The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-21
Duke Nicholas Is Hurrying Up
Reinforcements To Meet
Attack Of Enemy
Hindenburg' s Rear
May Be in Danger
Warsaw Claimed Not To Be
Longer Menaced By lnvae.rs.
Allies Hold Fast 10 Ground
Won By Fighting

London, Dec. 2o--It is now appa--
ent that the German armies in Po-
lano have been checked BY the Rus
slams in front of Warsaw and that Won
linden burg's invaders are actually in
danger of attack from the rear.
The great victory claimed in Berlin
dwindies down to an orderly with
drawal of the Russian troops Tor
about twelve miles to strong defensive
positions which they are holding In
spite Of massed German attacks
Meanwhile. the Grand Duke Nicholas
Is reported to be hurrying reinforce-
ments to his battle line. 1t is no longer
believed that Warsaw is in grave
danger. On the contrary the opinions
of military critics is that Marshall
Won Hindenburg must break through
the Russian line within a very few
days, or find his communications cut
by the Russian army operating on
the left bank of the Vistula north
west OF Flock.
Attack in East Prussia.
In addition to holding firmly in
front of Warsaw, the Russians are
attacking in East Prussia and Poland.
This Is apparent by the latest state
ment from the German war Office.
communication which makes no as
sertions Of victory, but says merely
that the German armies are attacking.
a rumor that the Germans have taken
Lowiscx liz not confirmed. either tn
Berlin or Petrograd, but may pos
sibay be true. as the Germans -haye
been around Lowiscz for several
weeks. and the city may have been
evacuated by the Russians in their
withdrawal to a line Of defenses far
Their east.
So far as Warsaw Is concerned, the
Russians are in a position similar tn
that which they occupied two months
ago, when the first German invasion
reached point about eight miles from
Warsaw. Then. as now, the Russians
retired slowly to positions they had
prepared In advance, awaited resn-
forecements, which consisted Of 81
berian troops, largely, and of cavalry
divisions, and when quite ready. threw
a thanking force around the German
left wing. and attacked on two sides.
The Germans and their allies In South
Poland had to retreat more rapidly
than they advanced. The fragments
of news that comes from Poland at
present indicate that something OF the
sort Is in preparation now
Hindenburg's Warning.
General Won Hindenburg Is report
ed to have warned the German people
that the capture OF Warsaw may yet
prove very dffncult undertaking, as
the Russian army Is able to make =
powerful defense. Won Hindenburg
admits that no breach has been made
in the Russian army because the Rus
sian commander recognized the right
moment TO withdraw
A situation favorable to the Rus
SLAMS exists now, and did not exist 1t
the time Of the former tnvasion--the
presence in the rear Of the invaders OF
a Russian force which. II able to de-
feat the Germans. would be able TO
strike the force before Warsaw. IL
will take some days TO clear up this
situation, but there is confidence here
that the Grand Duke Nicholas will
demonstrate again his splendid strait
egical skill.
At present the German battle line In
Northern Poland touches the left hank
of the vistula west of Kazunpolski
and probably twenty-five miles north-
west Of Warsaw. Then, stretching In
the German line forms a hattened
crescent, passing through or near
Lowiscz, and to the west of Skiernte-
vice and towards the River PilitxA.
Lowiscz Is forty-hve miles southwest
of Warsaw. and may be regarded for
military purposes. as the farthest Ad~
vance in force the Germans hAvo
made.
Very extravagant claims are being
made in Vienna as to the SUCCESSES
Of the Austrian forces operating IN
Western Galicia. and in the Carpatf1~
ians But 1t is shown In the ofncla1
Austrian reports that the Russians ~.
main on the left bank OF the Rivaf
Dunajee and. therefore, continue to
menace Cracow.