Omaha daily bee., 1915-05-06
CzAR'S ARMIES
IN FULL FLIGHT
FROM HUNGARY
Austrian Official Statement Says
Russians Are Retreating Be-
fore Victorious Teuton
Allies.
sLAvs DIE BY THE THOUSANDS
Russian Prisoners Say Battle Most
Terrible Thing They Ever
Experienced.
COLUMNS ARE PAN1C-sTRICKEN

VIENNA, May 5.--(Nia Londono
The Austrian war department to-
day issued an official statement,
reading:
1.-The Russian front of zboro-
Sztropko-Lupkow. in the Beskid
mountains. has become untenable.
As the victorious allies are continu-
ally advancing from the west toward
Jaslow and zmlgrod, the enemy on
the west Carpathian front started
this morning in full retreat from
Hungary, pursued by the Austro-
German troops.
THE Russians, therefore, were beaten
on front OF $50 klometers (ninety-threo
miles) and were forced to retreat with
tho heaviest losses.
ION the remainder OF our front the
situation remains unchanged"
Southern wing Broken.
BERLIN (via I.ondon), May 5.-The
southern wing OF the Russian army in
West GRlicia has been broken along a
front OF thirty-six klometers 0wenty-
four miles), according to dispatch to
the Tageblatt from a special correspond
ent,
"The attack was made with such deter
mination." says the correspondent, that
the Russnans were forced TO abandon,
not only their first hneA but also the
villages back OF the front. which served
as quarters. Only in Gorlice did the
Russians make, a stand. This town was
destroyed by an artillery bombardment
and bitter street fight preceded it's
capture by the Germans
Thousands OF Russians Killed.
"An the staff officers of one Russian
division were killed or wounded. includ-
ing several generals. The majority of the
prisoners wore military caps. but civilian
clothing. They complained OF insufficient
food"
Special dispatches from West Galician
battle fields say that Russian prisoners
describe the effect of the German and
Austrian artillery fire as appalling. Thu
havoc thus wrought was particularly Sc
vere at Gorlice. where the Russians
fought stubbornly and for four hours en-.
dured terrific fire. In this time. ac-
cordinE to these reports. divisions
dwindled to regiments. and regiments to
companies
The Russian center was so shaken by
the reverses Sustained by the two wings
that II was compelled to abandon its
positions.
Thousands OF prisoners were made In
the center as we'll as on the wings.
The victory OF the Austro- German
forces Is considered of especial impor-
tanes. because It deprives the Russian
army in the Carpathians of protection
against q thanking movement
situation Grows WOrne.
The correspondent of the zeitung An
Mitag teIegraphs that the situation o.
the Russians IL growing worse hourly
as line after line OF German and Aus
trian troops pushes forward. despite op
position. He says that the Russians arr
ondeavoring to bring up reinforcement
end halt the panicky retreat of thei
columns
The heavy artillery has made the hug
battlefield horrible sight. tearing W
the ground. Idemolishing the positions o
the Russians and scattering their sup
plies.
The list OF Russian dead. according I,
this correspondent, In extraordinaril!
large. while the losses to the German
are said TO have been insignificant. Lon
lines of prisoners are being put on boar,
trains. which are leaving constantly 10
the interior, as are also the German
wounded. Russians prisoners are cred
tied with the statement that the battl
was more terrible than anything the!
had experienced preYioualy.