Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1914 — RUSSIANS BEGIN FIGHT AT CRACOW; IN GERMANY NEXT [ARTICLE]

RUSSIANS BEGIN FIGHT AT CRACOW; IN GERMANY NEXT

Battle Is on Around Outer Forts of City. MILLION MEN IN NEW ARMY 3,000,000 of Czar's Troop* Are Ready to Invade Germany—Fighting Continue* Along th* Niemen River. London, Oct. 2.—The battle of Cracow I* on. The Russians In force have arrived before the city, and the fighting around the outer forts is begun in earnest. The prospect is for the most subbomly fought conflict of all the campaign in Austria. Russian Advance Rapid.

Since the investment and partial occupation of Przemysl by Russian forces the advance of General Rouzky’s men along the Cracow line has been astonishingly rapid. Cracow Is the last important frontier stronghold of the Austrians. Its fall would be an Austrian disaster of thjs first magnitude, its defense will be, accordingly, desperate. In the fighting there during the day the Austrians and Germans are reported to have taken the initiative, attacking the Russian army In the field with great dash and spirit. It is believed that the battle cannot approach a crisis for several days, for it will take time for the Russian commander to select and bo cupy his positions around the city. This is the seventh day of the battle of the River Niemen, the German* striving along a 100-mile fighting line to cross the river. They have not succeeded, according to an official report made by Grand Duke Nicholas, commander of all the Russian armies. The fortress of Ossowec also still stands, It is announced, In spite of constant German bombardment. Rain Causes Discomfort.

The ground west of the Niemen, where most of the fighting is In progress, Is reported to be practically one vast swamp extending to the German frontier. The discomfort of the troops has been increased in the last two days by constant heavy rain. In spite of this the fighting is said to have been exceptionally sanguinary and one unofficial Petrograd message says two entire German divisions have been destroyed. 3,000,000 Russ to Invade Germany. London,, Oct. 2.—According to dispatches received within a week a new Russian army, 1,000,000 strong will join the present armies in Poland and Galicia for “Russia’s principal attack on Germany.” When this army is mobilized it will mean a force of 3,000,000 men to invade Germany. Three great armies are now operat Ing against the Germans and Austrians in addition to two minor forces, which constitute the extreme north and south of the long battle line. General Rennenkampff, with 1,000,000 men, is repelling the Germans’ attempted invasion north of Poland into Grodno and Vilna.

Heading southwest from Warsaw, a new army of equal size composed of fresh trops Jr pushing In the direction of Breslau, with its left wing in a position to co-operate with the third big army of nearly 1,500,000 which is pursuing the Austrians westward toward Cracow.

The Germans are concentrating in the region north of Breslau a force larger than that dnder Gen Von Hindenburg in the north to meet the advance (of the new Russian army.