The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-18

UPON the SlaS6 VI StttL wei NAiSS
more for the last time, but the fatal
time for Russia-stalks the figure of
Ronnenkampff, the arch traitor. Hav-
communication line of the Russian arm
les in the Vistula bend. The troops
from Hohencalza $4,000 mem, Gnesen
10000 mem and Wreschen 10000 mem,
were to come by shorter marches until
thew formed a line front of about %
miles facing south on Bodz and on the
flank of the Russians The other two
German forces $4,000 mem were then to
press east almost at right angles to this
line and close to the trap)
From the Iandstrum of the Breslau
corps little was to be expected, and the
same applied to the attached Austrian
cavalry division. Other forces were at
the time not yet in position. An often
sive further south was not yet to be
thought Of The idea of such move
ment by General Won Woyrsch alone,
who had already felt strong Russian
pressure, could not be considered for
moment.
FACED LARGE RUSSIAN FORCES
In the bend of the Vistula, Wloclawec
go miles southeast of Thorn on the Vis-
tula) was in the hands of the Russians,
otherwise the position as far as the river
Warta Gao miles southwest was some-
what obscure Here was the first Rus
sian army, part of which still extended
to the right bank of the Yistula 1t was
composed of from 10 to IA divisions Q5oOO0
to 100000 men, We might certainly rely
on there being from eight to 10 divisions
between the Vistula and the Warta.
Immediately north of the Warta, strong
Russian cavalry forces were pushing to-
ward the frontier The bulk of the Rus
sian army was in line from the Warta'
north of Sieradz, through Novo Radomsk
40 miles from the German frontier) TO
the region northeast of Cracow Other
portions had arrived in Calicia on the
river Dunajec and were pushing far INTO
the Carpathians
The hostile advance movements had
come to a standstili, for the destruction
of the railways (in the German retreaO
had produced the intended effect but
there were now signs that a resumption or
their forward movement was to be eX-
pected.
General Won Mackensen began opera
lions without delay on November II. We
could only agree with him. The russians
were taken completely by surprise, but
even in the early days of our advance
there was very heavy fighting. extremely
extensive to both sides, near Wloclawc
Kutno and Dombe. The enemy were
tbeaten everywhere.
SOREL W PRESSED ON FLANK
While the main body of the Ninth army
pushed forward increasingly on the LODI
Kiliuszki station line. General Won Nor
gen covered their flank north OF Lowlcz
with the First r. c. He was sorely
pressed AT first he had to reply for pro-
lection on his own vigorous attacks, and
then he had to meet an attack from
Russian corps which had crossed from
Noyo Georgievsk to the left bank of the
Vistula Thanks to the subsidiary opera
| ton near Mlawa (the cavalry feint to the
| east of the Vistula) this movement pro-
| ceeded but slowly.
\ The center of the Ninth army, Won
| Richthofen's Cavalry corps. the Third
| guard division and the Twenty-fifth Re-
serve corps finally broke the resistance Of
| fered them The army crossed the Lowicz-
| I.odz line and pushed far to the south by
| Brsheshiny az miles east of Lodz, These
| troops were now well in the rear of large
Russian forces). their attention fixed on
| the south and west, and they strove 10Y
| a great success. An order from the Ninth
army, of which ] also knew. to fortiey a
lnosition near Sllerniwice GO miles north
| ~ east of I,odz) did not reach them
Army headquarters was not far enough
| forward
The Twentieth, Seventeenth and Ninth
A. G.. who had closed up considerably
met a strong, hostile force north of LODI
| on the nth and grappled with it. From
mers Cav corps and the Posen corps ad-
vanced but slowly on the east bank Of
the Warta.
! An intercepted wireless revealed to us
that the Russians thought of retreatinf
| from LODI. Our satisfaction was great
But the strong will of the Grand Duke
held his forces where they were, as We
Learned from a further wireless. and in
tense was our disappointment
| RUSSIAN RELIEF is TARDY
The Russian troops on the RICH
bank of the Vistula. with the exception
of certain units which were to remain
near Mlawa. were ordered to cross thu
yistula. Il was a good thing that thii
operation was effected some what slow
": otherwise General Won Morgeni
position would have been made stil
more difficult. (These were Rennen
kamprs CossaclSs and other forces)
The defeated Russian forces retreat
ling through Skikerniewfce to WARSAW
were concentrated due west of the for
tress, from which they We're to re
lsums their advance.
The Russian right wing concentrate
round Dodz Reinforcemenis from tn
front of the Second and Fifth Russial
armies which were not yet involved
pushed north on Koluszki Us mile
least of +lSOQZ) ana west lol lIoul- 11cT
they took the 18th army by surpris
and pressed them sorely.
The reinforced 25th r. G., under it
trusty leader, General Won Sehaffer
tBoyadel, Chief of staff Colonel Won Mas
s SOW. had pushed forward far througl
Bresiny by the 22nd. Portions of vo
Il Richthofen's cavalry corps had neare
Petrokof and Tomassov TO miles south
least of Lodz). The infantry division
| southeast Of LODI swung round west
4 great things were expected, Then tn
situation changed.
The 25th r. c. lost touch with tn
l20th A. C. The enemy near LODI wa
not thrown back. but on the othe
hand. pressed back the goth A. c.. an
pushed their way in between the inne
wings of the two corps, The Russia
forces that had been rallied west G
Warsaw pushed forward without oppo
sition from Skierniewice to Bresn,
The 25th n. c. and the units with
were cut off. being attacked from th
south BY the portions of the Fifth fus