. There were at Rawa-Russka large railroad works, roundhouses,
sidings, and storage yards.

As the big battle began to develop on September 8, 1914, it was seen
that Rawa-Russka was the place where it probably would be decided and
the best efforts of both sides were exerted there. The defenses on the
point of the angle of the Austrian line, just behind which was the
town, were in extent no longer than six, or at most eight, miles.
Nevertheless, during eight days, there were as many as 250,000 or
300,000 men engaged here in night and day fighting.

After the first two days, the Russians concentrated their attack on the
very apex of the Austrian angle, atop the bluffs at the edge of the
ten-acre battle field. During eight days, the Russians stormed this
point repeatedly. In a single mile the Austrians made no less than eight
distinct stands.

Some points before being evacuated were taken and surrendered several
times, and then retreat was only for a short distance, followed by just
as determined resistance. The courage and determination of both armies
was equally admirable.

One position held by Austrians for hours was in a stubble field. It was
necessary to hold this point while a better position was being dug a few
hundred yards behind in a slight dip in the ground. The rain of shrapnel
was so heavy about this place that later it was not possible to pick up
a handful of dirt from it without finding therein pieces of lead. For a
mile across the field where the Austrians had lain, bloody bandages and
pieces of equipment were strewn thickly.

Behind this line, two or three hundred yards, was another line just
beyond a small ground swell, where the Austrians placed themselves in
fairly deep trenches. The Russians took this trench, but being unable to
advance farther, dug themselves in on their side. The next day they were
driven out by the Austrians. Afterward the trench presented the strange
appearance of a ridge of earth with a trench on each side--with Austrian
relics on one side and Russian relics on the other.

Day by day the Russians drove the Austrians back farther, until at last,
the Austrians were holding a deep trench on the slope of the crest of
the last ridge of hills defending the town itself. Immediately over the
ridge the Austrian batteries were concentrated. The last trench was not
more than four hundred yards in front of the Russian guns.

Nevertheless, the Russians were unable to make any advance ag