attacks by the enemy were
repulsed with heavy German losses.
Near the village Of Kostioukhovka.
west OF Rafalovka, stubborn ac-
tion developed.
According 10 supplementary infor-
nation / 800 men. twenty-one officers
and eleven machine guns were capt
ured by us in the fighting Mt
in addition TO 1000 men and fifty Of
fcers previously reported On the
rest of the front there is no change.