The Story of the Great War, Volume V (of 12): Neuve Chapelle, Battle of Ypres, Przemysl, Mazurian Lakes
History
The Story of the Great War, Volume V (of 12): Neuve Chapelle, Battle of Ypres, Przemysl, Mazurian Lakes
World War, 1914-1918
During the night of May 6-7, 1915, the Austrians sent two regiments
across the Wisloka, north and south of Brzoctek, about midway between
Pilzno and Jaslo, under cover of artillery posted on a 400-foot hill
near Przeczyca on the opposite bank, _i.e._, the left. Austrian
engineers constructed a bridge across the river, and on the morning
of May 7 the Austrian advance guard were in possession of the hills
north of the town. Infantry were then thrown across to storm Brzostek.
Here, again, they met with resolute opposition from the Russian
rear guards covering the retreat of the main armies, which had
already fallen back from the Wisloka. Desperate bayonet fighting
ensued in the streets, each of which had to be cleared separately
to dislodge the Russians--the civilians meanwhile looking out of
their windows watching the animated scenes below. Hungarian troops
in overwhelming masses poured across the river and finally captured
the town. Once more on the backward move, the Russians established
themselves along the western and southern fringe of the forests by
Januszkovice, only eight miles away, and prepared to make another
stand. More fighting occurred here, and during May 7 and 8, 1915,
the Russians fell back farther toward Frysztak, on the river Wistok.
We left Von Emmich and General Martiny with the Bavarians and the
Tenth Austro-Hungarian Army Corps on their arrival at Krempna on
the night of the 4th, during which time the Russians were making
desperate efforts to evacuate northern Hungary and the western
passes. The main forces of Von Mackensen's "phalanx" were meanwhile
pushing on toward Jaslo, still in Russian possession. On the hills
west of the Wisloka the Russian rear guards had intrenched themselves
and held their positions till nightfall on May 5, 1915, all with
the object of delaying the Germanic advance sufficiently for their
comrades to clear the passes. Then they fell back again and made
a stand near Tarnoviec, about six or seven miles east of Jaslo,
where they dominated an important strategic position. Between them
and Jaslo two railways ran along the valley of the River Jasliska,
forming a serious obstacle to Von Mackensen's advance so long as
the Russians could hold it. It was imperative that they should be
cleared out, but the task of carrying it through was a difficult
one. The undertaking fell to the Hungarian troops of the Thirty-ninth
Honved Division, who advanced to the attack again and again only to
be driven back each time by the Russian fire from the heights. Big
howitzers were called into play and soon demolished the positions.
The Russians retired east of the Wistok, followed by Von Mackensen's
Austro-Hungarian corps, while the Prussian Guards moved on toward
Frysztak, where the Russian troops from the Tarnow sector had taken
up positions after the retreat from Brzostek.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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