Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-21
GERMANS PURSUE
SLAVS IN EFFORT
TO DESTROY ARMY
Attack Against Forces Re-
treating From Wilma
Continues.
PETRoGRAD CONFIDENT
RUSSIANS WILL ESCAPE
Military Writers, However, Ad-
nit They Are in Danger
Gus Position.
CONTINUOUS FIRE IN WEST
No Signs Of General Offensive, and
Believed Another Winter in
Trenches Is Assured
CONTINUOUS FIRE IN WEST

LONDON. September cor the
many big battles fought on the eastern
front during the past five months, few.
II any. have been frauGht with such
Importance for the opposing armies as
that in progress TO the east and south
of Wilma. where German Field Marshal
Won Hindenburg is attempting to de-
stroy the Russian army which defended
that city.
The German official report issued to-
day simply stated that the attack
against tho enemy retreatinr from
Wilma Is proceeding"
PetroErad continues to eXnress con-
hdence in the ability of the Russians
10 eNtricate themselves. In the opin-
ion OF military writers, they are in n
dangerous position. II is quite likely
however that they removed their artil-
lery before the Germans crossed the
railways, as the evacuation of Wilma
was decided upon weeks ago
Prince Leopold Of Bavaria also Is
approaching the railway to the south
east of Ida. having reached the dis
trict of Dworzeo. which is in,mediate1v
west of the road skirting the Pripet
marshes and running to Rovno. South
or the Prlpet the Russians still control
the situation and keep on harrassinE
the Austro German armies in Vol
hynia and Galicia
GERMANY GOES TO ALLIES,
AID AGAINST SERBIA
Although. presumably. Germany has
| her hands full in driving the Russians
back. she has found men and guns to
go 10 her allies assistance against Ser
oia, and the German official communi-
cation announces that German guns
have taken up the fight against tho
| Serbian artillery across the Danube,
and claims to have silenced it.
The bombardment with heavy guns
has become mutual in the west both
sides maintaining an almost continu-
Gus fre. while the British fleet is maxi
ing matters hot for the Germans on
the Belgian coast.
There are no signs yet OF a gem
eral offensive. however. and another
winter in tho trenches may be looked
for NJ assured
Intense interest is taken in the Bull
garian situation, and the efforts of the
opposition parties to induce the King
and government to depart from the
paths OF neutrality and join the en-
tente powers. 1t is believed. however.
that despite denials, the railway
agreement with Turkey binds Bulsaria
TO maintain a benevolent neutrality to-
ward Turkey and the Gcrmanic powers
GERMANS UNDER Personal
LEADERSHIP OF KAISER
LONDON, September 20.-More than
100000 Germans. under the personal
leadership of the Kaiser, are making
herculean efforts to lock within a 200
mile ring OF steel the 100000 Russians
|retreating from the Wilma district.
Semiofcial circles in Petrograd ad-
nit that the situation of the Russians
Is more serious than at any time since
the campaign in the east has attained
Its present vast scale. Confidence Is
expressed. however. that the Car will
be able to eXtricate his troops before
the jaws of the German trap clamp
together.
While correspondents in Petrograd
cwel IN their dispatches on tho
chances OF the Russians TO escape n
debacle. Berlin officially has little to
say about the fighting Only brief
mention was made of operations in this
district in the official statement issued
tonight. 1t said:
The forces retreating from wilma are
being attacked We have reached the
pjedniki-II aine line"
y dispatch from Zurich states that
Emperor William is personally direct.
ing operations in the wilma district Il
adds that he himself has not yet en-
tered the city.
Both fianks of the Russian armies re-
treating from the Wilma salient are
being pounded by great forces Of Ger.
many.
Bavarian troops. hghting 10 cut OF
the Russian retreat from the south are
battling desperately along the Ida
Baranovitch railway. The losses are
reported to be tremendous. but their
GAINS. while small. are steady
II is believed that most of their heavy
transport has long since been moved
to the rear as Wilma was evacuated
only after the preparation OF weeks
In addition to the occupation OF wilma,
the Germans have succeeded in making
Il further advance against Dvinsk
Iiindenburgs forces have driven the
russians back to the Dvina River from
the Novo Alexandrovsk front. and ope-
rations against the bridsehead OF
Dvinsk are proceeding.
Closely cooperating with Hinden-
burE's armies. Prince Leopold of Ra-
varia has cut the Wilma Rovno railway.
while Mackensen is reported TO have
advanced along his entire front
Despite the recent Russian successes
N Eastern Galicia an. Volhynia the
director of the Russian southwestern
railways at kteH was quoted in dis-
patch to-day as saying that the evacua.
tion or that city was almost completed,
and that preparations for the removal
OF the inhabitants were proceeding
normally"