The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-15
culties were overcome so promptly that operations did not suffer at all. HAD TO USE DISPATCH RIDERS


 heavier than in East Prussia. The Russians had destroyed the few exist Ing telegraph wires and cut down the poles A few field telegraph wires were laidg and we had to manage as best we could with these We were not then so spoilt as we became later, after the establishment of the trench telegraph system in the war of posi- tions.
 The safest means of communication was motor cars and dispatch riders, the latter in relays. The few wireless stations did good service. Here again was always successful in getting grasp of the situation and transmitting orders in time.
 The inhabitants gave us no trouble. They were dociie and did not resist the measures We took. The idea of calling them up for service against the Rus sians which had frequently been 1 mooted proved impracticable. The so-caIled Polish legion of the Austrian army was mostly composed of Galician Poles, who were liable to ser vice in that army. Only later was the full meaning of this brought home to me-
 On October 4th the main forces of the Austrian army, the First, Third and Fourth armies, began the forward movement; on the 5th they crossed the Wisloka. CThe combined advance was now on front of more than 200 miles) The Russians offered no serious resist. ance. By the 9th the Austrian forces had reached the river San and forced their way into Przemysl
 RAPID ADVANCE IN POLAND On the 4th of October the Austrian First army and the right wing of the Ninth army were engaged with Rus sian rifle brigades near Klimfntof and Opatoff {near the vistula In Poland), |, and let them off very lightly. The First Austrian army now shifted its center of gravity to Sandomir (on the vistula near the San), whilst the right wing of the Ninth army continued its advance toward the vistula above its confluence with the San.
 The goth A c. reached the region northwest of Kielce, and the 17th A. C.. after a slight engagement reached Radon (25 miles from the crossing of the vistula) and concentrated there. General Frommel's corps had reached the Tomaszof- Koliuszki CPS miles south east of Lodz) station line, and the Eighth cavalry division was somewhere near Rawa (30 miles east of Lodz). Be- tween Kalisz and Thorn our frontier defence troops slowly pushed their way into Poland. We also used them on our line of communications.
 Meanwhile we were receiving con tinuous reports that Siberian army corps were being detrained at Warsaw and that strong forces were pushing along the right bank of the Vistuia north of its junction with the San.
 We had an impression that great enemy preparations were in prepara- tion against the Ninth army This con firmed me in my view of our own plans. We had to win and hold the Vistula line, while the Austrian army obtained a definite decision by attacking and defeating the Russians on the San.
 HOPED TO CAPTURE WARSAW
 In particular, our first task was to reach the prnspective crossing piaces between the confluence of the San and Ivangorod, and to isolate and, if luck were with us, seize the bridgehead on the near side of the fortress. Then we were to watch the line of the Vis- tula between Ivangorod and Warsaw Finally. we had to strike a blow at the Siberian army corps assembling south of Warsaw and, in so doing. invest, and if possible capture, the fortress.
 The Ninth army alone was too weak to carry out these numerous tasks. The Austrian First army would have to be called on too, and he brought up con siderably further north.
 The Ninth army was now deflected sharply northward. The 17th A (. under General von Mackensen. received
  Frommers group was put under his orders.
 The 2oth A C.. was to watch Ivan- gorod and prevent any crossing Of the vistula north eof the fortress Ihe Guard R. C. received similar instruc- tions with regard to the crossings of the Vistula south of the fortress up to Novo A1exandria inclusive The Landwehr corps was~to hold the Vistula line south of this point.
 AUSTRLANS LEND CAVALRY
 The 11th A. C. was incorporated in the Austrian First army in order to stltfen it. It was to hold the Vistula line south to Annopol and attempt cross ing itself if and when the San had been crossed further south. General won Conrad placed two cavalry divisions at our disposal, of which the Third was placed under the command of the goth A. C. for observation work on the Vls- tula. and the 7th attache1 10 GeneIal Frommers corps.
 While these measures were Deing car ried out, severe fighting tcok place at various points.
 The 17th A. c. swerve6 sharply to the left from Radon through Bialobr- shegi, and as early as october en- countered Siberian trops, who were concentrating at and to the east or Grojec After heavy fighting the enemy were thrown back on warsaw General yon Mackensen followed close on their heels, and drew General From mel in on his left flank. Early on the 12th he was close to the south side of the fortress.
 a-wdnoDgbsamcto o-olxsdingiaFific
 One brigate of the 20th A. c. engaged the enemy near Kosjienice. north or Ivangorod. where he had crossed wltn weak forces It was not successful III driving him back .
 The Guard R. c. attacked hostile forces which had effected crossing near Noyo Alexandria, and threw him hack over the Vistula after very severe fighting, iA which the Landwehr corps took part. - Further to the south the Russians had not crossed the Vistula.
 Our headquarters were at Radom. FINDS PLANS OF GRAND DUkE
 On the battlefield of the 9th an order was found on the body of dead or wounded Russian officer which gave " ;rformation of the greatest fm- portance.
 The army order gave us clear pie t,,ra of the enemy's intentions. Tne Grand Dukes plan of operations was conceived on a grand scale, exceedihsly dangerous from our point Of view.
 Tar more than thirty Russian corps fover 1,2OOO.QOO men). denseiy massed to the right. were to sweep over 'he ytxtuIa between Warsaw and the con fuucnce of the San. which was itseh ', h. crossed further south by other sorce.. Five divisions of Mackensen's ,-roun had to deal unaided with Tour teen hostile divisions.
 PREPARES FOR A REIKEAI