The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-24
GREAT SWEEP OF CAVALRY


Between the inner wings of the two
armies, from Dvinsk to the Villa, the
cavalry divisions had more room to
manoeuvre, In the first place they
had to fight their way through the
lake country between Vilkomir and
Sventsiany which was taken on the
18th From here the divisions were
diverted toward Molodetchno GO miles
southeast of Vilna) and the Molodetch-
no-Poltzk railway, half way between
the two places.s
1t was now possible to bring up the
cavarly divisions of the Sth army. The
Wilma Molodetchno Polotzk railway
near Smorgon $50 miles east of .vilna)
and eastward had been reached by the
14th, and the Russian right wing on the
Villa, northeast of wilma, seriously
threatened. The Orscha- Minsk railway
was also cut in the neighborhood of
Borissoff
Here. as had so often occurred in the
east the cavalry found new field for
their activities. The German cavalry
have everywhere given proof of their
| brilliant dash and courage.
(This movement had cut the two
principal railways in the rear Of the
Russians. The cavalry forces which
made the raids were operating on a
front of more than 80 miles and the
easternmost force had ridden about 100
miles through the Russia rear area.)
RUSSIANS DEFEAT SCHEME
The 10th army made repeated efforts
to transfer troops from their front to
the left wing. The movements were
difficult to carry out and took up a
great deal of time; they imposed a
tremendous strain on the troops. for
| the roads and weather were bad and
hindered progress. The infantry divi-
sions were not able to relieve the cav
airy divisions quickly enough in their
| foremost positions. With their weak
| artillery they were unable permanently
| to hold Smorgon $50 miles east of Viii
na) The latter place was recaptured
on the 10Th by forces from Wilma after
! a plucky resistance on the part of the
| 1st cavalry division
The Russians had realized the danger
which threatened them and had brought
up reinforccments by rail to the region
east of Dvinsk; these reinforcements
very soon made their appearance to
the south of that town. They were
| able to wheel and effect a wholesale
| withdrawal in the direction of Molo-
detchno with their infantry and toward
! Dokschitzy with their cavalry. The
great retreat along the Russian front
from Poland into West Russia had,
unfortunately, progressed so far that
| their troops which had been brought up
| north were able to reach Villa in time.
The German enveloping movement came
1 to a standstill Its strength was insult
ficient to overcome the enemy resist
ance.
HAS TO QUIT FOR WINTER
! During the gradual advance from
wilma on Smorgor 1 saw clearly TINT the
, operations would have to be broken
| off. a continuation of the movement
was out of the question. In the long
run II was impossible to keep the left
wing of the 10th army so far forward
in face of the hostile cavalry. which
was pressing in increasing strength
! upon all sides to oppose our attempt to
| break through. We had to prepare our
winter quarters on tho vsshniev-Na-
rotch and Drysviaty Lakes line.
Whilst fresh reinforcements Joined
the Niemen army. the north wing ofthe
| 10th army wheeled back into the posi-
/ tons mentioned above. The 10th army
intended to check the advancing enemy,
/ as had been done In similar move-
ment near Grodno. but they delayed
overlong, and In tho end they were
severely handled east Of Lake Narotch.
The Russian flood su-sed against orr