the small but strong fortress.

The suffering on both sides during this period was very great. Keeping
continuously moving, fighting day and night under conditions the natural
difficulties of which had been increased still more by unending
rainstorms, resulting in long delays for food and other supplies,
Russians as well as Germans displayed wonderful energy and perseverance.
And in spite of these difficulties, in spite of roads ankle deep in mud,
the Germans advanced and the Russians re-formed their forces.

On October 2, 1914, the Russian advance started from Grodno as a base.
The Third Siberian and parts of the Twenty-second Finnish Army Corps,
forming the left wing, met the enemy at Augustovo. For two days the
battle lasted, and though it involved only comparatively small numbers
it was one of the most sanguinary engagements of this period. Both sides
lost thousands of men and large quantities of war equipment. The Germans
having received reenforcements, attempted a flanking movement against
the right wing, undoubtedly with the intention of attacking the Russians
from the rear. They succeeded in getting a small force around the
Russian right, which, however, had to be withdrawn very soon. For the
balance of October the fighting raged along the entire front from the
Niemen in the north to Lomsha in the south, a distance of about 150
miles. Neither side was able to gain any decisive advantage, for both
the offensive and the defensive was fought with equal stubbornness. One
day fortune would smile on Russia's masses, only to turn its back
against them during the next twenty-four hours. The lack of success of
the German flanking movement around the Russian right brought to the
latter greater freedom of movement. It advanced toward Wirballen with
the object of gaining the road to Eydtkuhnen and Stallupoehnen, which
would enable them to strike once more for the important junction at
Insterburg. This attempt resulted in another minor but very sanguinary
engagement north of Vysztyt Lake. Again no decision had been reached,
though the Russians were getting closer and closer to East Prussia. A
Russian attempt to outflank the German left at Schirwindt, a few miles
north of Eydtkuhnen and right across the line in East Prussia, was not
any more successful than the previous German attempt, and weakened the
Russian right, just as a similar failure on the other side had weakened
the German left. Again honors, hardships, and losses