Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-23
Last Desperate Sortie of
u Austrians From Fort
Ends in Failure.
FALL OF FORT MAY
BE TURNING POINT
Russia sslisves Way is Now Open For
! Advance and That Fate Of Haps-
burg Empire and Ally Are Decided
Rus.i.ns Capture $1,000 Prisoners,
/, Including Nine Generals, at Przsmys'
-Lu,i in Eastern Battle Arena.

Petrograd, March 23.-Events which
preceded the final desperate sortie OF
the beleagured garrison in the Austrian
fortress of Przemysl. designed to break
thru the Russian lines, are described
in an official communication as fol-
lows:
During the last days the garrison
received increased rations. Each SOL
dier was given biscuits to last five
days, warm new clothing and new
boots. OFFICERS were instructed to ex-
plain to the troops that II they re-
turned to the fortress an inglorious
late awaited them. An easterly dtrec-
zion was chosen for the sortie. as the
line OF least resistance led to the dis
srict where the Russians had large
stores Of arms and food.
Some Refuse to Leave.
Several units refused to move de-
spite the urging Of their commanders.
Only the Twenty-t third Honved divis-
ION and some parts Of the Eighty-ffth
tandwehr and Fourth Hussars took an
active part. They were promptly and
iecisively defeated.
AN official Austrian dispatch re-
ports that the garrison returned to the
fortress because they encountered
overwhelming Russian forces. It IS
noted that the Russian troops were
never large and the Austrians were re-
pulsed principally by territorial troops
and reserves.
.The total number Of the captured
garrison exceeded Russian expecta-
tons,
War office advices report that nine
Austrian generals were taken. more
than 800 officers, and s0.o0e men. The
garrison originally numbsfed 10000 er
80 Emen. 49, II VI 2 a ~ -'sl5s H
Russian osnsral Asnsesd
General Selliwanof1, commanding the
Russian investing army. has been
awarded the st. Georges cross.
The Austrian commander Of the
Przemysl garrison was General Fl. Won
Kusmanek.
heavy snowstorm failed to check
the enthusiastic demonstrations in
which the civil and military popula-
tions united when the fall Of Przemysl
was announced. The crowds. founder
ing In deep drifts which tied up street
traffic, cheered the officers and sol
diers who remained to participate in
the celebrations.
Think t. Turning Point in War.
The highest importance 1t attached
to the fall Of Przemysl by the Novoe
vremya. Likening the surrender Of the
Galician fortress to the fall Of Metz.
during the Franco-Russian war and
the capitulation Of Port Arthur in the
Russo Japanese war. the paper states
that the last obstacle has now been re-
moved to the Russian advance In Cali
tcia.
"Thus is decided the fate of the
whole Hapsburg empire. and likewise
that Of her ally the Novoe Vremya
continues. There is nothing now to
prevent the advance of Russian armies
direct to Uzsok and Lupkow passes"
The Russian authorities have receiv-
ed information to the effect that the
defenses OF Przemvsl are in good con-
zdition Notwithstanding the long siege
and are capable Of being put into
working order Immediately.
Six hundred guns OF the newest type
were found in the fortress.