Fall of Osowiec reported The German main headquarters state that, aIthough no definite figures of the booty taken at the fall of Kovno are yet to hand, the number of prisoners is more than 20,000. More than 600 cannon were captured, many of which are modern heavy ones
Another Russian fortress is reported to have fallen into the hands of the Germans. The announcement is made from Berlin that Osowiec, has been occupied by the troops under General von Eichhorn after it had been evacuated by the Russians. There is as yet no confirmation of the event from Petrograd. Osowiec, though it ranked only as a minor fortress has, on three occasions at least, played a distinguished part in checking previous German invasions of Poland. Situated on the Bobr, with Augustowo to the north and Bielsk to the south, it defended the only good passage across the swampy valley of marshes through which the river flows.
THE GERMAN CLAIM.
Berlin, Aug 23. German official report: Marshal von Hindenburg’s Army. The troops under General von Eichhorn are further advancing east and south of Kovno. On the Bobr we occupied the fortress of Osowiec, which was evacuated by the Russians. North and south of Tykocin successful fighting took place. We captured Tykecin, taking 1,200 prisoners, among them 11 officers. Seven machine-guns also fell into our hands.
[The Wireless Press version of the communique gives the number of machine-guns captured as 77. It adds that “desperate Russian counter-attacks east of Bielsk failed, with very considerable losses to the enemy. We advanced south of this town.”]
ARMY GROUP OF MARSHAL VON MACKENSEN. The enemy put up a tenacious resistance between Razna and the Bug. An attack across the Bug above the Pulwa sector is progressing. Before Brest Litowsk the situation is unchanged. On both sides of the Lakes of Switjas and near Piszcza, east of Wlodawa, the enemy was defeated yesterday and driven north-eastwards. Reuter.
The Wireless Press reports the following from Berlin in addition to the above: The Army of Prince Leopold of Bavaria. Accompanied by stubborn fighting this Army group has crossed the Kleszczele-Razna line and is engaged in further favourable attacks. Three thousand and fifty prisoners were taken and 16 machine guns captured.
[Yesterday’s German official report stated that Prince Leopold’s Army group crossed the Kleszczele-Wysoko Litowsk railway on Saturday and captured over 3,000 prisoners and a number of machine guns.]
THE SPOILS OF KOVNO. The following war news, sent from Berlin through German Wireless stations under date August 23, has been received by the Wireless Press: The German main headquarters state that, aIthough no definite figures of the booty taken at the fall of Kovno are yet to hand, the number of prisoners is more than 20,000. More than 600 cannon were captured, many of which are modern heavy ones. Enormous quantities of ammunition and innumerable machine-guns, searchlight apparatus, motor cars, plenty of war materials, and all kinds of provisions, worth millions, were taken. It is evident that the Russians did not expect Kovno’s fall in the near future, and they offered stubborn resistance, even after the fall of the fortress. Hundreds of recruits were left behind in the town, and it is declared that 15,000 unarmed Russian reserves fled at the last moment front this strongest of Russian fortresses. PETROGRAD, Aug 23. Refugees state that 600 guns were concentrated on the first fort captured by the Germans at Kovno. The German batteries formed a great arc of guns, several deep, in the square in front of the shell destroyed facade of the Cathedral. Three Zeppelins and over 30 aeroplanes flew over the fortress dropping bombs. Four regimental colours from Kovno have arrived at Moscow. They were preceded by a military band, and were escorted to the Kremlin, where they were deposited in the arsenal.
STUBBORN RUSSIAN DEFENCE. AMSTERDAM, Aug 23. Austrian official report: East of the Lower Pulwa and from Riasno to the railway leading northwards severe fighting is proceeding. The enemy is most stubbornly defending every inch of ground, but has been repulsed at several points along the front, losing many prisoners.
Our Transylvanian troops especially distinguished themselves in some hot fighting near the villages of Cola and Suchodol, north of Riasno. Our infantry regiment Number 64, in storming an entrenchment defended by Russian Grenadiers, captured seven officers and 900 men and took seven machine-guns.
There is nothing new before Brest-Litowsk. In the sector Vladimir Volynsky we have advanced our entrenchments to near Twryjsk, east of Luboml. The Russians were driven back. In Eastern Galicia all is quiet.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/archive/first-world-war/article4538838.ece
The Tsar takes command
Considering the operations in detail, the situation in the Grodno region on the line of the Niemen gives ground for immediate anxiety.(From our own correspondent, Paris, Sept 7.
President Poincare has received the following telegram from the Tsar, sent off at the moment of the departure of his Majesty for the front: Placing myself today at the head of my gallant Armies, I particularly desire to convey to you, Monsieur le President, my sincerest wishes for the grandeur of France and victory for her glorious Army. Nicholas.
