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Show SUCCESS DP THE MISER'S COUP IQWHTTEO Russians Who Invaded East Prussia Unaware of the Changs in German Plans Until Damage Is Done. TENTH ARMY CORPS IS ANNIHILATED Over 100,000 Men Killed or Captured in the Rout in Mazurian Lake District; Lose 150 Cannon. BERLIN, Feb. 22, via London, 3:30 p. m. The German official statement issued today announces that the captures in the battle of the Mazurian lakes district of East Prussia have been increased to seven sev-en generals and more than 100,000 men. The pieces of cannon taken numbered 150. The statement continues: "Cannon of a heavy caliber and ammunition frequently are buried "by the enemy or sunk in the lakes near Loetzen and in 'the Widimer sea. Eight cannon of heavy caliber were dug up or pulled out of the water yesterday. "The Tenth Russian army, under Baron Sievers, is considered as hav- ing been destroyed. "New battles appear to be developing de-veloping at Grodno and to the north of Seichawolas. It is reported that the battles to the northwest of Os-eowetz Os-eowetz and Lomza, as well as those at Przasnysz, are taking their regular regu-lar course." PETPlOGRAD, Feb. 22. Explanation of the Russian retirement from East Prussia is contained in a communication communica-tion given out last night by the general gen-eral staff. Success of the German coup is attributed largely to the lack of strategic railways which prevented the Russians from concentrating, with "necessarv rapidity on our East Prus sian front, forces indispensable to ward off this drive of the enemy." The general staff asserts that the massing of German troops in East Prussia Prus-sia was revealed to the Russians on February 4, but that the magnitude of the concentration did not become known until feveral days later. Because of these conditions'; it is stated, withdrawal of the Tenth Russian army from East Prussia toward the frontier was decided upon. This was followed later by a further retirement toward the Xiemen and the Bobr rivers. New German Plan. The communication follows: The Germans, after a series of exceptionally ex-ceptionally obstinate and -tenacious attacks, which cost them innumerable victim?, became persuaded of the impossibility im-possibility of dislodging us from the left bank of the Vistula and proceed- . ed at the end of January to put a new plan into operation. Having finished the formationjn the interior of their country of several new corps and deciding to continue 1'ie transportation of troops from their west front in order to make a supreme effort against u?, profiting by their network of railroads, the Germans Ger-mans were enabled to launch au overwhelming over-whelming force aeninst our Tenth army, vhih occupied strongly organized organ-ized positions alonsf the Angerapp river and the Mazurian lakes. To aK'ire the pur-cfss of this coup the Germans transported, also, part of their contingents from the fronts on the Rawka. tiie Bzura and the risht hnnk or" the Vistula. This gathering of Germans in Knsi Prussia was re- veale.l to us on February 4, but the i magnitude of the concentration vhs nnr. d-'ter mined until several day a 1 lat-r. I "" t beins; able, through lak of railroad rail-road facilities on the asi frontier, to "'Hrd off this drivp of x'nn enemv. ovir rhipfp deeided to withdraw the ahove-inoiuionf'd ahove-inoiuionf'd army from Knst Prussia to the f ront ier. hik! further retirement toward the emen and the Bobr has followed. In thesf movement? the rUM wine of the Tenth aniiy, pressed bv great numbers 0f the enemv and threatened with being surrounded on the right flank, was compelled to make a very swift turning movement in the direction direc-tion of Kovuo. Flank Exposed.. This" maneuver exposed the flank of the t-orps following which, owing to . this fa-T, found itself (n an extremely dangerous position, and onlv broken and disorganized portions succeeded in escaping from this district. Other corps of the Tenth annv, fish tins continuously and stubborn! v. slowlv retreated in the direction marked out . for them by t heir commanders. Cm taking up these positions the Russian troops bravely repulsed the attacking enemy, inflicting upon him severe losses and overcoming difficulties .caused by the deep snow which covered cov-ered ail roads. The roads being impassable, im-passable, automobiles were not able to run and trains were delayed, frequently fre-quently not reaching their destination. Fought Nine Days. Retreating slowly, step bv step, one corps, forming the left wing of the Tenth army, held the enemy for nine days on lines which are ordinarily u a ersea m tour davs. On February 19 these corps fell back through Augustotvo. retired from the ha t tie at Sphoc a nd assumed the fortified positions indicated for them. At the present moment actions on the German front continue before Ossowetz. on the roads from Lomza to Kdvabano and north of Kadizidlv on the road between Plotsk and Plonsk. In some places the fighting is very stubborn. On the right of the Vistula on the roads from Ploisk. Austrian detachments detach-ments have been relieved by German troops. |