rts
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 was offered in the streets. Since the
civil population took part in this fight our troops were compelled to
reply with corresponding measures. If, therefore, the German troops
should carry out their threat against the peaceful inhabitants of the
Russian territory which they hold, such acts should be considered not
as reprisals but as independent acts. Responsibility for this, as well
as for the consequences, would rest up