The Winter Battle in Masuria
for the construction of rear positions east of Augustowo-Suvrallu reaching as far as the Xiemen. The work was inimecliately put in hc.nd by Labour Companies as soon as we had eonquerel this district. These positions—although rnly in an early stride —no\v offered a certain amount of suppcrt. The icth Army received orders for its right wing to wheel and retire to the prepared line. It was left tr that army itself to carry out the details of the movement and also decide whether the left \ving should withdraw the same distance or rnly as far as the Kal-warija-Pilwischki line. It was to be presumed that the enemy would press closely after them.
At the same time the roth Army had received instruction? to release forces which were urgently required further west. The great Russian counter attacks had begun against our long flank on the southern frontier of West and East Prussia. Further the Russians were keeping us busy to the north of the Xiemen. The battle raged all round German territory east of the Vistula.
Quiet reigned in the Polish bend of the Vistula.
The Austrian Army's offensive for the relief of Przemysl had been unsuccessful. The Russians very soon made counterattacks. Przemysl would have to be left to its fate. On the whole Eastern front we were now faced by the prospect of heavy Russian attacks.
After the Augustowo Forest had been cleared and the wounded removed, at the beginning of March, General von Eichhorn, in accordance with instructions, withdrew his right to the defensive line, and his left north of the Augustowo Forest as far as Seiny and south of Kahvarija. He proposed to fall on the pursuing Russians again and defeat them by enveloping their right wing.
The idea was a good one and in accordance with the resolute spirit prevailing at Army Headquarters. The days from the 9th to the nth of March witnessed a fresh success, for the newly-
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