Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-23
Fighting in the West.
Russians Handicapped
by Severe Shortage in
Officers and Munitions

AUSTRo- HEADQUAR-
TIERS. July 81. via London. July %
The offensive of the allied armies in
Poland is proceeding with machine
like regularity. and has now entered
the decisive stage of the struggle in
south Poland, namely, battle for the
possession of the important railroad
line connecting Chelm. Lublin and
Ivansorod and of these strategically
important cities.
The Russians, although clinging des-
perately to every undulation of the
water course in the broken, sandy
country, have been driven from one ad-
vanced position after another and
forced to fall back upon their last and
main line of defense south of the rail-
road
Battle Line Shortened
The long battle lire has been consid-
erably shortened, owing to the north
ward movement of the armies, and the
Russians thereby have been enabled
to concentrate in heavier force. But the
same factor frees considerable masses
Of the allied troops to be used for a
ooncentric attack against the new line
The advance has been executed under
highly unfavorable conditions. The
allies have had to force their way
through a wide belt of sandy country,
interrupted with frequent swamps. The
Russians could entrench in this coun-
try with lightning rapidity, while the
Austro German artillery could be
moved through the deep sand only
when double-spanned and with the
gunners putting their shoulders to the
wheels. Also marching and the obser-
vations for the artillery were hamper
cd by wet weather and fog.
Russians Handicapped.
The opposing Russian troops are Of
the first quality. They are handicap
ped. however. by the lack of artillery
and ammunition and particularly from
. shortage of officers. the battalions
sometimes being commanded by a sim
gle commissioned officer.
The advance is proceeding in three
columns. The objective of the easterly
column IL the Russian barrier south
and southwest of Chelm. An Austro-
German army Is almost in touch with
The Austrian Archduke Joseph Ferdi-
and over which the Russians recently
attempted to claim victory near
Krasnik, already has reached and pass
austrian Gensrai eanRia
last August and Is steadily pushing
back the Russians.
Wage Furious Fight
Before Ivangorod the Russians are
lighting furiously in positions barely
ten miles southwest of the fortress. APP
parsntly attempting only to cover the
retreat upon Ivangorod. This position
already has been broken at one point,
aud it's abandonment is imminent.
fvangorod from this side is very strong
and an attack against II Is difhcult, but
Il 10 less defensible from the east, and
the archduke's advance from that re-
zion 10 its main danger.
Comparative quiet prevails along the
Bug river. The Austrians by forcing a
passage of the river at Sokal and to the
nofthward have secured flank against
any attempt at development.
Desperate hghting, although upon a
smaller scale. is in progress on the
Bukowina frontier, the Russians max
ing vigorous attempts to break the
northeastern front. An attack the
night of the goth northeast of Czerno-
vitx, delivered under cover of darkness
and In . heavy rain, lasted nve hours
before the Russians were repulsed with
very heavy casualties. The cannonad-
tng In this battle was plainly heard at
CZernowitz