ind the
Russian right flank from the east. These troops, making a wide detour,
swept past Przasnysz on the east, and swinging round to the south of
the city attacked the Russians holding the place from this direction.
The Germans had understood that only small Russian forces were in the
city. Anticipating the German movement, however, a Russian division,
as the Germans learned later, had hastened to Przasnysz. The Russians
also had collected large forces on the Narew, and were hurrying them
toward Przasnysz on roads covering a wide front. Two full Russian
corps from this line were flung upon the German left wing.

The forces of Von Gallwitz which had carried out the encircling
movement from the east and south of Przasnysz now found themselves
caught between two Russian armies. However, they were unwilling to
relinquish the booty which they had planned to seize. A part of the
German forces was disposed in a half circle as a defense against the
Russians coming up from the south, and a division of reserves,
February 24, stormed Przasnysz. The German Great Headquarters
announced that the Germans captured 10,000 prisoners, including 57
officers, and took 36 cannon, 14 machine guns, and much war material
of various sorts. However, the Russian troops were now pressing
forward from the south with irresistible force. The Germans, in
consequence, slowly fell back, fighting under great difficulties, and
moving northward toward their defensive lines, carrying with them
their prisoners and booty.

The Russian General Staff on the first of March, 1915, devoted an
explicit account to the fighting about Przasnysz which differs but
slightly from the narrative by the German Great Headquarters which has in
general been followed in the preceding description. Both sides apparently
considered the operation of special importance, and as reflecting credit
upon their respective troops. The Russian story emphasizes the attacks
made by their force on the line Lyssakowo-Chainovo simultaneously from
north and south, that is, both in the flank and in the rear of the
Germans to the west of Przasnysz. They represent their troops in the city
as having consisted of only a brigade of infantry and some insignificant
cavalry units. On the 25th of February, when the Germans had established
themselves in the town, the Russians, according to their account, were
pressing their enemies hard upon a long front from Krasnoseltz through
Vengerzinovo, Kolatschkowo