Evening star., 1914-11-23
CZAR'S ARMY IN A TRAP,
IS VIEW OF THE TEUTONS
Experts Assert That Its Line of Re-
treat Is in Danger of Be-
ing Cut Off.
MAY HAVE TO QUIT LEMBERG
Simultaneous Attacks by Germans
and AustrianS Held to Make
Position Untenable for
Russians.

LONDON, November 2,3, II SIS
a.m.-Desperate fighting in Rus
sian Poland, but without details
as to the outcome. is the outstand-
ing feature today in the areas OF
military operations.
Both sides continue to be reti-
cent concerning the progress OF
the great battles in Poland, but
Berlin is confident that Gen. Won
Hindenberg will justify his repu-
tation as the most, successful OF
the kaisers generals.
Predicts Fall of Lemberg.
\ military authority quoted by the Ber-
lin Lokal Anzeiger declares that the fall
of Lemberg is only question OF time.
because Won Hindenburg is rolling up the
Russian right while at the same time the
Austrians are attacking on the left.
There is. however. no direct information
from the front to confirm this opinion.
Petrograd is silent about the strategy
of the present campaign. which does not
seem to excite any greater concern in
the Russian capital than did the pre-
vious German advance on Warsaw. Ber-
lin. on the other hand, seems to regard
the Polish operations as decisive in the
Russian campaign, IL not on the outcome
of the entire war.
Cossacks Heroes of Battle.
The correspondent of the Telegraph in
Petrograd reports the capture of Gum
binnen, in northern East Prussia, by
the Russians. He says:
Although official dispat atches only men
tion skirrnishes in East Prussia. a dis
patch from correspondent with the
active army reports, with circumstantial
details the Russian capture 0. Gumbin-
nen after a battle lasting five days, the
Cossacks being the heroes of the most
stirring incident of the struggle captur-
ing the enemy's batteries by u daring
charge which put the gunners to flight.
Tine German defenders declined to
await bayonet attack and Russians
entered in triumph to discover the
;Uwn half demolished by shell fire and
abandoned by the population"
Gumbinnen, sixty-six miles east
southeast of Konigsberg, is the cap
4t-si u tne SONt. ulStrlCl Oh tne
"a sc name. 1t is in great measure
e modern town. and has some fine mon
u-Ierts The population is about
iJ...t-
Expect Decisive Victory.
BERLIN. November %, via wireless.
The general staff of the German
army, referring TO important opera
tions in Poland now nearing a decisive
outcome. announced today that it con-
sidered the situation everywhere IA
vorable.
All the Berlin newspapers comment
favorably this morning and very hope
fully on the possible outcome of the
fighting in Poland. They express the
opinion that these engagements may
decide the entire Russian campaign If
not the outcome of the war
The Lokalanzeiger has published an
uterView with an officer who speaks
for the military authorities. He SAYS
that in consequence of the rolling up
ol the Russian right wing by Gen. Won
Hindenburg and the simultaneous at
tack of the Austrians on the Russian
left, general Russian retreat with the
evacuation of Lemberg is only a ques-
ton of time.
Early Program Upset.
In their previous attack, this officer
says. the enemy operated in accord
ance with their program, but today
they have been forced to give up their
war plans and face an entirely differ
ent situation. Existing conditions We're
foreseen by the German and Austrian
commanders.
According to the same authority the
I;Ussians lack artillery and rifles.
Gen. Won Hindenberg and Archduke
Charles Francis Of Austria seem to
have accepted battle along a battle line
highly favorable strategically to press
ing home central attack against the
enemy, who is suffering the same dis
advantages as the Germans encountered
before the Warsaw w-IVangorod line re-
Gently. The roads in the Russians rear
are in a wretched state. the Germans
having accomplished a thorough job OF
destruction on their retirement. The
Russians are jammed together on three
sides and are hampered greatly in
bringing up supplies.
The military critic of Nossische Zei-
tung considers the Austro-German sit
uation as extraordinarily favorable and
giving ground for hope of a complete
victory, in which the Russians may be
cut off entirely from a line of retreat.
Ordered to Leave Cracow.
PARIS, November 23-The military
governor of the Austrian fortress OF
Cracow has published a decree. says q
dispatch from Rome to the Havas
Agency, warning civilians that if they
do not quit the city they will be court
nartialed and shot. The decree says:
''As the civil population of Cracow is
not obeylng with sufficient punctuality
the order for the evacuation of the city
the government warns those who are
slow in obeying that they will be court
nartialed and that they will suffer the
death penalty
As result of the ordinance, the dis.
patch adds, Approximately $4,000 Poles
took immediate flight in all directions
adding their sufferinSs to those of the
Galician refugees.