The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-05
Special Cable Despatch to THE Sus.

LONDON, June 4.-PrZemysl was a
barren capture for the Austrians and
Germans so far as booty was concerned
II the official dispatches from Petrograd
may be taken as true. Beginning Mon
day night. when IL was known that the
garrison could no longer withstand the
terrific storm OF shell. the Russians be-
a moving their artillery away from
the place and by Thursday morning
they not only saved all their own NUM-
lions but all the supplies taken at the
capture OF the fortress In March.
II In apparent that except for its
moral effect the victory Is OF nc real
Importance In the German offensive.
Holding Przemysl had forced the Rus
slams to extend their battle line twenty
three miles and by losing IL they are
enabled TO concentrate their troops on
a shorter line.
II Is not likely that the forces of
Gen. Won Mackensen will be allowed to
rest In Przemysl. The capture of Lem
berg. the railroad centre, and the COM
handing point OF the Galician oil re-
gion. is OF far more Importance. There
is every indication that the drive for
that point has already been begun from
two directions. The Bavarians and
Austrians under Von Mackensen are be-
lieved to have started almost due east
for Lemberg. while from Stryj the forces
under Gen. Won Linsingen have started
north to effect a junction for the general
attack on the city.
LinsinRen on the D%niester.
Gen, Won Linsingen. who received the
order Pour lie Merite for the capture
OF Stryj. is reported to have reached
the Dniester without serious opposition
at about MikolaJow. which Is only
fN.sA So R.s- Ill g. ~
worst OF the way Is to come. however.
the swamps along the river and then the
marshes of the lake region. There
are no signs that the Russians are maxi
ing a stand against this advance.
The exact location OF the Russian bat
tie front is not known. It Is believed to
start at the Nistula and to cut across
a neck OF Russian Poland. following the
left bank OF the San, and swinging
out to the eastward 10 protect Lem
berg. The Russian official statement
speaks OF Victories at Rudnik. near the
junction of tho San ard the Vistula. and
minor successes In the n~eighborhood. but
there is no indication that the Russians
have yet brought up artillery to check
the Teuton offensive.
The Russian official statement issued
last night Contains a lucid explan nation
and narrative OF the fall Of Przemysl. as
well as accounts OF minor successes on
the lower San. II is as follows:
The battle In Galicia continued from
June ! with the same desperation on
the whole front from the V!stula to
the region OF Nadworna. on the left
bank OF the lower San our troops.
after "A powerful advance on June ..
finally pierced the enemy's line and
captured an important position which
the enemy had fortified in the region
OF Rudnik. where we took about 1000
prisoners and some guns and numor-
Gus machine guns.
Our offensive on the whole front as
far as the mouth OF the Wisioka con-
i!nues TO develop successfully.
PrscnysI IndefcnsibIc.
As Przemysl. in view Of the state of
its artillery and its works. which were
destroyed by the Austrians before their
capitulation. was recognized as inca
pablo OF defending itself. its mainte-
nance In our hands only served our
purpose until such time as our posses
sion OF positions surrounding the town
on the northwest facilitated our op-
eratlons on the San.
The enemy having captured Jaroslav
and Radymno. n begun to spread
along the right bank of the river, the
Va AolN''
our troops % fight on an unequal and
very difficult, front, Increasing 1t by
thirty-five versts 'about tw~cnty-four
miles,, n suhjecting the troops oc-
cupyirg these positions to tho concen-
trated fire Of the enemy's numerous
guns.
West OF Rudnik We almost com
pletely annihilated the Second. Third
and Fourth Tyrol regiments.
on the Bzura. Tuesday. the enemy
sent out a great cloud of gas. which
at FIRST reached the river. but later.
owing 20 n change in the wind. was
carried back into the enemy's trenches.
compelling a large number Of Germans
to leave the trenches along "A wide
front. Our fire decimated them as
they fled.
The German newspapers. which issued
jubilee editions. contain more details.
The IoSsische Zcitun0 begins its ac-
count with the assertion that at first the
Russians had decided to put up a strong
fight to save the fortress and brought
enormous supplies for the purpose from
1.emhcrg. \ day or so later they took
all the supplies away again. The ar
;illery attack, the newspaper SAYS,
reached its climax on Sunday when the
forts were literally sprayed with shells.
II was then that the German command
ers, noticing the slackening Of the Rus.
Sian Are. gave orders for the stormine
operations. The Russians defended them
selves 10 the last moment. The VoSsischc
Zeitun1 declares that the Russian men
ace OF Hungary has oeen broken for
ever.