The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-22
CIVILIANS DROVE
RUSSIANS BACK
German Residents Of Mcneil
Forced Temporary Retire
mcnt Of Invaders.
CITIZENS FINALLY FLED

Of Metncl. tho German port on the Baltic,
by the Russians on Thursday evening is
described iu fuller detail in an official
statement issued to-day by The Russian
General stan.
Announcement already had been made
briefly that the population Of the town
took part Inv the lighting. an act which,
wuen attributed to the Bclgians, the
Germans have put forward so often in
extcnuaticu OF the destruction Of Bel
gian towns. IT appears from the more
complete Information now available that
So vigorous was the attack IN which the
civilian population of Mcneil joined he
LGndsturm contingcnts against the Rus
sian troops that the latter retired tenn
p~orarily from the town and did not
attempt to reenter It until their artillery
had subdued the civilian defenders
The Russian troops engaged ia the
aking OF the port crossed near Gursh-
DIV, the narrow arm OF East Prussia
extending northwlrd along the shore Of
the Baltic. Gorshdy is on the Russian
side Of the frontier. only about ten miles
from Memcl.
Two of German laudStuIm
opposed the Russian advance These
were driver: pack upon the town with
the loss Of some Of their machine guns
. ana liltlI NuDIl4tN. = NV NITT''iNT ~
tered the town. they were greeted with
rife IRE from houses and barbados in
which the soldiers Of the laudstufW
were augmented by the civil population
Without waiting TO subject their men
to further shipping tho Russian officers
quickly gave orders FOR a retreat from
the town and artillery was posted II
required only "A short bombardment TO
bring about the evacuation OF the town
by the enemy.
South Of Memel an enclosed body %
water bearing the name ~ the kurische
Han extends toward ~KoerHgsherg Thu
inhabitants Of Memel fled along the low
lying strip OF land enclosing the
Kurische Han on the west.
The only new military operation mem
toned in to-day's statement was on the
Warsaw front where Russian artillery
dispersed a body OF German infantry
south OF Ravs. The statement was 80
follows
our troops reached Menel Thur
day evening after crossing the frou-
ter near Gorsndv. beating the Ger
mans back and capturing SOM
machine guns and motor cars laden
with stores.
Memel was defended 10y two reg
ments Of landsturin. winch after
they were driven back mingled WITH
the population. When our troops
AAN'h'a ANH' Nv 49, %"
Are from the houses and from be-
hind barbados The civil popula-
ton as well as the troops took part
IN the fighting.
our troops then were withdrawn
from Niemel. which WAS suhJe. ted
TO a snort bomhdrdmeut "a shells
put an end to the !, sistance OF the
enemy the town vas evacuated. tie
J inhabitants fleeing toward koeu.gs-
J berg along the narrow neck WhI'a
separates the kurische Han from
the Baltic Sea on the left Of the
N.stula.
!, our artillery mas dispersed se,
eral Oatta!iOus OF German lnidN,lN
south Of Rawa.
The following additional official state
mcnt was issued by the Russian General
Stan tonight
West ~ the middle N.emrr our
offensive continues with success
In the carpath'ans our troops
- nav" gained an important success
in the region Of Sv.dnik and SWpl-
Z mix. where IN certain sectors We
n tuOh Zoo men. - officers. Two
guns and I'VE machine guns Al
attacks by the enemy IN the direc-
: ,jou Of Isjok and Muukacs lave
been successfully repulS'd
Al przemysl the artillery duel
continues vigorously ON the west
Z eru front OF the fortress Ne nJ,"
occupied the v.llag" OF krtssitgh!n..
e and the garrison Of Prz"mSs' has
II been driven back to IN" Inc Of the
forts ON the whole c.rvuUf"r"n.r
OF the fortress.
The following was issued to-n.s.' -
. an appended uo'r to tn" communicate
A communlqut ISSUED by the German
General stan contained a threat OF re-
prIsals against Russian towns and vile
i laees occupied 10y the Germans 'or