The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-08-28
ITALY PREPARED
TO STRIKE TURKS.
Rome Government issues uIti--
matum Demanding Release
Italian Subjects.
GERMANS CAPTURE NEW1FORTS
Outer Positions of Brest-LitoVsk Pen
etrated, Berlin cIaims@Freneh 2
Making Gains in the West

London. Aug. 2O.-The forces of the
Ottoman Empire. besides being close
y pressed by the Anglo-French allies
on the Galhpoh Peninsula, where a
new British contingent has obtained a
firm footing in the vicinity OF Suvia
Bay, and by the Russians in the eau
casus. are threatened by a new enemy
Italy The Italian government, an
ger&l by the disregard by the porte
Of protests against the treatment Of
Italian subjects in Turkey, is reported
to have issued an Ultimatum demand
ing that Italians be allowed to leave
the country how, when and where
they desire, a privilege heretofore de-
MED them
A strong squadron Of fast cruisers
is being held in readiness TO steam
from laramie at q moments notice
1t is expected the warships viii be
sent against Turkey if that country
declines TO satisfy Italy's demands for
the release of Italian subjects held in
the Ottoman Empire
Germans Take New Forts.
Besides the capture OF Kovno, the
Germans have taken additional NovO
Geogievsy forts, and, according to
their accounts have penetrated the
outer positions of Brest-Litovsk, the
great fortress, which is the mainstay
Of what was expected to be the Rus
slams new line OF defense.
There is no evidence yet of Grand
Duke Nicholas intentions, but military
writer's are of the opinion that the
swiftness of the German advance has
rendered it impossible for him to make
a stand on the Brest-Litovsk line,
which already probably has been
turned by Field Marshal Won Macken-
sen in the south and by his colleagues
in the north.
French in New Success.
The French have scored two sue
cesses in the west, taking a German
trench in Artois after heavy all-day
bombardment, and making a further
advance on the Linge Summit in the
Vosges.
There have been some long distance
artillery engagements between the
SerTians and the Austrians across the
Danube, but thus far there is no
evidence of the commencement of the
Austro-German offensive which was
to carry relief to the Turks
Germans Take Kovno.
London, Aug 19.-KoTno, one of the
crucial points in the Russian defen-
sive in the North, was captured by
the Germans last night and the road
to the Wilma, Warsaw and Petrograd
railway is now open to the troops of
Emperor William
The capture of the fortress was an
other triumph for the German sixteen
inch guns. which throughout the pres
ent war have been brought against no
Notifications they were unable to sub
due With the fortress of Kovno the
Germans have taken more than 400
guns and, according to their account,
an enormous quantity Of war material.
Line to Petrograd Open.
This. however, is not the most seri-
Gus part of the matter to the Rus
SLAMS. Besides opening the way TO
Wilma, which is an open town, from
which most of the inhabitants have
departed and from which everything
has been removed, the fall of the fort
ress takes away the last protection,
with the exception Of the Russian field
army, to the main line railway to the
capital and also places the Germans
in a position to threaten the TANKS
Of the Russian armies retiring to the
BrestLitoYsk line and those operat-
ing in southern Courland.
An Orderly Retreat.
The Russian commander continues
an orderly retreat, as is evident by the
fact that outside OF the guns taken
with the fortress of Kovno or cap
tured in the forts OF Novogeorgievsk,
both Of which have fallen, the Ger
mans make no claim to the capture OF
artillery. It appears also that few
prisoners have been taken, which
doubtless means that a considerable
part Of the Austro-Germans in their
most recent advance have not met
with serious fighting
With Koyno in German hands and
another German army across the Bug
south OF BrestLitovsk. speedy exit,
according to military observers, is the
only safe one for the Russians If they
are to escape before the second set
OF pincers prepared for them are
closed.