The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-04
Situation in Eastern Theater OF
War Rapidly Assumes Crit
ical Phase
Operations Equal
Those OF Aisne
Two Millions of Russians Are
Moving Steadily Forward to
Attack on Less Than One
Million Germans

London, Oct. 3.-rhere Is re-
port In Rome that the kaiser
barely escaped capture by the
Russians In the central rout Of
the Germans i'm the suwalki prov
ince and along the river Nieanen.
The Russians. in u night attack
near sieuy surprised and very
nearly overwhelmed the Ger
mans, whose retreat became dis
orderly. The Russians took many
prisoners aIzI ncasy guns Hun
dresis of Germans were drowned
in &C hight across the Nienieu-
There Is no confirmation vi the
report that the kaiser WAS inxoiv-
ea ina this Hight, bat Ii had been
Reported iie WAS I'm the suwaikl
province.
ne ear and the kaiser have hast
eaed 60 aae battle line along the Ger
n.an frontier Nothing Is more indica-
I've uf asaa critical situation In the
eastern tneater of war than the pres
efacs there Of the empsrcrs in per-
sonai command OF their vast armies.
Correspondents of Roman and of
ifAndon newspapers report that the
eEar has left PetregFad for the front
ii In assumed thar the Russian ruler
il at Warsaw, the base OF the great
Russian central army now advancing
directly toward Posen. and already
In collision with tserman armies In
the line OF posen. kalisc, Czenstae-
-hawa and Cracow.
lsnaperors Face Each Other.
There is information from German
and Russian sources that the kaiser
has left Breslau for Posen. and Is
dominating the strategy of German
defense IL these Items OF news are
accurate. they signify that the mon
arehs comprehend that decisive
phase OF the Russian attack against
Germany Is at hand. The combat In
The east is becoming more important
even than the fr.ghfui struggle In
northern France,
which must be given to s. series OF
mighty operations along curved
battle front extending nearly TWO
hundred miles. has begun with minor
Russian successes in the kieiee
region north and east OF Cracow. AZ
various points along this front. par
ticuiarly from Fosen and Bresiau. the
Germans are attempting vigorous
offensive. numbering. with Austrian
allies, about 10000. Their purpose
lis to beat the Russian forces advane-
the Russians must again abandon east
Prussia, retreat in Galicia, and with
drew forces in Poland for the de-
Tense OF Warsaw. The runlor persists
that the kaiser Is in supreme com
mand OF these movements.
battle Equal to Aisne Struggle.
The result of the battle OF Cracow,
now being waged. will determine,
probably. whether or not Russia can
break through the defenses Of Silesia
Ind Prussia and advance In over
whelming force toward Breslau and
Berlin. The forces engaged along the
front are greater than the forces in
combat in northern France. One re-
port places the strength OF the Rus
slams advancing from three directions
as 100000.
The Russian forces today came In
contact with the Austro-G German out
posts west OF the Donajee river. be-
tween Tarnuw and Cracow, and about
thirty-five miles only east OF Cracow
The lighting today was in the nature
OF q skirmish. the Russians driving
back the Austro-German outposts.
Fifty miles to the north. near Kielce,
the Russian column atriking from
the northeast was nghting q German
force attempting the offensive. The
combat has been violent. with a slight
advantage to the Russians. owing to
their superior numbers and their
numerous heavy field guns.
There lis little news OF the Russian
army advancing directly from War
saw toward Breslau. but 1t Is as
surned here that It win 'endeayor to
break the German line OF defense
while the Russian armies 70 the south
are engaging the Cracow defenders.