South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-23
KIELCE RECLAIMED
FROM GERMANS BY
FORCE OF RUZSKY
Russian Troops Maintain 0ffen-
Sive in Northern Poland and
Move Toward Thorn Despite
Severe Snow Storm.

PETROGRAD, Jan. 23. While
Russian troops are maintaining the Of
fensive against the Germans in north
ern Poland despite a severe snow
storm and progressing slowly but
surely toward Thorn, two more arm
les in southern Poland are dealing
heavy blows to the Austro- German
troops in the government OF Kielce.
The city Of Kielce has been recap
tured by the forces of Gen. Ruzsky.
Taken by the Germans when their
heavy reinforcements threatened to
engulf the Russian troops on the east
bank of the Pilica river, Kielce was
held by them for less than a week. 1t
was evacuated before the advance Of
two Russian armies, one of which
drove Its way north Of Kielce as far
as LOpusznO while another advanced
over the Lysa Cora heigts 10 strength
en- the forces opposing the Austrians
on the Nida river.
The rapid advance of these two
armies rendered the German position
in and about Kielce untenable and
they have fallen back TO "a front run
ming through OlOsZnO, Kurzelow and
Socemin. While the Germans effected
their withdrawal in good order they
have been forced back S3 miles.
Along the little hills just east of the
Pilica river, they have mounted guns
apparently intending TO make a stand
there.
Gains i'm South Important.
While general interest for the last
few days has centered on the north
ern Poland campaign because of the
thrilling plunge Of the Russian troops
toward Thorn, the gains in southern
Poland are Of vastly more Importance
to the Russian arms from strategic
viewpoint They permit the contin-
uation of the campaign against Cra-
COW which for 10 days had been
threatened with failure.
It is Cracow that the Russians want
in order TO open the campaign against
Berlin. Thorn is important, but il is
not the gateway TO Germany. No at
tempt has ever been made TO disguise
the Importance Of the campaign
against CracOw and the fact that it's
capture would prove hard task.
Some irresponsible journalists in Oc-
tober sent out dispatches from PetrO-
grad saving the Russian general staff
expected to be in Berlin by Christmas.
eral stan did not expect even 10 have
taken Cracow by that time. The Of
fetal belief IS that the capture OF
Cracow will not be effected before
May. That Il Will be captured. how
ever. is the confident prediction OF all
Russian oficialdOm.
snow Hampers Fighting.
The same conditions that hampered
the hghting west Of Warsaw in middle
December now prevail in northern
Poland on the levels the snow Is
from one 10 three feet deep and in
the valleys il is up TO the shoulders
OF the soldiers. AT many points on
the front the digging of trenches is
useless, as they Immediately fill with
snow.
These conditions are reacting 10 the
favor Of the Germans. delaying the
Russian advance at some points and
giving the Germans time TO bring re-
Inducements up over their railways
Reports from the Caucasus front
Indicate that IN eTurks have succeed
ed in temporarily checking the Rus
sian advance toward Erzerum. Along
the Tchoroch river and south OF these
fresh Turkish troops have appeared
and they are offering desperate re-
sistance to the RussiancN