South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-22
Announcement of Victory Fol-
lowing Seven Months of 0p-
eratiOnS Causes Rejoicing
Opens Way Toward Berlin.
$50, 900 SOLDIERS ARE
RELEASED FOR ACTION
AuStrianS Well Supplied with
Arms and Ammunition But
Food Supply Gives Out and
Forces Surrender.

PETROGRAD. March 22.-Ofcial
announcement was made today that
PrzemysL the strongest Austrian fort
ress in Galicia. has fallen.
The capture of Przemysl by the
Russians came after three campaigns.
the first of which was launched on
Sept. > for more than seven months
fghting has been in progress near
Przemysl or i'm the district of which
it has been the center.
Przemysl was invested three times
during the seven months of desperate
conflicts that marked the Russians
operations i'm Galicia. ID was twice re-
lieyed 10y the Ausriaus but on their
third investment The Russians three
about il a Gordon of steel that could
not be broken.
Victory CWu~rs Rejoicing.
The announcement of th. rail o
Przemysl caused great rejoicing ia
Petrograd. where the Russian vic
tory is regarded as OF the utmost inn
portance opening the way for "a de
termined advance against CracoN and
thence into Silesia. the gateway TO
Berlin.
1t was nearly five months ago thar
the Russian army under Gen. Dimit-
rien. a Bulgarian. laid the formal
siege To Przemysl That was early in
November at the time OF the Austrian
retirement from central Galicia and
ever since the Russians have been
subjecting the Gaiician city go
heavy bombardment
Attacking forces of Russians We're
sent against the forts defending the
city. but were beaten off. The siege
went on. the Russian lines drawing
closer and closer Finally AN conn
municauon between Przemysl and the
outside world WAS cut off except by
aeroplane
Gen. DimiUiem il supposed 10 have
had 100000 men i'm the original army
which beleaguered the Galician city
and a great amount of heavy artillery.
chiefly mortars. The garrison or the
beleaguered city has been estimated
all the way from $4,000 to 5000. It
is likely that the defending army real
Iy numbered about 10000.
Garrison Well supplied.
The Austrian garrison was wcl
supplied with ammunition and arma-
ments. but the food supply in the city
soon began To give out and after the
siege had been n progress for three
months the people We're sufterlu-
keenly from hunger
Early in the siege Austrian sorties
We're successful IN stemming the ao
vance or the Russians but Gen. Din-
itrieffs army was reinforced and he
received new long range howitzers
with which he slowly battered the
forts into submission.
on some DAYS the Austrian- fred as
many as 10000 shells so estimate
OF she Russian losses had been given.
The fall of Przemlsi Wiil release
probably 10000 Russian troops and
, "a great quantity of artillery for The
operations In western Gall-ia.
Fortres- on san River.
Przemysl lies on the san river
about so miles east of Tarnow. which
the Russians hold. FrzemEsl has
| been a constant menace Lo the kus-
sian position at Tarnow owing 10 the
possibility or the city being relieved
by an Austrian army from The SOUTH
on Jan. J. Emperor Francis Joseph
sent by special courier the follow ng
message OF congratulatiou o. the -ar-
risOn at Przemysl.
His royal apostolic majesty notes
with heartfelt gratitude the spirited
allegiance Of the garrison az PrzemESI
In the splendid resistance of the de-
tenders the emperor perceIFes the
calm security with which the Prze
mysl fortress VIII successfully resist
the enemy-"