Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-10-20


which gave us information of the
greatest Importance.
The army order gave us a clear
picture of the enemy's intentions.
The grand dukes plan of operations
was conceived on a grand scale, eX-
ceedngly dangerous from our point of
view.
Far more than thirty Russian corps
lover 100000 men). densely massed
to the right, were to sweep over the
Vistula between Warsaw and the cor
fluence of the San. which was itself
to be crossed further south by other
forces. Five divisions of Macken-
sens group had to deal unaided with
fourteen hostile divisions,
The grand duke projected strong
encircling movement from the north
against the 9Th army. combined with
a simultaneous frontal attack against
it and the Austrian armies, while he
held the heights east of Przemysl with
his left wing To carry out this oper
alton the grand duke drew on part OF
Rennenkampf's army also.
If this plan succeeded the victory
of Russia, on which the entente had
counted in their strate2ical calcula-
tons. was assured.
| had not yet given uD hope that
the Austrian army would beat the
Russians east of Przemysl and cross
the San. Yet the forces holding the
line north of the confluence OF the
San needed some. though not neces-
sarily, large achievements, and fur
Their concentration towards Warsaw
and Ivangorod was imperative.
At the same time the Landsturm
Of the 55th, nth and 18th army corps,
which had marched into northwest
Poland, were brought forward to the
lower Bzura
Prepares For n Retreat.
The communication N our rear
were subjected to a special eXamina-
ton, for a retreat might only too
easily be necessary. Preparations
were made for the destruction of the
railways, among other things. by
placing i'm readiness an Immense
amount of explosives.
While from october Is General Won
Mackensen was defending himself
south of Warsaw against strong enc
my attacks; the Russians attempted
again and again to cross the Vistula
further south. 1t was found neces-
sary to push forward the 37th infan-
try division of the Goth army corps to
Kalvaria.
This division prevented the river
from being crossed at this point but
the enemy corps. which had man
aged to place some of its units on
the left bank, came out of the en-
gagement without serious losses The
division remained in that neighbor-
hood and. was also placed under Cen
eral Won Mackensen's command.
The 41st infantry division and the
Austrian Bird cavalry division were
posted at the mouth of the Pilica and
southwards to Kosienice (S5 and 50
miles southeast of Warsaw).
The Guard reserve corps had taken
over the Investment of Ivangorod (65
miles southeast of Warsaw. This
corps attempted to throw back the
enemy forces which We're still on the
left bank of the Nistula. near Kos
jenice, and in this task received as
sistance from a brigade of the llth
army corps, which had been placed
at its disposal by the army command
Slecplcss Night of Horror.
I shall never forget the battle neal
Kospenice. What actually happened
was that four brigades were taken
into the narrow bend of the Vistula
which had become a swamp, owing tC
heavy rains. The brigade in front OF
Ivangorod had been thrown back by .
strong Russian sortie | was afraid
that the Russian attack might strike
into the flank of those four brigades
which We're very cramped in then
defence, as they had no room to ma
neuvre.
| did not sleep wink that night
The next morning the position before
| Ivangorod did not appear so danger
Gus. AS the Russians attacked, thu
| fighting in the marshes near Kos
jenice continued. All the troops wht
participated in these engagement
look back on them with horror.
| In consequence of the northerl
march of the Guard reserve corps, tn
Landwehr corps had taken over thu
duty of watching the crossing nea
Novo Alexandria.
| While the battle at Kosjenice wa
in full swing l received an airplan'
report that strong enemy forces hat
| crossed the Nistula south of Ivan
gorod also. If this were the fact or
position would have been eXceedingl,
serious. The army command had NJ
reserves of any kind at its disposal
everything had been thrown in. |
was lucky for us that this repor
proved false. The aviator had wrong
lly identified the battlefield near Kos
jenice as lying south of Ivangorod.
Nothing particular was reporte'
from the Landwehr corps. The Rus
slams had been prevented from throw
ing a bridge across the river at Kasi
mierz, south of Novo Alexandria, ant
higher up the enemy was awaiting
events.
| Our plan of securing the line of tn
Vistula had succeeded. but WARSAW
and Ivangorod still remained in TIL
hands of the enemy, and he had eff
fected crossing, though q bad one
\ at Kosjenice, north of Ivangorod.
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