Imperial Valley press., 1915-01-11
GERMANY'S TROOPS
SUFFER FROM COLD
(By Granville Forescue)
formerly Military Aide to President
Roosevelt)

Roosevelt
Warsaw. Jan. 1.-THE German at
tempts to force the Russian positions
on the Bzura have been marked by
reckless waste of human life. The
kaiser in his mad desire to capture
Warsaw would fill the river with the
bodies of his soldiers and drive his
cannon over them.
1t is impossible to estimate the
German losses in the recent fighting
along this stream. The killed and
wounded sink forever under the mud
dy, freezing waters, and those who
reach the other side are easily made
prisoners. Already these rash as
Gauts are losing their force. After
each unsuccessful attempt the weak
ening of the attacking columns is APP
parent.
1t is bitterly cold. The freezing ST.
berian wind sweeps over the plain and
the mud of last week now is as hard
IS iron. The rivers are not entirely
covered with ice, as the force Of the
wind has prevented this, and no hui
man being can plunge into the Bzura
without becoming numb with the cold
Iii minute.
What the Germans ore suffering
from exposure can be imagined from
the conditions on this side, where is
The wellclothed Russian soldier. The
German overcoat is a thin, shoddy
affair which offers no protection
against the Russian winter. So poor
ly are some of the prisoners clad that
the soft hearted soldiers Of the cars
army give them their mufflers.
The Siberian troops on the reserve
lire have built underground homes
back Of their positions. Each bur
row is large enough for two men TO
sleep in and each has fireplace
where glowing embers are always
kept.
It is quite possible for the Russians
10 maintain themselves in their pres
Gnt quarters all winter, as they have
Tie city Of Warsaw behind them.
But for The Germans the case is
different. Most of the towns in their
rear they themselves have destroyed
ard the question of winter quarters is
soon going to be vital with them.
From sure sources it has become
known that there is heavy percen-
tage of sick already taxing the over
lcadcd line of communication. Frost
bite is largely reducing the effective
ress of the enemy and cholera also
has appeared. Judging from the con
dition of the prisoners at present, the
German army has lost 25 per cent OF
its original unit power. This loss in
creases each day.
On the other hand, the Russian cf
iectiveness is always increasing.
1t is sheer stupidity for the Germans
to continue their frontal attacks
against the Warsaw defenses. That
man of chilled steel, Grand Duke
Nicholas, has found his soldiers hold
ing on like iron in front of all that
Germany could pit against them. The
lcommandcr-in chief OF the northern
armies is well satisfied with the pres
ent position OF the Russians. In the
original plan the present line was
considered only temporary position
which which to check the enemy un-
til reinlorccmcnts should arrive.
Lines Of defense in the rear of the
Bzura are even stronger. The coun-
try does not afford such an effective
obstacle as the river, but this is coun-
tefbalanced by the splendid field it
offers.
No resource of military engineering
has been overlooked in scanning the
country with artificial distractions
The Russians can build trenches that
could serve as models to picture in any
~ ~t-hl