The Children's Story of the War Volume 4 (of 10): The Story of the Year 1915Parrott, Edward
History
The Children's Story of the War Volume 4 (of 10): The Story of the Year 1915
Parrott, Edward
World War, 1914-1918 -- Juvenile literature
Mr. Stanley Washburn, a correspondent with the Russian army, tells us
that the place was greatly over-garrisoned by patient, haggard soldiers
starving in the trenches and sleek faultlessly-dressed officers living
on the fat of the land in fashionable hotels and restaurants. While the
garrison became thin and half starved, the officers ate three meals a
day, and enjoyed fresh meat, cigars, wines, and every luxury. While
soldiers were falling fainting in the streets, their officers were
leading the life to which they had been accustomed in Vienna during
times of peace.
On the night of 13th March the end began. The Russians pushed through
the outer line of defences and began to bombard the inner forts. Four
days later the Austrians strove for the last time to break out, but the
Russian guns caught them and mowed them down in swathes. The survivors
were driven back with heavy loss, and 4,000 prisoners remained in
Russian hands. Early on the morning of the 22nd the besiegers were
awakened by the noise of loud explosions. The Austrians were blowing up
the forts before surrendering the city. We are told that the burning
forts smoked like a circle of volcanoes. Soon a white flag was seen
fluttering above the highest building in the town. Przemysl was ready to
surrender. Meanwhile the officers were shooting their chargers, to
prevent them from falling into the hands of the Russians, and the
soldiers, crazy with hunger, were greedily devouring the raw flesh. Tons
of explosives were sunk in the river, guns and rifles were destroyed,
and bridges were blown up.
About nine o'clock a letter reached the Russian headquarters from the
Austrian general saying that hunger had forced him to yield the
fortress. A few Russian officers entered and received the surrender; but
there was no triumphal parade such as had been witnessed when the
Germans entered Antwerp.
"Civilians inform me," wrote Mr. Washburn, "that they gladly
welcome the Russians, and that the first troops who entered were
greeted with cheers, while the garrison was frankly pleased that
the siege was over and their troubles at an end. I have seen on
the road and in the town tens of thousands of prisoners, and I
believe the Austrians, especially the Hungarians, are
first-class raw material, but that now they are utterly broken
and helpless." (This he considered to be due to their wretched
officers, who, if those seen in Przemysl were fair samples,
appeared to be the most selfish and incompetent in Europe.) "I
have never witnessed a more unpleasant sight than that of the
dapper, overdressed Austrian officers laughing and chatting
gaily as they were driven in carriages to the railway station
for departure, passing through columns of their own men, pale
and haggard from hardships which apparently had not been shared
in any particular by their officers."
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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