M Poincare replied as follows: I know that, in taking command yourself of your valiant Armies, your Majesty means to pursue energetically, until final victory, the war which has been imposed upon the Allied nations. In the name of France, I send you my warmest wishes.
GERMAN SCHEME OF OPERATIONS.
From our own correspondent, Petrograd, Sept 7. The careful linking-up of Austro-German movements throughout the Eastern theatre of war furnishes a clue to one of the most important objects of the enemy, which is apparently to gain possession of the railway system from Riga to Lemberg in order to cope effectively with the problem of transport, which is hourly growing more acute, and to provide the means to transfer troops to any point on the front of nearly 700 miles. The tentacles of this gigantic combination embrace Dvinsk, Vilna, Lidas, Baranowicz, Luniniec, Sarny, and Rovno, forming a semi-circle along which the enemy would be able to bring up supplies by sea to Riga and establish direct communication with his main internal lines.
The enemy’s strategy and tactics, therefore, are regulated in conformity with this grandiose plan. His operations have resolved themselves into two fundamental movements. One consists of a swing northwards between Grodno and Pinsk - with the former as the axis - intended to clear out the Russians and to capture this segment of railway, while the other, under von Mackensen, consists of a swing southwards on Rovno with a similar object.
Considering the operations in detail, the situation in the Grodno region on the line of the Niemen gives ground for immediate anxiety. The fighting extends from north of Grodno, at Merecz, to Piaski, on the Wolkowyak-Polock railway, and evidently it represents a frontal attack on our retreating troops. It may be assumed that the Russian countor. offensive on the Wilia is temporarily checked. Probably the Germans, taking advantage of the hilly terrain and utilizing their enormous preponderance of machine-guns, have been able to stem the Russian advance with a comparatively small force, and intensively to develop operations in the Grodno region.
Recent arrivals in Petrograd from this theatre of war report severe fighting at Orany and Ejszyszky. The enemy actually succeeded in breaking through to the Lida district, but was promptly hurled back to his former positions.
Instead of proceeding through the marshes east of Kartuzka-Bereza, the enemy swerved southward towards Drohiczyn, and at the same time covered some 17 miles along the Smolensk railway in the direction of Pinsk. This circumstance is, however, viewed with equanimity, as the character of the terrain forbids a wide deployment, and the enemy’s sole openings for activity lie north and south of the Poliesie Forest. It is not Impossible that the enemy may endeavour to convort the marshes into a strong defensive line, but, in any event, the denouement will be enacted, not in the Poliesie, but on the flanks - Riga, Vilna, and Kieff respectively.
As regards the former, the enemy’s activity has been suspended for the moment - perhaps on account of transport difficulties. With reference to the latter, as the Novoe Vremya correspondent points out, thanks to the ability of the Russian commanders to preserve their armies intact and to effect a successful retreat beyond Brest, Mackensen has not dared to march north, and instead the enemy has been obliged to deploy, according to this correspondent’s estimate, some 15 to 18 corps, mostly fresh formations, on the southern front of over 130 miles with the object of pushing back the Russians eastward a far as possible from the Rumanian border.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/archive/first-world-war/article4538830.ece
President Poincare has received the following telegram from the Tsar, sent off at the moment of the departure of his Majesty for the front: Placing myself today at the head of my gallant Armies, I particularly desire to convey to you, Monsieur le President, my sincerest wishes for the grandeur of France and victory for her glorious Army. Nicholas.
M Poincare replied as follows: I know that, in taking command yourself of your valiant Armies, your Majesty means to pursue energetically, until final victory, the war which has been imposed upon the Allied nations. In the name of France, I send you my warmest wishes.
GERMAN SCHEME OF OPERATIONS.
From our own correspondent, Petrograd, Sept 7. The careful linking-up of Austro-German movements throughout the Eastern theatre of war furnishes a clue to one of the most important objects of the enemy, which is apparently to gain possession of the railway system from Riga to Lemberg in order to cope effectively with the problem of transport, which is hourly growing more acute, and to provide the means to transfer troops to any point on the front of nearly 700 miles. The tentacles of this gigantic combination embrace Dvinsk, Vilna, Lidas, Baranowicz, Luniniec, Sarny, and Rovno, forming a semi-circle along which the enemy would be able to bring up supplies by sea to Riga and establish direct communication with his main internal lines.
The enemy’s strategy and tactics, therefore, are regulated in conformity with this grandiose plan. His operations have resolved themselves into two fundamental movements. One consists of a swing northwards between Grodno and Pinsk - with the former as the axis - intended to clear out the Russians and to capture this segment of railway, while the other, under von Mackensen, consists of a swing southwards on Rovno with a similar object.
