_The semi-official report dispatched by the Wolff Telegraphic Bureau
from Berlin on June 3, 1915, reads as follows:_
From the Great Headquarters we learn the following concerning the
battles at Radymno:
The corps of General von Mackensen, on the evening of the 23d of May,
stood on both sides of the San in a great bow directed toward the
east. On the right wing Bavarian troops stood on the watch facing the
northwest front of the fortress of Przemysl. In touch with the
Bavarian troops German and Austro-Hungarian forces stood south of the
San before the strongly fortified bridgehead of Radymno. Farther north
still other troops linked up with the army.
The bridgehead of Radymno consisted of a threefold line of field
works. There was in the first place the main position well provided
with wire entanglements. This ran along the heights that lie westward
of the village of Ostroro and through the low lands of the San up to
this river. Then there was a well-constructed intermediate position
which was laid through the long straggling village of Ostroro. Finally
there was the so-called bridgehead of Zagrody which was constructed
for the protection of the street and railroad bridges crossing the
river to the east of Radymno. Air-men had photographed all these
positions and had reduced the views by the photogrammeter and
transferred them to the map.
The first task was to render the enemy's main positions ripe for
attack. With this object the artillery on the afternoon of May 23
began its fire, which was continued on the next day. From the heights
near Jaroslau could be seen the valley of the San lying in the mists,
out of which jutted the cupola towers of Radymno and the hamlets of
Ostroro, Wietlin, Wysocko, etc. The artillery fire was raised to the
utmost pitch of intensity. The heavy projectiles howling, furrowed the
air, lit great fires as they struck and excavated vast pits in the
earth. The Russian artillery replied.
At six o'clock in the morning the long infantry lines rose in their
storming positions and advanced to the attack. The flyers reported
that behind the enemy's positions they observed grazing cattle and
baggage carts. The enemy seemed not to expect a serious attack.
Anyhow, the Petersburg bulletin had announced that the battles in
Galicia had decreased in intensity, that the Teutonic allies had
practically throughout gone over to the defensive.
At six-thirty in the morning the enemy's main position in its whole
extent was in the hands of the German troops. Shaken by the heavy
artillery fire the enemy had made only brief resistance; he was in
hasty retreat toward the east.
But just in that direction and into Radymno, whence the enemy's
reinforcements were to be expected, the artillery had in the meantime
turned its fire. Great clouds of smoke covered these villages set
afire by the bombardment. The Russians thus did not have the chance to
take permanent footing in Ostroro. The troops holding the town
surrendered, leaving hundreds of guns and great quantities of
ammunition in the hands of the victors.
Along the whole line the German infantry was now advancing upon
Radymno and the villages connecting with this place, Skolowszo and
Zamojsce. With every step forward the number of prisoners was
increased. Soon one division reported to headquarters that it did not
have enough men to attend to the removal of the great masses of
prisoners without prejudice to the conduct of the action. Cavalry was
therefore assigned to this task.
At Radymno the enemy's troops had become jammed in crowds. A wooden
wagon bridge over the San had been burned down too soon. From the
position of the staff directing the battle one could see the leaping
flames and the clouds of heavy black smoke caused by the pouring on of
naphtha. One could also see long columns fleeing eastward covering the
street toward Dunkowice with their disordered crowds. As the Russian
recruits which had been gathered in Radymno made only a brief
resistance, this place together with all the artillery which was
attempting to escape through the town to the San, was also lost. Only
at the bridgehead of Zagrody did the Russian leaders, by hastily
bringing up fresh reserves, finally check the attack of the Germans.
On this day 70 officers, 9,000 men, 42 machine guns, 52 cannon of
which 10 were heavy, 14 ammunition wagons, and extensive other booty
was reported. But also on the north bank of the San a great battle had
developed.