Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-17
RUSSIANS HOLD
GERMANS WEST
OF DVINA RIVER
Troops Of Both Sides Are Showing
Effect Of the Intensity OF the
Great Struggle Around
Warsaw.
BALKAN CRISIS NEAR CLIMAX
National Assemblies Of Greece and
Serbia Meet to Consider De-
mands Of Bulgaria.
TEUTONs PREPARING TO ACT

LONDON, Aug. 16.--Military op-
erations in the eastern field are de-
veloping slowly. Both sides show the
effects Of the intensity Of the Warsaw
struggle. The German advance now
centers on the efforts Of Field Mar
shall Won Hindenburg to force troops
across the Dvina and eastward In the
general direction Of Petrograd and
the near approach of the army Of
Prince Leopold OF Bavaria to the new
Brest-Litovsh defense. Notwith-
standing the steady pressure of the
Germans. the Russians have sue
ceeded thus far in holding them west
of the Dvina.
The Balkan crisis is drawing to a
climax. The national assemblies of
Serbia and Greece meet today with
the probability of definite decision
as regards Bulgaria's territorial de-
mands, upon which hinge the ques-
ton OF united action of the Balkan
states with the Allies.
In the best posted quarters here the
outlook Il regarded with degree of PES
simism. II Is expected Serbia will seek
a compromise and Greece will reject the
Bulgarian contentious. Reports from
Athens inicate that King Constantine Is
visiting the new cabinet must maintain
strict neutrality, the effect Of which
would be to withhold Greece from par
tioipating in n plan OF united Balkan CO.
operation with the allies.
Teutons Ready 60 Act.
In the meantime there are many evil
dences OF Austro-oeEman preparations 70
deal with the Balkan situation. Accord
ing TO information from Bucharest. Ger
man army corps have been concentrated
near the junction of Hungary. Roumania
and Serbia This with the bombardment
OF Belgrade and the activity OF Austrian
artillery at many points along the
Danube lends support 10 reports Of
great AuStro-oerman offensive In the
Balkans -e~ -v
The outsoms Of the crisis Is awaited
most snxiousiy, an determining whether
the allies will receive new support from
the Balkans. and whether oermany's
supplies OF ammunition for Turkey will
continue TO be shut off by the Balkan
barrier.
Bulgarian officials DO not expect an
agreement viii be reached. but the Bull
sarian minister at London. M. Bosko-
witch. told the Associated Press he be-
ilsved q middle ground would be found on
which II will be possible to unite the
Balkan states.
Russian Officers Optimistie.
PETRoGRAD. Aug. 16-tPia London.)-
The military situation ia viewed by Rus
sian army officers with a degree OF op-
timism. owing TO the manner In which
the Germans have been checked at the
crossings Of the Lwie ana Krza rivers.
east Of the siedlc-Iukow front, where
the invaders lost 800 prisoners. in addi-
tion 10 a heavy toll OF dead and wounded.
Confidence IL felt here that the Rus
SLAMS VIII be able TO make and further
eastward progress of the invaders very
costly TO them.
Fierce battles are looked for In the dis
trict between the Nuerec and Narew
rivers and at the crossings Of the Bug.
The Immediate German objective Is be
lieved 70 be the double track railroad
which roughly parallels the present
fighting line. running from ossowetz 10
(Continuad or T3.ga s-,.-o TS-f.,----- -