The state herald., 1915-08-06
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 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 o 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.
Russia'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 $500, 900 and 4.000.-
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
1 personnel does not show signs Of .ex-
haustion. II is not men she lacks. but
guns, shells and brains.
Slow to Mobilize.
On August /, 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-
/ ~ hA uIA -
mobilization In Russia. Tho Grand
Duke Nicholas Nicholaievitch was
forced to gather his main armies well
to the rear Of the line Of great fort
resses running through Kovno. Grod-
no. ossowetz. Novo Georgievsk. War
saw and Ivangorod.
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 result. he met two disas.
ters.
He sent General samsonoff into
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.
Al this moment the Germans, be.
lieying that the French were well In
hand and about to be surrounded on
their eastern frontier. quickly with
drew 100000 men from France and
hurled them by rail into East Prus.
sia, where they fell upon Samsonoff
with crushing force In the great Ger.
man victory OF Tnnnenberg aug, 2s).
Meanwhile. the Austrians. leaving
only few troops In Galicia TO hold
back tho Russians advancing from
Tarnopol on the line OF the Gnila-Lipa,
struck the Russians en- massc at Kras.
mix and routed them to Lubiin.
Most Bloody Drive OF War.
With two armies In difficulty. the
grand duke decided to abandon ono
to Its fate and save the other. He
throw rc-enforocmcnts into Lublin
and ordered tho line OF tho Gnila.
Lipa river be forced at any cost. In
ono OF the most bloody drives OF the
war the Russians advanced into east.
crn Galicia and occupied Lembcrg.
The Russians then advanced to
Itawa Ruska and took the Austrian
armies In Poland In the rear. cutting
them up frightfuliy.
Meanwhile Won Hlndcnbury had
completed his victory over Snmsonor
by turning on Rcnnenknmpf and clear.
Ing East Prussia Of Muboovites. Hut
though Rcnnonknmpf had been do.
featcd and Samsonor almost ami.
hllatod tho Germans.
The Russians were now ms far west
an Tarnow In Galicia, while their
Cossackr were able TO make raids into
Hungary farther south. Ilindonburg
concentrated great force suddenly
In siloHla and began n drive from tho
west against Warsaw and Ivan.
gorod. Tho Siberian corps arrived
IN the nick OF timo 10 awe warnaw
from tho enemy.
High Tide Of Russian Invasion.
iIindonburg then drew on the north.
orn section Of hia army In Poland TO
! tho north. thinking TO take tho pursu'