My War Memories, 1914-1918
The supply columns and trains of the 1st R.C. and the 27th A.C., which were behind the river Passarge when the forward movement started, had to carry out some difficult movements, but finally succeeded in reaching their concentration area without too much friction.
Some Russian Cavalry, before which our ist Cavalry Division had to give way, had temporarily penetrated west even as far as the Passarge below Wormditt, without doing any military damage, however. Strange to say, they had not even destroyed the main railway line from Elbing to Konigsberg.
It was naturally of the utmost importance to us to get our railways into working order again, especially those we had had to destroy ourselves during our retreat from Gumbinnen. This was particularly essential in regard to the station of Korschen. This station ought to have been thoroughly demolished; but within forty-eight hours of our recovering possession it could be utilized again. It was lucky for us that the work of destruction had not been carried out as thoroughly as I had expected. The troops as yet were not sufficiently experienced. It was plain that special technical instruction was needed. I made a mental note of this for future occasions.
V
The advance against Rennenkampf's Army began on the 4th of September. On the ;th the Guard R.C., the ist R.C., the nth and 20th A.C. entrenched a position in front of the enemy lines at Wehlau-Gerdauen-Nordenburg-Angerburg, between the river Pregel and Lake Mauer, and attacked during the following days according to plan. The engagements, particularly those of the 20th Army Corps, did not go well for us. The Russians made a powerful counter-attack. The enemy positions were strong and cleverly constructed, and we should never have got the upper hand of them with the arms and ammunition at our disposal, had it not been that the projected enveloping movement near Lotzen and the fortified chain of lakes was beginning to have its effect
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