The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-22

be open. They would then have to re-
treat with all possible speed.
If the Niefnan army and the 10th
army could receive even small rein
forcements at the right moment and be
supplied with sufficient transport, it
was to be hoped that they could fall
on the northern flank of the retreating
host, via Wilma, with such force that
the summer campaign of 1915 would
end in decisive defeat of the Russian
armies. The harder we pressed our
advance from East Galicia into the
area east of the Bug, the more likely
were we to achieve this success.
KAISER REPEATS HIS PLANS
The attack on kovno was facilitated
by the fact that our line had been so
far advanced that it was possible to
bring our heaviest artillery into posi-
ton.
The preparations for the operations
against kovnO were just about to be
begun when His Majesty commanded
| me and the Field-MarshaI to GO to
POscn for July 1. Here, at the sugges-
ton of the chief Of the general staff,
and after having heard the Field
harshal's proposals, the Kaiser de-
| cided that the Polish offensive should
be continued, and, in particular, that
the 18th army should break through
the enemy line facing them, and push
on 10 the Narew, while the 9th army
and General Won WOyrsch should ad-
vance toward the Vistula.
| The allied armies were also to con-
tinue the advance between the Bug
and the Vistula.
| Our general staff believed that in
| these operations part of the Russian
| forces still in the bend of the Vistula
could be annihilated. ] had to keep
my views to myself and hope that the
| al 11.@ ,-,~; aG
out when General Won Gallwitz hat
reached the Narew, and found that he
| also could only make progress b.
\ means of frontal attacks. l though
that even then there would still b,
time to put it into execution.
The advance of our line in Lithu
ania and Courland by the troops al
ready there might serve as favorable
introduction to the operation. But We
had to abandon any idea of getting the
reinforcements hitherto earmarked fol
Courland. and taking Kovno.
HEAVY FORCE CONCENTRATED
In accordance with the instruction.
from general headquarters, prepare
tions for the crossing of the Narev
were now begun on an extensive scale
Not only the 18th army, but the RICH
wing of the Sth army also were go
into position, so that the 18th arm.
and the Schkwa with Pultusk Roshal
as their objective, and the Sth arm,
| should reach the river between tn
Schkwa and the mouth of the PISA.
| General Won Gallwitz decided t
make his opening move on either sid
| of Pransnysz (sixty miles north of War
saw. In preparation for the attacl
We had concentrated, especially in tn
area of the 18th army, what was the
for the eastern front very larg
amount of heavy artillery. Luden
dorff's description of the forces in
volved shows Gallwitz had upward Q
800, 900 men for this drive.)
Both armies began the attack 0
July 10. Thanks to the careful organi
cation by the army headquarters stat
and the excellent spirit of the troop
lit was entirely successful.
General Won Gallwitz's division
gained ground, got right into the er
emy's system of defenses, and cor
tinued to press forward. On the 1871
after heavy fighting, strong treal
guard position was stormed, and
the 18th the Narew had been reache
while the right wing had arrived nortf
west of Novo Georgievsk. (The lir
, was now from 25 to 35 miles mort
of Warsaw, an advance of about
! miles in two days.)
SAW THE BATTLE BEGIN
The Field Marshal and I were pre-!
ent with the 18th army at the bait
! | Of the 18th and 14th; we were mo-
favorably impressed by both leade
and troops. The 18th army, like tt
18th army in West Galicia, had game
a great deal of ground in the fir
attack.
On the Narew. as has been the cal
| on the San, pause in the operation
was secured. (The Germans were no