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2 THE VITAL ISSUE
OFFICIAL REPORTS FOR THE WEEK.
Boligrod was repulsed.
captured 3,300 prisoners.
pulsed.
March 20.-In the Carpathians, in the region of Lupkow and Smolnik, there is violent
artillery fighting. A Russian night attack on the heights southwest of
March 21.--French troops made several advances ‘against the German positions at
Reichackerkopf and Hartmannsweilerkopf, but these attacks soon broke
down, and the French sustained heavy losses under the German fire.
March 24.-"Fighting in the Carpathians, from Uzsok to Koneiczna, continues. During
the last two days violent attacks by the Russians were repulsed, and we
March 26.-In the eastern arena Russian attacks to the east and to the southeast of 2 .
Augustowo, near Jednorozek and to the northeast of Przasnysz were re- ”‘
THE EASTERN WAR ZONE.
The incident that caused most comment in the
past week’s doing was the surrender of Przemysl.
The attack on this fortress began on Sept. 3, 1914,
and ended on March 22, 1915 ; the entire time spent
in the lighting was 200 days. As far as can be ascer-
tained the Austrian garrison numbered between 60,-
000 and 80,000 and the number of the Russian be-
siegers about 150,000. Undue importance is perhaps
attached to the surrender of this particular place;
in itself the possession of Przemysl is of no great
advantage to the Russians beyond the release of ‘a
large force, which can now be employed in other di-
rections. Another material point gained in the sur-
render of Przemysl is the lesson which Bonaparte
more than a century ago emphasized, that the value
of fortresses is overestimated. Sebastopol fell in
1855 after 327 days’ siege. Plevna in 1877 after
143 days; Paris surrendered Jan. 28, 1871, after 131
days; Port Arthur surrendered Jan. 2, 1905, after
156 days. Przemsyl was invested by the Russians
in September when they swept along the Lemberg-
Cracow railroad. When the German troops made
their first drive towards Warsaw the fortress was
relieved, only to be besieged again in the early part
of December. The defense speaks of gallantry, de-
votion and a firm determination and the six months
of resistance must excite admiration on all sides.
Russia’s next move apparently is in the direction of
Cracow, which has been their main endeavor from
the very outset.
On March 21 hordes of unorganized Russian
troops overran Memel, a Prussian port on'tlie Bal-
tic. After a short engagement to the south of the
town followed by stubborn lighting in the streets
these Russians were driven back across their fron- ,
tier. Under the protection of Russian troops, a
Russian mob looted the private property of German
citizens and carloads of goods were conveyed
across the frontier. German troops pursued the Rus-
sians and occupied the Russian town'of Krottingen,
across the border from Memel and freed more than
3,0()0 Germans who had been dragged away from
theirhomes by the Russian hordes.
In a further pursuit on March 24 northward of
Memel the Germans captured near Polangen 500
Russians, took three guns and three rapid firers.
Southwest of Tauroggen, Russian attacks were
repulsed, sustaining heavy losses. The Russians
shared a similar fate on March 22 between the
Omulew and Orzyc Rivers where they lost 600 men
and several officers. Their various night attacks
near Jednorozek on different occasions failed like-
wise.
In the Carpathians the Austrians report heavy
lighting from the Uzsok Pass to Konieczna ; violent
attacks of the Russians were repulsed and on March
24 the Austrians took 3,300 Russian prisoners.
North of Czernowitz, in Bukowina, the villages
beyond the Pruth, which served the Russians as a
base of operations, were cleared of the hostile Rus-
sian forces.
The wild reports in the -New York Anglomaniac
press of the Allies’ prowess and success in the Dar-
danelles met with the usual boomerang which plain
facts and truth has inevitably returned to the boast-
ing prevaricators who hurled them.
The real forts at the Dardanelles have suffered
very little damage and comparatively few casual-
ties are reported by the able defenders. However,
the list of battleships, cruisers, destroyers and mine
sweepers sunk or crippled beyond immediate repair
is a glorious tribute to the efficiency of the terrible
Turk under Teuton guidance. Several attempts on
the part of the Allies‘ to land troops on the Gallipoli
Peninsula have been frustrated, causing heavy
losses to the French invaders who are generally
sent in advance of the English.
THE WESTERN THEATER OF WAR.
The blockade is still in force and the German sub-
marines are still active and although Germany has
lost a few vessels, yet her battleship line is still in-
tact, While the'British have lost seven or -eight,
namely the Audacious, the Bulwark, the ‘Formid-
able, the Irresistible, the Ocean, the Benbow and the '
Collingwood. The total loss in tonnage of the Eng- ,
lish vessels is over 225,000. Since the outbreak of
the war the French lost their first large vessel, the
Bouvet, a battleship of 12,007 tons.‘ Besides this
several of their warships were severely‘damaged
and two submarines, the Cane and the Taphir, were
sunk oil‘ Kum-Kale. ’ ’
,N0th"1g of importance has been heard lately
either of naval engagement or of battles on land-
On the. road between Wytschalte and Ypres, near
St. -Eloi, German soldiers captured from the Brit-
151.1 a group of houses-on the south slope of the
Lorette heights. .
Southeast of Ypres a British aeroplane was shot
d0gV$n=:n<I1)r’tgig::r asviators takendprisonersch
. . es is re orte in the am a 6
district by the Germans ipiorth of Beausejour, iivhgexie
they flestroyed several French trenches and took
300 prisoners.
In Alsace the French are still unsuccessfully fight‘
ing for th ' -
Hartmamigi-“I;g?1Szeel-Si(s(i)t;3)rfi. of Reich Ackerkopf an
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