Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-23
Official Report From the
Cars Capital Tells
Capture Of Town
SURROUNDED SINCE
EARLY DAYS OF WAR
Other Successes Over the
Teutons Are Claimed
in Allies Reports

Petroqrad, March 22.-lt was an
nounced officially this morning
that the Gatician fortress OF
PrzemysI surrendered to the Rus
slams today.
London, March 22.-The British
official press bureau this afternoon
issued the following statement:
"Information has been received
that the fortress Of Przemysl has
fallen and that the garrison has
surrendered to Russian arms"
The siege of Przemysl, an Austrian
stronghold in the province OF Galicia,
has been under way since the early
days of the war. 1t has been bitter
anc relentless siege which has never
been relaxed for day since the Rus
slams invested the city. Several at
tempts Of the Austrians to raise the
siege, the latest of which was made
only short time ago, have failed.
With the fall of Przemysl, the only
tmportant fortified town, which is still
in the hands Of the Austrlans Is Cra-
COW. in northwestern Galicia, close to
the German border
In the early days of the war the Rus
sian offensive compaign, as outlined Of
flcially, contemplated the invasion OF
Germany through East Prussia on the
north and simultaneously into Silesia
from Galicia. The Russians succeeded
in penetrating Galicia but the success
of the Austrians in holding Przemysl
and Cracow blocked attempts to invade
Germany across the Silesian border.
The siege of Przemysl has been one
of the most picturesque phases OF the
war in the east. The Austrian garrt-
son defended the city with determ1na-
ton and vigor and during the earlier
months inflicted considerable losses on
the Russians by frequent sorties. The
only communication with the outside
world was by wireless telegraphy and
aeroplanes.
Although there have been several
reports recently that the surrender of
Przemysl was imminent, news from
the city itself described conditions
there as nearly normal, except for the
regulations imposed by the military
authorities. All supplies Of food were
taken over by the army officials, who
issued rations to soldiers and civilians
alike. The last direct word from
PrZemysl before the announcement OF
it's surrender was that the Russian at
tacks were infrequent and that the de-
tenders had little to do.
Przemysl was well stocked with am
and provisions when the
siege began, although there was sharp
discrepancy between Russian and Aus
trian estimates of the length of time
It would be able to hold out. There
have been indications recently that
hunger was an effective ally of the
Russians, for it was reported that aero
planes were making daily flights to
Przemysl with cargoes of provisions.
Last week the Russians brought
down an Austrian aerpolane said to
have been laden with timed beef for
the Przemysl garrison.
The fall Of Przemysl was forecast in
a Petrograd dispatch Of last Wednes-
day which said that the capitulation
Of the fortress was matter of only a
few days Austrian soldiers captured
by the Russians during unsuccessful
sorties said that the garrison was ex-
listing on famine rations and that the
hospitals were crowded. The outer de-
fenses of the city were said to have
been put out of commission.
Przemysl has been described as the !
key to the Austrian empire. The I
opinion has been expressed by Russian |
that its occupation ,
would facilitate operations against the !
Interior Of Austria, which hitherto had
been attended only by Insignificant re.
suits. Beyond Przemysl lies the great ,
Continued on page 81