an advance toward Bartfeld and Hammona, on the south slope of
the Carpathians in Hungary, indicated an attempt to push forward a
turning force around the south flank of the Austrian position, as it
stood at that time. The damage caused by this raiding expedition was
calculated to force the Austrians to meet it and so divert them from the
main fighting line at Cracow. Evidence of this shift was shown in a
reverse which the Austrians administered to the Russians at Hammona.

Early in December, 1914, Russia replied to reports that she was
suffering from a shortage of recruits by declaring she could put two
corps against every one that Germany brought into Poland and still have
enough to carry on the campaign against Cracow as originally planned.
Her two armies operating against that important objective point had
linked flanks. Investment of the city was daily feared.

The southern army, which moved directly west on the Tarnow-Cracow line,
had fought its way over every inch of the ground, making a record of
forty-five battles in forty-five days. At least, according to old
measures, these fights would be classed as battles. Under the stupendous
conditions which surrounded this modern cataclysm, they probably range
as little more than reconnaissances in force.

Back to the banks of the River Raba, the advancing Russians pushed the
Austrian foe. Here in a position of considerable defensive value, the
enemy made a determined resistance. But the Russians swept on. The
Austrians made a stand soon afterward, outside the protecting radius of
the fortress guns, in the angle made by the Raba and Schreniawa.

Przemysl about this time was reported to be in dire straits. Monsignor
Joseph Sebastian Felczar, Archbishop of Przemysl, said, December 3,
1914, after he had left the city for the Vatican:

"Would to God my cathedral city might be spared the horrors of invasion
but I feel I can hope no longer. Our garrison has resisted with stubborn
heroism but the Russians outnumber them two to one. I got away only
after long hours of wearisome wanderings across the Russian lines; the
Muscovites had then already captured several of the outer ring of forts,
besides other important vantage ground, and had hemmed round the whole
fortress in a circle of steel.

"When I left Przemysl, indescribable desolation reigned there. The
houses, palaces, and public buildings were reduced to dust heaps.
Despite severe measures taken by the authorities brig