OCR Text |
Show MINIMIZE LOSS OF ENTIRE ARMY CORPS IN BATTLE PETROGRAD. Feb. 22, via London. 2:53 p. m. commenting on the statement from the Russian general staff the Bourze, Gazette says: "According to opinion of militarv authorities au-thorities the loss of an armv corps as reported re-ported from Grand Duke Nicholas should not bo considered a catastrophe. This corps, with its flank exposed, had to take on itself all the blows of an overwhelming overwhelm-ing enemy. "On account of the extreme rapidity of the enemy's advance, this corps was unable un-able to effect a counter maneuver, such as would have enabled it to take up a new and better position. "With the regular formation of the front destroyed, the conflicts took on the character of separate blows." The occupation by the Germans of Russian Rus-sian positions in northern Poland is not considered by the authorities as of importance im-portance from a strategical point of view. "Grand Duke Nicholas lifts the curtain frankly and truthfully, as he has done on previous occasions when success has not been won," ears the. Rech. "The enemy's forces were so great that the Tenth army could not withstand them. The position of our forces became difficult on account of the lack of ra Hroads and the presence of deep snow, which prevented the arrival of reinforcements. We had either to accept ac-cept a battle which would have entailed great losses of men without profit to ourselves our-selves nr retreat to a position in which we could hope to meet the enemy successfully. suc-cessfully. "Common sense dictated the latter course. When the Germans observed our determination they threw themselves on our riht flank, hoping to destroy our entire en-tire army. The rapid retreat toward Kovno laid opi one of our army corps, which wa s farthest to the left. With, courage and stubbornness this glorious corps fought an enemy which outnum--bered it many times. All honor and glory to those heroic men who sacrificed themselves them-selves to save others." |