Evening star., 1915-08-07
FORMIDABLE MOVEMENT
TAKES Definite FORM
Huge Pincers Aim at Dvinsk in
North and Brest- -Litovsk
in South.
SLAvS EvACUATING KOvNo
Teutons Said to Have Been Forced
Back to Cars Forces on River
Missa-Riga Situation
Obscure.

LONDON, August 7.-Hold-
ing the bridge heads at Warsaw
over the Vistula river, the most
formidable military obstacle in
eastern Europe, Germany and
Austria Hungary, having con-
quered the river line, and with it
invaded Russian territory for an
average depth of 100 miles along
a front from the Baltic to Buko-
wilma, are now throwing their
forces forward in an endeavor to
accomplish what Russia's allies
have so feared-the complete en-
velopment of the Russian armies.
The British press is inclined to
the viev that the forces of Grand
Duke Nicholas retired from War
saw virtually intact; but there is
an increasing disposition not to
minimize the seriousness of the
situation as it still exists.
Though still holding Novo
Georgeviesk, the Russian garrison
remains at bay. Thus the Rus
sian armies not only are menaced
back of the Warsaw salient, from
which it is assumed they were
not entirely clear before heavy
German forces broke across the
Vistula to the southeast of War
saw; but a larger and more for
midable enveloping movement
has taken definite form, being in
effect a greater pair of pincers
aiming at Dvinsk, in the north,
and at Brest-Litovsk, in the
south, and superimposed on a
smaller pair which sought and
still seeks to crush the Russian
forces in and around Warsaw.
There is the chance that the
grip of the smaller pair may not
be effective, and it will take some
time to demonstrate whether the
more ambitious movement Sue
ceeds.
Russians Evacuating Kovno.
A dispatch to tho Daily Mail from
Copenhagen says:
The Russians are evacuating Kovno.
The governor and his stan and the banks
have gone. The population has been leav-
ing for tho past week"
Kovno a fortress of the first class, Is
the capital Of the government of the Same
name in northwest Russia 1t has been
stated that Kovno was to form the north
ern head Of the new Russian line OF
Kovno, Grodno and Brest-Litovsk- The
city has a population Of between $4,000
and 100000.
Situation Around Riga.
Tho situation around RIA. capital Of
the government Of Livonis, Russia, is not
entirely cleared up by the dispatches from
Petrograd No details have been received
cial communication declared had led to
the hurried retreat Of the Germans from
the River Missa to the Ekau river.
Yesterday IL was assumed by the
military experts that no serious at
tempt would be made to defend Riga.
and even now 1t is merely claimed
that the Russian success will delay for
some days the German approach to the
:arhe German force which has been
driven from the Missa," says the Daily
telegraph Petrograd correspondent.
"was not aiming directly at Riga but
attempting & to 1 forSe &c a r,rsr passage OF 'he
There is no definite news Of opera
tions against Riga from the sea.
Position Is Precarious.
A dispatch from Austrian army head
quarters says tho position OF the re-
treating Russians between the Vistula
and the Bug rivers has grown more
precarious as a result Of the heavy
rains OF the past few days.
The marshes in their rear hold the
rising water. confining the movements
Of troops exclusively to a few roads.
The retreat, therefore. Is encountering
increased difficulties.
The Russians are sacrificing men
recklessly, trying to retard the German
and Austrian advance through coun-
ter attacks, which, however, invariably
are unsuccessful, according to the Aus
trians.
The impression here Is that many
prisoners will fall into the hands of the
Teutons before the Russians reach
their new positions.
Old Sea Tactics Recalled.
Tslegraphing from Petrograd. the
Of the Morning Post
says: -'--
What Russia appears to be effecting
now is a maneuver that 10 best under.
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