The Year 1914

On 22 September, Russian War Minister Sukhomlinov called a conference of financiers and manufacturers asking for their help in speeding up the supply of the army. A few half hearted, tentative orders were placed, but most industrialists stated they would have to lay down much new machinery and retool their works, demanding large cash advances.

On 23 September, the German 9th Army was in heavy fighting, advancing on Sieradz, reaching the Vistula River in the Sandomir - Ivangorod sector.

Romania and Italy signed an accord, stating that neither party would end its neutrality without notifying each other eight days in advance.

On 24 September, on the Northwest Front, units of the German 8th Army were in heavy fighting along the Niemen River near Kopciowo. German Army airship Z.IV, based at Koenigsberg, bombed military facilities at Warsaw.

At Constantinople, German Admiral Souchon received a directive from Berlin, ordering him to sail out with the whole Turkish fleet in a demonstration off the Black Sea coast of Constanza, Burgas and Varna.

On 25 September, on the Northwest Front, the German 8th Army failed in an attempt to cross the Niemen River over pontoon bridges, as the Russians held their lines. The stage was set for the Battle of Augustovo.

General von Hindenburg was placed in command of combined Austro-German forces in Poland and Galicia. In Poland, the Russian 9th Army continued its move north towards Ivangorod and deployment along the Vistula River.

On 26 September, on the Northwest Front, during the Battle of the Niemen on the East Prussian frontier the Germans again failed in vain effort to cross the river. In north-central Poland, beginning of a four day bombardment of Osovets, as the Germans laid siege to the fortress. The Kaiser and the Tsar visited opposing camps during the battle.

On the Southwest Front, Russian forces occupied Rzeszov in Galicia.

On 27 September, on the Southwest Front, the Russian 4th, 5th, 3rd and 8th Armies pressed on towards Krakow and the Carpathian Passes. The German 9th Army was now fully ready for operations.

At Petrograd, Russian Grand Duchess Tatiana established a committee to provide relief for refugees displaced from war areas. Her Mother, the Empress, was involved with a variety of charitable organizations and sometimes visited hospitals.