Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-24
DEAD AND WOUNDED
PLACED AT 10000

CONTINUED From First PagcD
part OF the lighting fell. The left
wing. sweeping down from tho north.
was called upon 10 accomplish marches
OF forty miles daily in pursuit OF the
Russians.
The battle in the south was of
unique character Again nature aided
the Russians. II was fought in n
driving snowstorm. a fierce cutting
wind driving the nacs into the faces
and eyes OF the advancing Germans
until they could scarcely see.
When the Germans came to grips
with the russians they found their
rifles so covered and chokcd with ice
and snow that the weapons could not
be fired. The troops-nnd these were
young troops OF one OF the newly
formed corps-wcre left only their bay
oncts. but they stuck TO their work
despite heavy losses.
The Russians were assuming tho Of
fensivc when artillery arrived just in
time and turned the scale. The troops
OF this column pressed forward along
the fairway, only a dozen miles wide.
between the Mazurinn Lakes and tho
Russian frontier. driving the Russians
before them. but they were forced to
turn three times to beat off the flank
attacks from the south.
RUSSIAN RELIEF COLUMNS
ARE QUICKLY DEFEATED
The Russian communicative chief
made desperate efforts TO come TO the
aid OF this army. He sent In a column
of troops from the fortress of Loynza
and from Kolno and from the fort at
Ossowctz. Each time the German com
mandcr defeated the Russian relief
columns. and then continued his march.
The retreat OF the Russians on this
part OF the neld OF operations could
be made in only one direction. tho
northeast. as the swamp belt prevented
their escape to the east or south
Tho troops from the centre and
northern flank OF the Russian posi-
ton were by this time in full retreat
eastward and southeastward under
pressure from the pursuing German
forces.
The Russians apparently became
desperately jammed, and on February
IL the German commander was almost
confident that the bag would be com
Dletc. Then came the delay in getting
the thanking column across the swamps,
and General Sievcrs. with all his high
officers and the remnant OF his army.
got away.
That the Russian commander was
able, under such road conditions, to
bring off as much artillery and trans
ports as nc did. Is. In the opinion OF
German experts, a most laudable
achievement.
y picturesque scene. reminding one
OF canvas by the Russian painter
NcrestchaEin, was witnessed on the
trip between AuEustowo and Suwalki.
The road Is cut like a canno for twenty
miles through Il dense Russian pine
forest. and 1t formed the only avail
able avenue for the advance OF tho
German troops. Along this road was
solid stream Of infantry. artillery
and wagon trains, usually In three
columns. moving irresistibly south
ward. Tho roadway was high pitched
and slippery with ice. Smooth-shod
horses were continually falling. The
infantrymen picked their way along
the sides OF the road. Almost every
man was equipped with n staff, which
seemed have been copied from
Verestchagin's painted soldiers.
CEAsELEssLY MOVING
COLUMNS OF MEN
There was no stop or pause. The
soldiers ate rs they marched. The
horses were kept moving until they
were through the woods. as there was
no place to turn out and halt. For
ported the same ceaselessly moving
columns of men, horses and guns had
been encountered-an army fifty miles
long was on tho march.
The German general army head
quarters announced on February IS,
two days before tho foregoing dispatch
was written, that $4,000 Russians had
been captured in tho battle OF Ma
zurian Lakes. in East Prussia. On Feb
ruary % the capture OF 10000 more
prisoners was announced. bringing up
tho total to moro than 100, 900 men, and
including seven generals. Tuesdays
Berlin official communication said that
more than 900 Russian canno had been
taken by tho Germans.