osite each other in front of it throughout
the spring. The country round about had been drenched with much German
and Russian blood.

General von Gallwitz, to capture a place with the least possible loss,
decided to break through the Russian defenses at two points at both
sides of the town sufficiently close to each other so that the
intervening lines would be immediately affected. His attacks were
therefore directed at the first line Russian positions, which formed
projecting angles to the northwest and northeast of Przasnysz so that
instead of taking the city directly from the front he would seize it
as with a gigantic pair of pincers from both sides and behind. The
plan succeeded to the full. The Russian lines were broken on both
sides of the city and the German troops, rushing through, met behind
it, forcing the Russian defenders hastily to evacuate the place to
avoid being caught within the circle.

Strong infantry forces were collected opposite the points of attack,
and enormous masses of artillery were placed in position with
abundance of ammunition in readiness. The preparations had been made
with all possible secrecy and even when the German batteries had begun
gradually to get their range by testing shots no serious assault seems
to have been expected by the Russians. On the morning of the attack
they were just to inaugurate service on a small passenger railway line
they had constructed behind their front.

On the morning of July 13, 1915, soon after sunrise, a tremendous
cannonade was let loose from guns of all calibers. Although the
weather was rainy and not well fitted for observation the German guns
seem to have found their marks with great accuracy. When the German
infantry stormed the first line of works which had been shattered by
the artillery fire they met with comparatively little resistance and
their losses were small. The bombardment apparently had done its work
thoroughly. The German infantry rushes were started in successive
intervals of a quarter of an hour, line following line. Swarms of
unarmed Russians could be seen coming out of the trenches seeking to
save themselves from the terrible effect of the shell fire by
surrendering. During the course of the forenoon the sun came out and
illuminated a scene of terrific destruction. The Russian positions on
the heights northwest of Przasnysz had been completely leveled. In
their impetuous forward rush the German troops did not give the enemy
tim