Evening star., 1915-03-28
HIDEOUS GUNFIRE
TURNED ON SLAVS
Przemysls Last Defense Even
Causes Ground to
TrembIe.
NIGHT BEFORE FALL
MADE RED BY SHELLS
10000 Are Fired in Two Hours.
Correspondent Describes Entry
of Russians.

rRzEMSYL. Galicia, Tuesday, March
23. via Petrograd and London, MaTch
27.-The night preceding the surrender
o the Russians of the Austrian fortf-
fed position at Przemysl was hideous
IN the Russian lines with the roar OF
guns and the shock of exploding shells
Never on this frontier during the war
has there been such a bombardment
Standing outside the walls of the fall
on fortress today correspondent or
the Associated Press heard the story
Of the besieged and the besiegers, while
the smoke of the battle still was hang
ing In heavy clouds overhead
Maintain Unprecedented Fire.
The night of March c1-22 the Aus
trians maintained an unprecedented fire
upon the Russian positions. The hut
in which the Russian staff officers had
their quarters shook Ike leaf. and
the ground for miles around trembled
as though rent by an unending series
OF earthquakes. All night long the sky
was red with the bursting of shells.
The cannonading reached its greatest
intensity between and O'Clock In
the morning. 1t is safe to say that no
body in either army SLEPT that night,
although they were accustomed 10
two hours 10000 shells were fired.
Russians Start to Close In.
Before dawn a scouting division of
Russians drove back the Austrians who
were in occupation of the outlying
positions, and after sharp engage
ment occupied the Austrian trenches.
Backing up this movement the entire
Russian army facing the Austrians be-
gan to close in on them. AS this ad-
vance was made the Austrians from all
sides retired to the protection of the
fortress
Suddenly kilograms began reaching
Russian headquarters from various
points declaring that the Austrians
were blowing up their forts. AT the
same time the Austrian fire slackened
TO a certain extent, and above the roar
Of the artillery could be heard the
deep roar of explosions from within
the fortress The Russians continued
advancing, the men running forward
among the exploding mines. Occa-
sionally rifle firing was heard.
White Flags Appear.
Toward o'clock in the morning of
March % white flags began appearing
above the tops of the Austrian forts.
The Russian FIRE thereupon ceased.
Then a group of Austrian officers un-
der a flag of truce appeared. making
its way from one of the forts in the
direction of the Russian headquarters.
Soon from all directions Austrian di
visions appeared walking quietly
toward the Russian ranks The officers
wore their arms, but the soldiers we're
mostly unarmed Others were observed
throwing away their rifles as they
came on. These Austrian troops spoke
in friendly and kindly tones to the
Russian soldiers and sa1uted the Rus
sian officers.
The River vichora, tributary of the
San. separated the Russians from the
Austrian forts on one section of the
front At this point the railroad bridge
had been blown up. and the Russians
had difficulty in crossing. The men
made their way as best they could over
the remains of the wrecked bridge,
while the Cossacks SWAN their horses.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press crossed with the Cossacks.
Covered With Clouds of Smoke.
notable feature of the advance was
that all of Przemysl was covered with
heavy clouds of smoke. Loud detona-
tions continued and 1t was evident that
the Austrians were destroying the re-
mainder of their ammunition.
In the suburbs of PrzemysI many
horses. recently killed and still saddled,
were seen as the Russians came in.
Discussion OF the terms OF surrender
occupied the entire day.
In the meantime. and until evening.
the sound of explosions from within
the fortress continued.
All day long soldiers struggled out
from the fortress without arms. They
we're rounded up and taken to Russian
headquarters. No civilians were per-
mitted to enter Przemysl On the twenty
second.