Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-08-06
FIRST YEAR OF THE
WAR IN THE EAST

The first twelvemonth OF fEhtin
between the Russians ON one side and
the Austrians and Germans ON
the other IL story of great changes
OF fortune, both combatanta being re-
peatedly driven back only 10 show
the greatest resilieney in defeat and
soon to resume the offensive In u most
surprising manner.
The end of the year. however. findS
the pendulum swinging strongly
against the car. He may recover
and take again the roads to Cracow.
Vienna and Berlin. but just at pres.
emit he 10 on the whole in worse plight
than In aLy hour since the war
started.
Ruasia.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 1000.
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 ok.
haustion. II Is not men she lacks. but
/ guns, shells and brains
Slow 20 Mobilize.
On August /, 1914, Germany do.
clared war on Russia. Almost imm8-
diatefy the Germans crossed the from.
tier at Thorn and the Austrlans south
OF Lubltn. They were practically un.
opposed because OF tho al0wneas Of
mobilization In Russia Tho Grand
Duke Nicholas Nicbolaievitch was
forced TO gather his main armies we'll
to the rear of the line OF great fort
resses running through Kovno. Grod.
no. Oasowetx, EOvo deorgieyHk. War
saw and Ivangorod
On account OF his desire 20 do All
he could to relieve the French. who
were being driven from northern
France by tho amazing German rush
through Belgium, Nicholas attacked
sooner than no otherwise would have
done. As q result, he met two disaa
ters.
He sent General samaonon intn
East Prussia from the south and
General Rennenkampf into East Prus
STA from the east. the latter winnins
the frst large engagement Of the wal
In the East az GumbInen.
At this moment the Germans. be
| hWNAhh AAAA AAI W&A0 HHAA -
hand and about TO be surrounded OF
their eastern frontier. quickly with
drew 100000 men from France anf
hurled them By rail into East Prua
sia, where they fell upon SRmsonof
with crushing force in the great Ger
man victory of Tannenberg (Aug 2s9
Meanwhile, the Austrians. ieavinl
only q few troops in oalicia to hold
back the Russians advancing from
TaFnopoI on the line Of the Gniia-LinA
struck the Russians en- maase at kras
mix and routed them TO LubiIn.
Most Bloody Drive Of War.
With two armies In dIaiculty. IA
grand duke decided 20 abandon on
TO its fate and save the other. IL
threw re-enforcements into LubIiE
and ordered the line OF the emilia
Lipa river be forced At any cost. Il
one of the most bloody drives Of tn
war the Russians advanced into east
srn CaIicia and occupied LENDERS
The Russians then advanced q
Rawa Ruska and took ths Austrian
armies IN Poland In the rear. cuttsni
them mp frtghtfuliy.
Meanwhile Won HindenbuFg haf
completed hia victory over samsOnoI
BY turning on Rennenksmpf and cleaI
Ing East Prussia Of Muscovites. Blu
though Rsnnenkampf had been Dc
feated and samsonon almost ann
hiIated. the Germans.
The Russians were now ~ far weE
AZ Tarnow In GAIicia. While thel
! sCossacks were able 70 make raids int
Hungary farther south Hlndenburi
] concentrated a great force suddenl
I In Sllesia and began n drive from IN
wea against Warsa and 1vaH
I goTod. The Siberian corps arrive
! in the nick Of time TO save warsa'
from the enemy
High Tide Of Russian invasion.
HlndenburK then drew on the nOrtf
, srn section Of his army In Poland I
Z ! the north. thinking 20 take the purst