The Washington times., 1915-09-18
Germans Attack in Force Esst
Of City, Aiming to Pierce
Russian Line.
RAILROAD IS At STAKE
lvanoff Routs Austrians and
Captures $500 in Selling
Three Positions.

PETROGRAD. Sept. 1s.-A violent
battle for wilma has begun. The Ger
mans are attacking in great force
cast of the city. Several enemy de-
tachments have reached the Novo
vileisk Mclodechno railway. and are
attempting to pierce the Russian lines.
The official statement from the war
office early today emphasized the
fact that the fighting around Wilma
is the greatest struggle now going on
along the Bal;ic-Galicia battle line,
1t Is not improbable that the Czar
will order the evacuation OF the city
within q few days II the enemy's at
tacks threaten the development of tho
armies in that region.
German successes in this fighting
are offset by Russian victories in the
southeast. On a front extending from
the regio of Qeranzo to Trembowla Ia.
the troops of General Ivanoff have
captured about $500 prisoners and
have occupied three villages. the Aus
tro-Germans at some points fleeing in
disorder.
Violent Fighting Begins.
The official statement reporting the
beginning Of violent fighting on the left
bank of the Villa. near wilma, adds
significantly that the battle rs likely to
develop ere long between the railway
districts Of wilma. Novosientsiany. Molo-
dechno. and Vileika." In the region of
Lakes Medziol, Naroch. and Swir,
cavalry fighting is occurring on . wide
front.
Southeast Of Oranj. the German at
tempts to advance on the Ida
railway have been repulsed with heavy
enemy losses. 1t Is admitted. however.
that the enemy occupied the village Of
Radjouny. south Of Datishki. after stub
born fighting. Another German detach-
ment east Of Grodno crossed the
Shtshara river and occupied the village
of Shara.
Germans In Retreat.
I'm renewed fighting for the posses
sion of Derazno. we drove the enemy
from the outskirts" said the Official
statement Enemy forces retreated
upon the village, Of Ruda Krasnovie
which was stormed and ca,tured hy
Russian troops. who took 2. .O09 prisoners
and four Maxims.
Near the frontier village Of Gontows
VIC COuHleT-dltaCkeu 6uCCeSSIuIIy, tax
ing twelve officers. $40 men, and thres
Maxims.@ In the Strypa river region
north Of Buczacz. we captured fourteen
officers and 800 men. Northeast of Buc-
zacz we occupied the villages OF
Jancwka and Pielawa. the enemy fee
ing in disorder
The German cavalry is driving fol
the railway between Molodecbno and
Polotsk.
This railroad parallels the Vilnar
Dvinsk line. about seventy five miles
eastward. The two railways running
south and southeast from Wilma arr
still held by the Russians, affordina
means Of withdra wing the forces al
Wilma should II become necessary.
German cavalry holds front ll5 tc
10 miles long in the form Of a grea
bow bending east. The German cavalr,
Is pushing along the railway from
Svientsyany to Glubokoi. which extend.
to within a few miles Of the Molode
chno- Polotsk line. The invaders ar,
spreading out on both sides Of thi.
road and are attempting to cut tn,
Molodechno- Poltosk line at severa
places.
This. however. does not threaten tn,
Russian retreat. as the railroad run
ming southeast from wilma to Minsk b
strongly covered by Russian forces
Moreover. there remains the road ex
tending south from Wilma, through
Ida to Baranovitshi
The Russians continue to maintai,
their positions to the westward In tn,
direction OF Orany.