Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-06-04
CITY
SURRENDERS TO
AUSTRIAN ARMY
Russian Garrison is Forced to Capt.
ulate After a Bombardment
that Lasted for Period
Of Twenty Days.
FIRE OF BIG GUNS TERRIFIC
Teuton Allies Sacrifice Thousands Of
Men and Tons of Ammunition
During Siege.
BLooD1EsT INCIDENT OF WAR

LONDON, June 3.-After siege
of three weeks the fortress OF Pre-
mysl. in Galicia, has fallen to the
Austrians. The Russians we're in
possession little over seventy days.
This news was received in London
with certain degree of surprise.
While It had been well known that
the Russian position at Przemysl was
serious and that the artillery fire OF
the Germanic allies was daily beeom-
ing more terrific. the announcement
OF an Austrian victory was not ex-
pected so quickly, particularly in
view OF the official statement from
Petrograd of last Monday saying the
Austro-German grip before PrzemysI
had been broken and that the often
sive in the great Galician struggle
had passed to the Russians.
siege Lasts Twenty Days.
The Austrians entered Prsemysl at $50
o'clock this morning after hannmerinS
with heavy guns that lasted more than
twenty days. The capituiation Of
Pruemysl must be ascribed to the ef-
feCtivsness Of this artillery onslaught
The occupation od the fortress by the
AustI1ana will remove the danger OF the
Russian throat against Cracow.
When tho Russians starved out the
Austrian garrison at PTzemysl. an oper-
alton which brought them into the fort
ress on March q. they did II slowly and
systematically. conserving the lives OF
their men as much as possible. The
method whioh the Austro-0ermans have
been employing recently to accomplish
the same end has been entirely different
Their expenditure in mon and ammunl-
ton has perhaps outdone anything in
this war. not even excepting the Ger
man rushes for Calais and the terrible
struggles along the User river.
Greatest Feature OF war.
The retakins Tho the PrEemysl fort
FaHs already has been oharactarixed BY
British observers as one OF The most re-
markeblc features of the war. Imme-
diately after the surrender Of the Aus
trian garrison. the Russians began a
westward rueh through Galacia, ana il
was predrcted that they would soon
overrun both silesia and the plains OF
Hungary. isl7MN
A terrific Austro-German offensive was
ipaugurated. however. tho result OF
which was 20 drive the Russians hack
to the San and TO enable the Teutonic
allies TO encircle Przemysi and attack
II from the north and the southeast.
The strength Of the Russian garrison
within the fortress has not been known
In London.
New Attack on Warsaw.
Another feature Of the fighting on the
eastern frontier is the new attack on
Warsaw. Neither the Russian nor the
British newspapers are able to say
Russian line between the Pilica and the
Vistuia Is serious effort 20 break
to tho Polish capital or a move
timed to prevent the Russians from
rushing reinforcements to their hard
pressed troops in Galicia. But whatever
the motive. the assault has been violent
and I'm force along a front OF about
twenty-fiv miles. the hardest pressure
being brought 20 bear on the Russians
along tho the BEura and Rawka rivers.
This is the fiftieth anniversary of the
birth of King George, but because Of the
war no celebrations are being held.
The new government meets Parliament
for the first time today Aside from the
formality of passing the bill to obvate
the necessity of ministers in the new
cabinet for seeking reelection. chief in
terest centered in the promised speech
OF Premier Asquith In the House OF
Commons on the new coalition govern
ment and the entry OF Italy into the
war.
Russians Take Villages.
PETRoGRAD. June a.-(via London)-.
An official statement issued last night
CONTINUED on Page Two-cOlumn Three.5