The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-22
HOW IT HAPPENED
Largely Duo to = Lack Of Rail-
road Facilities.


Of the Russian retirement from East
Prussia is contained in communica-
ton given out last night by the gem
eral staff. Success OF the German
coup IL attributed largely to tho look
Of strategic railways which prevented
tho Russians from concentrating
with necessary raptdity on our East
Prussian front forces indispensable to
ward off this drive Of the enemy"
The general staff asserts that the
massin9 Of German troops In East
Prussia was revealed to the Russians
Of the concentration did not become
known until several days later. Be-
cause OF these conditions, It IL stated.
withdrawal OF the Tenth Russian
army from East Prussia towards the
frontier was decided upon. This was
followed later by = further retirement
towards the Niemen and the Bobr riv-
ers. The communication follows:
The Germans. after q series OF ex-
ceptionally obstinate and tenacious
attacks which cost them innumerable
victims. became persuaded of the inn
possibility of dislodging US from the
left bank OF the Vistula and proceed
ed at the end OF January to put q new
plan into operation.
Having finished the formation in
the interior OF their country Of several
new corps and deciding to continue
the transportation Of troops from their
west front in order to make a supreme
effort against US. profiting by their
network of railways the Germans
were enabled to launch an overwhelm-
ing force against our tenth army.
which occupied strongly organised
position along the Angerapp river and
the Maxurian lakes.
ITO assure the success of this coup
the Germans transported also part Of
their contingents from the fronts Of
bank of the Vistula. This gathering
of Germans in East Prussia was re.
vealad to US on February 1. but the
magnitude Of the concentration was
not determined until several days
later.
Railroad Facilities Lacking.
Not being able. through lack Of
our East Prussia front with the
necessary rapidity forces indispensa-
BILE to ward off this drive of the
enemy. our chiefs decided to with
East Prussia towards the frontier and
further retirement towards the ME-
men and the Bobr has followed.
In these movements the right
wing of the Tenth army. pressed by
threatened with being surrounded
on the right flank. was compelled to
make a very swift turning movement
in the direction of KOvno.
This maneuver exposed he flank
of the corps following which OWNS
to this fact found itself in an ex'
treme1y dangerous position and only
broken and dfsorganixed portions sue.
ceeded in escaping from this district
Other corps of the Tenth army fight.
ing continuously and stubbornly
slowly retreated in the direction
marked out for them by their com.
manders.
ION taking up these positions the
Russian troops bravely repulsed the
attacking enemy. inflicting upon him
severe losses, and overcoming incred-
ible difficulties caused by deep snow
which covered all the roads. The
roads being impossible. automobiles
were not able to run and trains were
delayed. frequently not reaching theiI
destination. Retreating slowly, STEP
by step. one corps forming the left
wing of the Tenth army, held the
enemy for nine days on lines which
are ordinarily traversed in one day.
On Feb. IS, these corps fell back
through AugustOwo. retired from the
battle at 6phoc and assumed the
fortified positions indicated for them
AT the present moment action on
the German continues before OssO-
wetz on the road between PlOtsk and
Plonsk. In some places the fighting
Is very stubborn.
ION the right bank of the vistula or
the roads from Plmotsk Austrians de-
tachment have been relieved by Ger