Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-10-26

ported by the 9Th. S6th and 18th re-
serve divisions. The cavalry divisions
had been very carefully equipped for
these operations. General Won Lauen-
stein was placed in command here.
On April q our march into Lithu-
ania and CORTLAND began.
General Won Lauenstein initiated
the movement planned by the COM
mander-in-c hief in the east by march,
ing in three columns on Shawl (about
halfway between the Prussian border
and Riga. This march was almost di-
rectly north.)
In two days SO miles were covered.
On the 18th the cavalry divisions
were approaching Shawl and Kirscha-
ny (1S miles to the west of Shavli.)
On the 30th Shawl, which the Rus
slams had set on fire, was occupied.
The 9Th and Srd cavalry divisions
continued the movement in the direc-
ton of Miltau, at which the 9Th ar
rived on May (55 miles northeast
of Shawl and 80 miles southwest of
Riga).
Forced to Retreat.
Here they could no longer break
! the enemy's defense, and for the time
they remained southwest of Miltau.
Later on they withdrew behind the
| Windau. along the Miltau- Moscheiki
railway CSC miles to the rear). The
Ord cavalry division halted shortly
after this and the Bavarian cavalry
| division came up with them. The two
| divisions then moved southeast from
| Shawl via Beissagola on Keirany (25
miles north of the great Koyno fort
/ - T. ~.
defense was stronger. They, there
fore, yielded slowly before his pres
sure and retired behind the Dubissa
river, in the direction of Kielmy.
The infantry divisions had also car
ried out some extraordinary forced
marches. The 36th reserve division
was pushed forward to the lower Du-
bissa to act as cover against attacks
! from Kovno, while the 18th and 9Th
| reserve divisions had united near
Shawl.
The object of this daring enterprise
had been attained. The Russians were
yisibly being reinforced.
I (By this movement the Germans
| had penetrated 70 miles into Cour-
land and had cut the railroad between
Kovno and the important port of La
bau. They had also fooled the Rus
slams into bringing forces to this line
| from other points where they were
to attached later.)
There now followed on an extended
front on the Dubissa. from the mouth
of the river up to Kielmy. round
Shawl and to the northwest Ca front
of about 100 miles running almost
due north about IS miles from the
Baltic)), q series of critical engage
ments which dragged on through May
and June and proved most eXhausting
for both leaders and men. on our
side they were carried out. both de-
fensively and extensively, with a great
numerical inferiority, in order to hold
what we had gained and pin down
the enemy.
General Otto Won Below was APP
pointed to this command and the
| army was given the name of the
"Niemen' army. We held the Du-
bissa line by hard fighting. Shawl
sould not be held permanently, and it
was only possible to bring back a part
of the plentiful leather supplies which
were of such great importance to us.
As early as May we had to abandon
the town to the enemy, and remained
due south of it.
Libau Captured Easily.
On the evening of May the 3rd
cavalry brigade took Libau. We were
well aware that the Russian forces
| there were of very little value, but we
did not know of the condition of the
Notifications. Libau had been aban-
doned as a military port before the
war. The extensive military harbor
works were evidence of the ambition
of imperial Russia, bent as she was on
extending her power.
The town contained some important
industrial establishments, including
one of the largest barbed wire facto-
ries in Russia.
Lieutenant-C Colonel Hoffman sug-
gested that a surprise attack should
be made, and I agreed to this. Our
troops were not very numerous The
3rd cavalry brigade under Colonel Won
der Schulenberg, two or three bait
talions and a few batteries belonging
to the reserve divisions already on the
spot, were to approach the town from
the east, while Landsturm battalion
approached it from the south along
the coast and torpedo boats attacked
from the sea.
The taking of Libau was not mar
tial achievement worthy of perma-
nent place in history, but it was a
happy little enterprise which all who
took part In it recall with pleasure.
Its most valuable feature was that 1t
was carried out without any loss. 1t
was always my endeavor to achieve
success at the least possible cost.
Troops may take pride in bearing
heavy losses and succeeding in spite
of them. The commander must have
a different point of view.
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the Scandinavian countries)
How Ludendorff and the Falken-
hayn of the great general staff came
into conflict over the way to conduct
further operations for the crushing
of the Russian army is told tomorrow
by Ludendorff He wanted to make
one of his favorite encircling move
ments and bag even the greater part
of the cars forces, but his superiors
wanted to play a safer game, and the
kaiser held with them and forced Lu.
dendorff to take their orders.