The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-08-04
FIRST YEAR OF THE
WAR IN THE EAST

The ffrst twelvemonth of fighting
between the Russians ON one side and
the Austrians and Germans on
the other Ia a story of great changes
OF fortune. both combatants being re-
4 peatedly driven back only to show
the greatest resiliency In defeat and
soon To resume the offensive In a most
surprising manner.
The end OF the year. however, finds
tho pendulum swinging strongly
against the czar. He may recover
and take again the roads TO Cracow,
Vienna and Berlin, but just at pres
cnt he II on the whole In worse plight
than In any hour since the war
started.
Russla's losses I'm the first year OF
tho war are not approached by those
OF any nation In any war OF history.
according 70 reliable estimates. she
has had between 3.50oDO0 and 4,O0O.-
900 men killed, injuredy and captured.
Despite these horrible gaps made In
her ranks. she still has millions IN
the Held. and her great reservoir OF
personnel does not show signs OF ex.
haustion. II is not men she lacks, but
guns. shells and braina
slow 90 Mo6lllxe.
On August I. 1914, Germany de-
ciared war on Russfa. Almost imme-
diatoly the Germans crossed the from
tier at Thorn and the Austrians south
OF Lublin. They we're practically un-
opposed because OF the siowness OF
mobilization In Russia. The Grand
Duke Nicholas Nicholaievitch was
forced TO gather his main armies we'll
10 the rear of the line of great fort
resses running through Kovno, Grod-
no. Ossowetz. Novo Georgievsk, War
saw and Ivangorod.
On account OF his, desire to do all
he could to relieve the French. who
we're being driven from northern
France by the amazing German rush
through Belgium, Nicholas attacked
sooner than he otherwise would have
done. AS q result. he met two disas-
ters.
He sent General Samsonoff into
East Prussia from the south and
General Rennenkampf into East Prus-
STA from the east, the latter winning
the frst large engagement OF the war
I'm the East at Gumbinem.
At this moment the Germans, be-
fsving that the French we're we'll In
hand and about 20 be surrounded on
their eastern frontier, quickly with.
drew 100000 men from France and
hurled them by rail into East Prus.
ala. where they fell upon SamsonofT
with crushing force In the great Ger
man victory OF Tanneuberg (Aug. 2S).
Meanwhile. the Austrlans. leaving
only few troops In Gallcia to hold
back tho Russians advancing from
Tarnopol on the llne,of the Gnila.Lipa.
struck the Russians'en masse at Kras.
mix and routed them to Lublin.
Most Bloody Drive Of War.
With two armies In difficulty. tho
grand duke decided TO abandon one
TO It's fate and save the other. He
threw re-enforcements into Lublin
and ordered the line OF the Gnila.
6sbe haFoA 20 iOiCtu ~ any cost. IN
one OF the most bloody drives OF tho
war the Russians advanced into east
ern Galicia and occupied Lemborg.
The Russians then advanced 20
Rawa Ruska and took tho Austrian
armies In Poland In tho rear. cutting
thom up frightfully.
Meanwhile Won Hindenburg had
conplsted his victory over Samsonor
by turning on Ronnenkampf and clear.
ing East Prussia OF Muscovltes. But
though Ronnenkampf had been do.
feated and SamsonofR almost ami.
hilatCd. the Germans.
The Russians wero now "a far west
"a Tarnow I'm Gallcia. while their
Cossacks were able TO make raids into
Hungary farther south. Hndonburg
concentrated a great force suddenly
I'm Sllesia and began a drive from tho
west against Warsaw and Ivan.
gorod. The Siberian corps arrived
IN the nick OF time to save Warsaw
from tho enemy.
High Tide OF Russian Invasion.
EIindcnburg then drew Off the north.
crn section OF his army in Poland 10
the north, thinking TO take tho pursu.