ldings along the roads on which
they approached, according to the German report, inflicting heavy
damage on fifteen villages. A considerable number of the inhabitants,
including women and children, were removed to Russia, and a number
of civilians were killed. The troops entered the city on the evening
of March 18 and took the mayor and three other men of the town as
hostages. Apparently the Russian commander made some efforts to
restrain his men, but plundering of stores and dwellings nevertheless
occurred. On the 20th of March, 1915, the city was for a time cleared
of Russian troops, but on Sunday, the 21st, other soldiers entered
the town from the north. These were met by German patrols, which
were followed by stronger German forces that had come up from the
south to drive back the invaders. Street fighting followed, and
the Russians were finally thrown out, losing about 150 dead.

The Russians were pursued on March 22 and 23, 1915, and in passing
through Polangen, close to the shore of the Baltic, came under the
fire of German cruisers. They lost some 500 prisoners, 3 guns, 3
machine guns, and ammunition wagons. With the German troops which
cleared the Russians out of Memel was the son of the emperor, Prince
Joachim of Prussia.

Concerning this raid the following official announcement was made
by the Germans on March 18, 1915: "Russian militia troops have
gained a cheap success in the northernmost corner of East Prussia
in the direction of Memel. They have plundered and burned villages
and farms. As a penalty, we have ordered the cities occupied by
us in Russian territory to pay considerable sums in damages. For
every village or farm burned down by these hordes on German soil
three villages or farms of the territory occupied by us in Russia
will be given over to the flames. Each act of damage in Memel will
be answered by the burning of Russian Government buildings in Suwalki
and other capitals of governments."

To this the following Russian official reply was made on March 21,
1915: "The official communique of the German Great Headquarters
of the 18th of March concerning the movement of Russian troops
against Memel contains a threat of reprisals to be exacted on Russian
villages and cities held by the enemy on account of the losses
which might be suffered by the population in the neighborhood of
Memel. The Russian General Staff gives public notice that Memel
was openly defended by hostile troops, and that battle