Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-23

q ~
the Russian retirement from East
Prussia is contained in communica-
tion given out last night by the gen.
coupe are attributed largely to the
lack Of strategic railways which pre-
vented the Russians from concentrar-
ing, with necessary rapidity on our
East Prussia front, forces indispen-
sable to ward of this drive Of the en-
emy."
The general staff asserts that the
massing of German troops In East
Prussia was revealed to the Russians
on February 4, but that the magnitude
of the concentration did not become
known until several days later. Be-
cause of these conditions, it is stated,
withdrawal of the tenth Russian army
from East Prussia toward the frontier
was decided on. This was followed
later by further retirement towards
the Nieman and the Bobr rivers.
Text Of Report.
The communication follows:
''The Germans IN a series Of excep-
tionally obstinate and tenacious at
tacks which cost them innumerable
victims, became persuaded OF the i'm
possibility Of dislodging us from the
left bank OF the Vistula, and proceed
ed at the end of January to put a new
plan into operation.
Having finished the formation in
the interior Of their country of several
new corps and deciding to continue
the transportation Of troops from their
west front in order to make supreme
effort against us, p ofiting by their net
work of railroads, the Germans were
enabled to launch an overwhelming
force against our tenth army, which
occupied strongly organized positions
along the Angerapp river and the
Mazuran lakes.
"To assure the success Of this coupe
the Germans transported also part of
their contingents from the fronts on
the Rawka, the Bzura and the right
bank of the Vistula. This gathering
of Germans in East Prussia was re.
vealed to us on February 4, but the
magnitude of the concentration was
not determined until several days
later.
'Not being able, through lack of rail
road facilities, to concentrate on our
East Prussian front with necessary
rapidity forces Indispensable to ward
of this drive of the enemy, our chiefs
decided to withdraw the above men
toned army from East Prussia to-
wards the frontier, and further retire
ment towards the Niemen and the
Bobr has followed.
Whole Corps Cut Up. p
,ko %h1 ,3r11k xr,S,,1
Of the tenth army, pressed by great
numbers of the enemy and threatened
with being surrounded on the right
flank, was compelled to make very
swift turning movement in the direc-
tion of Kovno.
This maneuver exposed the flank
Of the corps following which, owing to
this fact, found itself in an extremely
dangerous position, and only broken
and disorganized portions succeeded
in escaping from this district. Other
corps of the tenth army, fighting con-
tinuously and stubbornly, slowly re-
treated in the direction marked out for
them by their commanders. On taking
up these positions the Russian troops
bravely repulsed the attacking enemy,
inflicting on him severe losses and
overcoming incredible difficulties
caused by the deep snow, which cover
ed all the roads. The roads being i'm
passable, automobiles were not able to
run and trains were delayed frequent
ly not reaching their destination.
Retreat Is Slow.
"Retreating slowly, step by step,
one corps, forming the left wing of the
tenth army, held the enemy for nine
days on lines which are ordinarily trav-
ersed in four days.
IOn February 10, these corps fell
back through Augustowo, retired from
the battle at Sphoc and assumed the
fortified positions indicated for them.
"At the present moment actions on
the German front continue before
Ossowetz, on the roads from Lomza to
Edvabno, and north of Kadizidly on
the road between Plotsk and Lonsk.
In some places the fighting is very
stubborn.
"On the right Of the Vistula on the
roads from Plotsk, Austrian detach.
ments have been relieved by German
.rnnna"