The Arvada enterprise., 1915-08-05
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 a 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
Russfa'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 100000 and 4.OOO.-
900 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 lvangorod.
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 a result, he met two disas.
ters.
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 we'll In
hand and about to be surrounded on
their eastern frontier. quickly with
! drew 250O0O men from France and
hurled them by rail into East Prus
sia. where they fell upon Samsonoh
with crushing force IN the great Ger
man victory Of Tannenberg tAus. 2s)
Meanwhile, the Austrians. leaving
only a few troops In Galicia to hold
back the Russians advancing from
Tarnopol on the line Of the Gnila-Lipa
struck the Russians en- masse ut kras
mix and routed them to Lublin.
Most Bloody Drive Of War.
With two armies In dificulty. the
grand duke decided to abandon ons
to its fate and save the other. He
threw re.enforcements into Lublir
and ordered the line OF the Gnila
Lipa river be forced at any cost. II
one OF the most bloody drives OF thu
war the Russians advanced into east
ern Galicia and occupied Lembers
| The Russians then advanced L
Rswa Ruskx and took the Austrian
armies in Poland In the rear. cuttinI
them up friEhtfully.
Meanwhile Won Hindenburg hat
completed his victory over Samsonof
by turning on Rennenkampf and clear
Ing East Prussia OF Muscovites. Blu
though Rsnnenkampf had been dc
feated aud Samsonon almost ami
hilsted. the Germans.
Tho Russians were now as far ives
~ Tarnow In Galicia, while thei
Cossacks were able to make rnids int,
Hungary farther south. HindcnburI
concentrated q great force suddcnl.
In Silesia and began 4 drive from tn
west against warsaw and Ivan
Eorod. Tho Siberian corps arrive,
In the nick OF time TO save wsrsay
from the enemy.
High Tide Of Russian Invasion.
Hindonburg then drew on the north
crn section OF his army In Poland 4
I