New-York tribune., 1915-02-22
FORT AND FLOOD
CHECK GERMANS
IN UPPER RUSSIA
Overlooking of Niemen
River Adds to Invad-
ers' Difficulties.
BATTLES RAGING
ALONG WHOLE LINE
Cars Troops Again Take the
Offensive In BukoWina-Hold
Firm In Carpathians.

Petrosrad, Feb. 21.-A Russian
counter move to the German advance
from East Prussia has begun along
front of 100 miles to the north OF the
Bohr and Nsrew rivers.
The Russian losses in East Prussia
as given by the German commander are
described here as "fsnciful," although
they we're undoubtedly heavy. 1t is
thought that the German movement in
East Prussia ia a diversion TO conceal
more important operations in Galicia,
district to which the Germans ap-
psrently intend to direct their main
effort. Six new German army corps
have been concentrated south OF the
Carpsthisns.
The difficulties of the Germans, who.
after driving the Russians from East
Prussia, have met an impenetrable bar
rier In the vicinity Of Ossowetz, have
been increased by the overlooking OF
the Niemen River. They are in great
force, however, and the battle which
is only just beginning promises to be
q severe one.
Engagements are in progress not only
near tho East Prussisn frontier, where
the Russians claim to have stemmed
Galicia, where the Russians have be-
come more active; in the Carpathians.
where the troops have been fighting for
nearly two months, and in Bukowina,
where again the Russians have been re-
inforced and are resisting the Austro-
German advance.
The German offensive movement
from the Baltic to the Carpathians is
regarded by Russian staff officers as
merely an attempt TO keep the Russian
forces constantly engaged and prevent
them from efeeting a concentration at
any point on the long front. Other
than this, 1t Is believed that the Ger
mans have no clear objective-or, II
they have, 1t has not been fathomed
herein making their demonstrations
near Ossowetz and in undertaking
more active operations along the Bzu-
ra, in both Of which regions they have
encountered a stubborn Russian de-
fence.
German Menace Removed.
Information transmitted to Grand
Duke Nicholas, commander in chief Of
the Russian forces, concerning the sc-
tion In the neighborhood of Ossowetz
does not bear out reports that the situ-
ntion there Is sufficiently serious to be
taken in any sense as a siege. It is
felt that the success of the Russians
in that vicinity, as reported yesterday,
effectively removes whatever menace
the situation contained previously. The
district commanded by the fortress Of
Ossowetz Is very large in area and
offers the best possible facilities for
defence.
Numerous lakes, as we'll as small
tributaries Of the Niemen River, which
are overfowing their banks, offer seri-
Gus impediments to the operations of
the Germans.
Referring to the supposition that the
German offensive within Russian ter
ritory is again being directed toward
the capture of Warsaw, military
critics say that inasmuch as the Ger
mans were unable to reach the Polish
capital after they had advanced to
within thirty miles of it from the west
there appears to be little chance of
their covering the eighty miles be-
tween the city and the army which is
attempting to advance from the north.
The slowness Of the German advance
in Russian territory is explained here
as due to the diminished effectiveness
of the German war machine when de-
prived of the railroad facilities which
proved so helpful when the campaign
was being conducted on German soil.
1t is now apparent from Won Hinden-
burg's last strategic msneuvres that
his aim from the beginning has been
to confine the Russians within the line
of the Vistula throughout its entire
| course. His first attempt, directed
from the southwest Of Poland in Oc-
tober, to press the Russians behind the
great river, failed mainly because Of a
successful sortie by strong Russian
cavalry column from Novo Georgievsk
through Lovicz, which undid in three
days all the dearly paid for work Of
the huge German armies facing Ivan
gorod.
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg In a
determined effort again TO tie his ad'