Considering the operations in detail, the situation in the Grodno region on the line of the Niemen gives ground for immediate anxiety. The fighting extends from north of Grodno, at Merecz, to Piaski, on the Wolkowyak-Polock railway, and evidently it represents a frontal attack on our retreating troops. It may be assumed that the Russian countor. offensive on the Wilia is temporarily checked. Probably the Germans, taking advantage of the hilly terrain and utilizing their enormous preponderance of machine-guns, have been able to stem the Russian advance with a comparatively small force, and intensively to develop operations in the Grodno region.
Recent arrivals in Petrograd from this theatre of war report severe fighting at Orany and Ejszyszky. The enemy actually succeeded in breaking through to the Lida district, but was promptly hurled back to his former positions.
Instead of proceeding through the marshes east of Kartuzka-Bereza, the enemy swerved southward towards Drohiczyn, and at the same time covered some 17 miles along the Smolensk railway in the direction of Pinsk. This circumstance is, however, viewed with equanimity, as the character of the terrain forbids a wide deployment, and the enemy’s sole openings for activity lie north and south of the Poliesie Forest. It is not Impossible that the enemy may endeavour to convort the marshes into a strong defensive line, but, in any event, the denouement will be enacted, not in the Poliesie, but on the flanks - Riga, Vilna, and Kieff respectively.
As regards the former, the enemy’s activity has been suspended for the moment - perhaps on account of transport difficulties. With reference to the latter, as the Novoe Vremya correspondent points out, thanks to the ability of the Russian commanders to preserve their armies intact and to effect a successful retreat beyond Brest, Mackensen has not dared to march north, and instead the enemy has been obliged to deploy, according to this correspondent’s estimate, some 15 to 18 corps, mostly fresh formations, on the southern front of over 130 miles with the object of pushing back the Russians eastward a far as possible from the Rumanian border.
Kovno and after
The removal of the bells from Vilna shows that the Grand Duke is making ready to evacuate places even further east, should such a course prove advisableThe German Headquarters announce the fall of Kovno. The fortress, they state, with all the forts, “far more” than 400 guns, and immense quantities of war material, is in their hands. The place, it is added, was taken by storm “after a most stubborn resistance”. It would be sheer folly to make light of this event, though it has been foreseen as probable by competent critics. Possession of the fortress, into which the Germans have smashed their way with their heavy guns, was material to the security of the Brest-Litowsk line, and its fall will presumably decide the Russian Commander-in-Chief to continue his withdrawal into the interior, while it may gravely increase the difficulties of that movement.
We have no news, rather curiously, about the “further fighting” against Kupinzky of which we heard yesterday, but it is manifest that the situation in this quarter is greatly modified to the Russian disadvantage by the loss of Kovno. The gains claimed by the Germans along the rest of the line are more vaguely described. Their leading divisions are said to be approaching the Bialystok-Bielsk railway, but it is admitted that Prince Leopold of Bavaria has met with determined opposition, and no marked advantage seems to have been obtained by his troops. Von Mackensen, on the other hand, is said to have driven the Russians across the Bug back to the outer positions of Brest-Litowsk. Two more forts before Nowo Georgiewsk have been taken, but the fortress itself continues its splendid defence.
The disappointmnent in Russia at the loss of Kovno will be the keener because our Petrograd message shows that up to yesterday hopes were entertained that it might be relieved. Military men, however, must have been prepared for it, and the nation will doubtless receive it with their usual stoic courage. The removal of the bells from Vilna shows that the Grand Duke is making ready to evacuate places even further east, should such a course prove advisable. The Russians affirm that Von Woyrsh and Prince Leopold have been checked, and such a check may embarrass the German advance further north.
We suggested yesterday a means by which the English people may give their Russian Allies a trifling proof of their friendship and of their good will. But Allies who are suffering the horrors of a German invasion may well demand from us very different proofs that we are not less resolute in the common cause than they. The best way - the only way - to convince friends and foes of our determination and of our faith, is the immediate acceptance of that principle of National Service on which they all rely as the foundation of their armed strength.
We believe that National Service would add immensely to our military resources. It would not only increase the numbers of our trained men, but it would enable the authorities to regulate the flow of recruits as circumstances should from time to time demand. We should get the men, and the right men, and we should get them at the right time. But even if we had less confidence than we have in the military advantages it would bring us, we should nevertheless support it because of the moral effect it would exercise for our friends and upon our enemies. Nobody who has any knowledge of opinion amongst either doubts what that effect would be.
