The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-02-10
RUSSIA

United Press Leased Wire SerV1ce.1
PETRoGRAD, Feb. 1o.-The battles
for the slopes Of the carpathians and
tho passes which command the fertile
Hungarian plains are being wased
with desperation that 10 unprece-
dented. The mountain sides are
strewn with dead and dying. Both
sides are being constantly reinforced
and the battle sis developing 80 that II
promises to become one Of the most
decisive Of tho war. II the Russians
Win-and all reports Indicate that the
advantage 10 with them-then' they
will be able to retain their holdings
In Bukowlna and also to attempt an
invasion in force Of Hungary. II they
are forced to retire, It will not be dis
astrous In as much az they will slim
ply fall back on their strong entrench-
ed positions In GaIicIa and northern
and eastern Bukowfna. At Bartflefu
and SvtdnIk, the attacks Of the Ger
mans have been repulsed with heavy
losses and In the region Of LupkoW
pass they have been driven back on
their second line, the Russians captur-
Ing sixty-rine otfieers, $500 men, ana
eighteen machine guns and large
quantity Of supplies.
However, It Is In tho vicinity Of Tux
holka pass and on the heights In the
region OF koziomoka that the fighting
has been most bitterly contested. Be-
ginning Saturday, series Of assauits
In force were essayed by the first line
German troops who have reinforced
the Austrians. On Sunday this en-
gagement developed into general
battle, still In progress today.
During Sunday the Germans made
twenty-five violent attacks against the
Russian positions commanding the ap-
proaches to the heights Of koziomoka.
The initial German attacks, essayed
with enormous numbers were irresist-
ibIe. Their front ranks were moved
down. Finally the Russian positions
were abandoned and the troops With
drew until reinforcements could be
brought up; then by series Of bayo-
net charges the Russians regained
their original positions. Never before
In the war has there been hand to
hand fighting Of such ferocity as re-
ports received from the front. To-
wards evening on Sunday, the Ger
mans renewed their offensive and
eventually captured the high positions
held by the Russian troops. Once
again they were driven out In another
series Of bayonet charges and the
fighting ever since has been In the ma
ture Of a give-and-take conflict. The
Germans used their massed formation
to advance, with the result that they
suffered enormous losses. The slopes
Of the mountain were literally covered
with tho dead. 1000 being counted In
front Of one Russian battalion alone.
In east Prussia, the Germans are
concentrating fresh troops for an Of
fensive movement against the Rus
slams, who are Invading in force. They
have essayed the offensive In the Hor-
Merchandising neiahborhood and
in the region Of Lasdchnen. At the
latter place, the Russians almost en-
tirely exterminated one attacking bat
talon OF Germans.
On the left bank Of the vistuIa, aft
er series Of attempts to break
through, the Germans have abandon
ed their offensive and are now report
ed to be quiet. The German lcsses In
the six days fighting along the Borz-
ime-VoIiassidTowska. are de-
cIared to be In the tens Of thousands.