Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1915-08-26
Germans Still Gaining;
.Dardanelles Weaken;
Kaiser $ Hopes High

1t is difficult to form a satisfactory
opinion concerning the war situation
as developed in the past week, owing
ITO the conflicting reports.
Petrograd reports that the German
:navynmet disastrous defeat, the Ger
mans losing one of the main fighting
ships, many gunboats, andr othe
ships. making their total loss nearly
"a dozen.
Buts Berlin denies the report. de-
rclaring that the German losses were
almost inconseouential.
German Progress Ia Russia.
But 1t is obvious that the Germans
ARE still making headway in Russia
and that the Russian troops are ,whol-
ly unable to check the German ad-
vance, which is somewhat slower
than in the recent past. The Ger
mans have captured several Russian
fortresses in the vicinity of Warsaw,
and there is belief curren that the
German objective is Petrograd, the
Russian capital.
o Move 10 MOSCOW.
That the Russians feel unable to
cope with the situation seems evident
from the fact that there is some talk
in Petrograd of deserting the nations
capital, going back to ancient Moscow
which is the center OF Russian nation
;ality and Russian enterprise.
It should be remembered, in this
connection, that while the Germans
have advanced far into Russian terri
tory, they have really made no great
impression upon Russia as whole.
Their onslaughts as yet represent but
mere scratch on the surface Of Rus
ssia proper, unless in the invasion they
shall be able seriously to cripple the
Russian army.
The Dardanellee.
Althoughrit it, is alleged that the al
lies are making but little headWay in
their campaign in the Dardanelles,
reports Indicate to the contrary.
Late news shows that the allies
have high hopes of eventually pene-
trating this strong Turkish position
and of becoming masters OF Constan-
tinople and adjacent territory
4
assault indicates that they intend to
continue their efforts, feeling that the
opening of the Dafdanelles is essen,
:tiai 10 their cause. with the Oar
sfianelIes in their possession, vast
,storehouses of Russian foodstuffs
would be open to them, besides pro
riding means for getting arms and
ammunition to the Russians, Of which
they seem to be sorely in need.
Optimistic Feeling.
London, Aug. 25.-Optimistic re-
ports concerning operations on the
Gallipoli peninsula have been in Cir
oulation for the past few days and
prophecies are freely made that a
few weeks will see the close Of the
allies most difficult task in the Near
East.
The Turks, too, expect the Anglo-
French fcrces to be successful. if
news reaching Sofia from ConstaRsin-
ople is reliable.
4 Now Need Balkan Aid Elsewhere.
/ In fact, it is felt there now that SO
far as the Dardanelles Ia concerned
it is a matter of indifference to the
allies whether the Balkan states lend
hand Their assistance is wanted,
however, against Austria and also to
shorten Turkish resistance if the
straits are opened.
For these reasons, negotiations
with the Near Eastern capitals are
being watched with interest, and the
decision of Serbia On the proposals
of the Quadruple Entente for salts
flying the aspirations of Bulgaria,
ministers today, is anxiously await
ed.
London Sees Bulgaria's Support
i It is believed in London that Ser
'bfa's reply will prove satisfactory
ard that Bulgaria's cooperation will
be assured. This would open the way
also for an active policy on the part
of Roumania who wants assurances;
that Bulgaria will not attack her be-
fore she commences to move her
troops.
1t is confidently expected all these
questions will be settled satisfactor
lily to the allies and that within the
same period the future policy Of,
STGecS VIII 4uSuHitClS W eschaiouuSSus y
Germans Continue Offensive.
IN the meantime, AustroG German
armies are aiming more heavy blows
at Russia, in the hope of putting her
on the defensive indefinitely and per
mitting the removal of some of their
own troops to other fronts. particular
" Serbia and Italy, In the hope Of
repeating their eastern successes,
\ The Russians are encouraged, how
ever; by their naval victory in the
Gulf OF Riga. which has delayed /
Field Marshal Won Hindenburs s gsssst9
outfanking movement through Cour-
land, and are offering very stiff resist
ance at almost every point in the
Baltic provinces.
Retirement Necessary, say Russians
While the Russians are falling
back east and south Of Kovno, II Isl
explained BIZ Petrograd that this was
necessary to prevent them from be-
ing ontfianked. They still hold botnl
banks of the Nieuen river from Pre-
ny, lust south of Koyno. southward
tp Grodno, one Of the few fortressssj