Our Allies have never concealed their views on this subject, nor have our foes. To make insidious appeals to French and Russian feeling upon this subject, to suggest that England is cunningly duping her Allies to fight her battles, while she hangs backs and spares herself, is a favourite manoeuvre of the inspired German Press. The Berlin letter to the Cologne Gazette from which we give extracts today was doubtless written to “improve the occasion” of the Russian retirement. “The others,” it declares, “have bled, while England has supplied the speeches.” France and Russia have “absolutely exhausted their strength,” but England has only bragged of what she is going to do when she really begins. “Every word was bluff with which England promised a really thorough achievement, demanding sacrifices, and fit to compare with the achievements of her Allies.” Then the writer dots the i’s, and shows what is really troubling him by sneering at our Allies for hoping that we shall adopt “National Service,” and for supposing that “England will ever resolve to injure her business by sending her workmen into barracks.”
France and Russia, it may be said, know better than to believe this venomous libel. No doubt. But does any sensible man suppose that arguments of the kind can remain wholly without influence upon peoples who are themselves convinced that National Service is the only effective way in which a State can exert its full military strength? They will not impute to us the foul motives with which the enemy charges us, but they agree with him in their hearts, great though they know that our sacrifices have been, that we shall not have done the ” really thorough achievement ” and made the supreme sacrifice which this war demands, until we raise our Armies as they raise theirs.
We have no news, rather curiously, about the “further fighting” against Kupinzky of which we heard yesterday, but it is manifest that the situation in this quarter is greatly modified to the Russian disadvantage by the loss of Kovno. The gains claimed by the Germans along the rest of the line are more vaguely described. Their leading divisions are said to be approaching the Bialystok-Bielsk railway, but it is admitted that Prince Leopold of Bavaria has met with determined opposition, and no marked advantage seems to have been obtained by his troops. Von Mackensen, on the other hand, is said to have driven the Russians across the Bug back to the outer positions of Brest-Litowsk. Two more forts before Nowo Georgiewsk have been taken, but the fortress itself continues its splendid defence.
The disappointmnent in Russia at the loss of Kovno will be the keener because our Petrograd message shows that up to yesterday hopes were entertained that it might be relieved. Military men, however, must have been prepared for it, and the nation will doubtless receive it with their usual stoic courage. The removal of the bells from Vilna shows that the Grand Duke is making ready to evacuate places even further east, should such a course prove advisable. The Russians affirm that Von Woyrsh and Prince Leopold have been checked, and such a check may embarrass the German advance further north.
We suggested yesterday a means by which the English people may give their Russian Allies a trifling proof of their friendship and of their good will. But Allies who are suffering the horrors of a German invasion may well demand from us very different proofs that we are not less resolute in the common cause than they. The best way - the only way - to convince friends and foes of our determination and of our faith, is the immediate acceptance of that principle of National Service on which they all rely as the foundation of their armed strength.
We believe that National Service would add immensely to our military resources. It would not only increase the numbers of our trained men, but it would enable the authorities to regulate the flow of recruits as circumstances should from time to time demand. We should get the men, and the right men, and we should get them at the right time. But even if we had less confidence than we have in the military advantages it would bring us, we should nevertheless support it because of the moral effect it would exercise for our friends and upon our enemies. Nobody who has any knowledge of opinion amongst either doubts what that effect would be.
Our Allies have never concealed their views on this subject, nor have our foes. To make insidious appeals to French and Russian feeling upon this subject, to suggest that England is cunningly duping her Allies to fight her battles, while she hangs backs and spares herself, is a favourite manoeuvre of the inspired German Press. The Berlin letter to the Cologne Gazette from which we give extracts today was doubtless written to “improve the occasion” of the Russian retirement. “The others,” it declares, “have bled, while England has supplied the speeches.” France and Russia have “absolutely exhausted their strength,” but England has only bragged of what she is going to do when she really begins. “Every word was bluff with which England promised a really thorough achievement, demanding sacrifices, and fit to compare with the achievements of her Allies.” Then the writer dots the i’s, and shows what is really troubling him by sneering at our Allies for hoping that we shall adopt “National Service,” and for supposing that “England will ever resolve to injure her business by sending her workmen into barracks.”
France and Russia, it may be said, know better than to believe this venomous libel. No doubt. But does any sensible man suppose that arguments of the kind can remain wholly without influence upon peoples who are themselves convinced that National Service is the only effective way in which a State can exert its full military strength? They will not impute to us the foul motives with which the enemy charges us, but they agree with him in their hearts, great though they know that our sacrifices have been, that we shall not have done the ” really thorough achievement ” and made the supreme sacrifice which this war demands, until we raise our Armies as they raise theirs.
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