The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1915-03-26
PRzEHYsL'S LOSS
COST ALjSTR|ANS
I17Q,ol)l) SOLDIERS
Fetrograd Reports 10000 Pris-
onerS.
NEW CAMPAIGN IS NEAR
Garrison Eats Moss and is Near
Mutiny-Graphic Story Told
by EyeWitness--0efend-
ers Are Praised.

London, March 24.-The size OF tbs
garrison at Przemysl and the number
of men who surrendered to the Rus
rians greatly exceed all estimates.
According to dispatches received
from Petrograd the garrison original
ly consisted of 10000 men, of whom
10000 were killed. Thousands more
succumbed to disease. Just under
10000 surrendered when the fortress
capituIated.
The Russians captured 2,400 guns,
Of which 1000 are heavy cannon.
People of Town Hungry.
Owing TO the blizzard, which is in
terfering with the Geographic service,
few details Of the surrender are COM
ing through, but Lemberg reports that
for seven days prior to the fall Of the
fortress the people of the town had
nothing to eat, and the Russians, who
took in large supplies of provisions,
were welcomed as liberators.
4 Some OF the men of the garrison
were so weak from the lack of food
that they could scarcely stand and ate
moss and gnawed at the straps of
their equipment to keep themselves
alive.
Dispatches from the same place say
that $4,000 persons were found suffer
ing from typhus or cholera and that
the work OF disinfecting the place Is
being energetically undertaken. The
interior fortg, it is said, were found
intact, with a good deal of ammuni-
ton in them.
Praise for Defenders.
Everywhere in Europe, 10th in bel
Iigerent and neutral countries, the
greatest credit is given the Austrians
for, their long and stubborn resistance,
which has greatly delayed and inter,
fered with the Russian campaign in
other directions.
Now that the Russians, whose num-
bers, like those of the Austrians, must
have been greater than was hereto
fore understood, are no longer under
obligation to invest this fortress, a big
movement either against Cracow or
in the Carpathians doubtless will be
inaugurated. The Russians are ex-
pected to throw all their strength
against the Austrians and attempt
finally to crush them.
Statement by Commander.
A statement from the Russian war
Office in Petrograd follows:
According to figures given by Gen
eral Kusmanek, late commander at
Przemysl, the number Of prisoners
who surrendered to the Russians was
nine generals and ninety-three officers
of the general staff, $500 officers and
officials and 117,0o0 men.
"Ths number of guns and other war
material captured is being calculated"
A Russian correspondent, who set
/ out from Lemberg for Przemysl upon
receipt of the news that the fortress
/ had surrendered, sends "a graphic &C.
count Of the conditions prevailing
there, which hes been transmitted
from Petrograd to Reuters Telegram
company.
On the way the correspondent
passed Scheljhinie, where the Aus
tiens made their last desperate sortie
three days before. The ground was
still Uttered with dead bodies. Fur
Their on was seen pillar of smoke,
marking all thest remained of che
strongest Of the outlying forts.
On the other side Of the road were
trenches and barbed wire entangler
ments, with dozen field guns pro-
truding. Austrian officers, who re-
tanned their swords, and their men
were passing as prisoners in the rear.
Russ Build New Bridge.
From Perekopague, suburb of
Przemysl, a close view was obtained
of the center of the town. All the
bridges had been destroyed by the
Austrians, but the Russians had al
! ready constructed pontoon bridge,
by which Austrian troops and the
inhabitants were leaving the town.
The Cossacks were waiting to go in.
Austrian soldiers relate that the
commander of Przemysl in his official
orders thanked the people of the town
the evening before the surrender for
their loyal attitude and warned them
of the coming capttulation.
At five o'clock the next morning
loud explosions we're heard from every
| part of the fortress. when the Aus
TRANS were blowing up the works
nrsparatory to surrender Then part
| of the Russian forces threw them
! selves within the Notifications, and
! bv seven in the mornig the inner SEQ
| lions were in their hands. At the
same time, says the correspondent,
| the Austrians shot their horses to pre-
vent them from falling into the hands
IF tho Russians.