nst the immensely important industrial center of Silesia. At
the same time, they intended to press as hard as possible their attacks
in East Prussia and Galicia in order to force a weakening of the German
center.

CHAPTER LXXIX

WINTER BATTLES OF THE POLISH CAMPAIGN

During November and December, 1914, and January, 1915, much of the
fighting which took place on this immense front consisted of engagements
between comparatively small formations, and is very difficult to follow
in detail. For convenience we shall consider first the fighting in
Poland, and then separately that in East Prussia, although, of course,
they were carried on concurrently.

On November 10, 1914, the Germans had reached Komn on the Warta, where
it met a small Russian force, of which it captured 500 men and machine
guns. Two days later, November 12, the Russians crossed the Warta, and
their advance troops, chiefly cavalry, had almost reached Kalish on the
East Prussian border. On that day, however, they were forced back again
a short distance. Similar engagements took place at various points along
the entire line, chiefly for the purpose of testing their respective
strength.

November 14, 1914, however, saw the first more extensive fighting. Von
Mackensen's group had reached by that time Wloclawek on the western bank
of the Vistula and slightly east of the Thorn-Lowitz railroad, about
thirty miles from Thorn. One of the Russian army corps of General
Russky's group made a determined stand. However, it was forced to fall
back and lost 1,500 prisoners and some ten machine guns. The Germans
followed up this gain by pressing with all their power against the
right wing of the Russian center army. For two or three days the battle
raged along a front running from Wloclawek south to Kutno, a distance of
about thirty miles. Both of these country towns are situated on the
strategically very important railroad from Thorn to Warsaw by way of
Lowitz. The Russians had two or three army corps in this sector,
including the one that had been forced back from Wloclawek. The Germans
undoubtedly were in superior force at this particular point, and were
therefore able to press their attack to great advantage. The final
result was a falling back of the entire Russian right to the Bzura River
after both sides had lost thousands in killed and wounded, and the
Russians were obliged to leave over 20,000 men, 70 machine guns, and
some larger guns in the hands of t