New-York tribune., 1915-12-13
GERMAN FORCES
RETREAT TO BUG;
FORTIFY BREST
Prepare Trench Lines to
Meet New Russian
Offensive.
RUSSKY PREDICTS
A NEW ADVANCE
Cold Weather Will Allow Fresh
Thrusts-"Shell Crisis Is
Now Past"

London, Dec. 70 The Germans are
withdrawing their centre TO the Bug
River line. This withdrawal is due to
their inability to obtain complete con-
troll of the Ida a-Baranovichi-R Rovno
Railway, which was necessary for the
successful holding Of the advanced po-
sitions which they reached after their
great drive Of last summer. They have
evacuated Slonim, lying to the west,
and Baranovichi and Kobrin, just to the
east Of Brest-Litovsk, which they are
making the centre Of their new lines.
These are being very strongly fortified.
This suggests that the Germans hope
TO create a stalemate IN the east, as
they did in the west, .ad that if they
cannot break through they will make
it just as difficult FOR the Pussians to
do so.
Fortify Bug Line.
A Reuter- dispatch from Petrograd
gives details regarding the work OF the
Germans in fortifying the line Of the
escaped from the Baranovichi region.
After the evacuation of Baranovichl,
following the Russians success OF md
November the dispatch says, the Ger
mans concentrated all their rear forces
at Brest-LitovSk, where special build
ings were constructed. Immediately
afterward they evacuated Slonim and
Kobrin and proceeded TO fortify the
whole Bug line, where. despite the
great cold, the work Is declared 10 be
continuing without moments pause.
"The Germans" says the dispatch.
assembled near Brest-Lltovsk more
than 100000 workmen, including nu-
merous prisoners, who were employed
especially on trenches. Women and
children also were forced to aid. Be
cause Of poor and insufficient food the
workers fell in great numbers. they
then were sent to Bielostok.
Rebuild Brest Fort.
"The Germans are organizing the
east bank of the Bug with particular
care, constructing interminable lines
of trenches. fortihcatiOns and block
houses. with artillery of all calibres. At
the same time they are energetically
restoring the forts at Brest-Litovsk,
the plans of the German General Staff,
with the view Of turning the strong
hold against the Russians when the
latter assume the offensive"
Speaking of Field Marshal Won Hin
denburg's forces facing him in the
Riga-Dvinsk sector. General Russky,
commanding the northern Russian
army opposing the Germans in this re-
gion, is quoted in q Petrograd dispatch
to the Petit Parisien" as follows:
"The eaemy's divisions which were
sent TO France have been replaced by
multitude Of heavy and light guns and
by kilometres Of barbed wire. Their
heavy artillery is .-perior TO ours, al
though we have enough Our shell cri-
sis is over. We are getting all the
ammunition we want from Petrograd.
"As to positions, advantages along
this front, which is 800 versts about
200 miles,. or approximately half OF
that in France Ne about'equaL when
the waters freeze ii is certain that the
offensive will become easier and the
defensive harder for both sides. but the
German will not be able to bring up
fresh troops if they take the offensive.
The offensive is costly; whoever attacks
must suffer heavy lossea.
'flNdlly IL ls now dl4 Qut' ~" a. ~
who in a few months VIII have the
larger number of electives. You know
what forces we have I'm reserve, so good
days are coming when the Russian
army will advance"
GERMAN OFFICIAL.
Weak Russian forces which ad-
vanccd against our positions in the
region of Lake Warsung, south OF
Jacobstadt and 10 The south Of Pinsk,
wore rcpulsed