Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-19
TEUTONS AIM TO CRUSH
FOE AND REACH CAPITAL

! LONDON, Aug, l9
Two objectives are now before the VIC
| torous Austro"Hungarian armies in the
eatsern theatre of war They are the
| further pursuit of tho Russian armies.
| with the object of accomplishing their
| complete decentralization and, second an
| advance on Petrograd. The ultimate aim
| of these Obieftives, however Is to force
| Russia to conclude n separate peace
Attention Is being centred now upon
what the next move of the Germans in
the East will be. With the capture Of
kovno by Field Marshal Won Hindenburg
and the rapid advance of Won Mackensen
on Brest Litovsk, the southernmost
fortress of the second line of Russian
| defense, the entire line has become un-
tenable for the Russians. In fact, un-
official dispatches received here today say
that the retreat of the Russians all along
the line has already begun
Persistent reports have reached here
that the Germans are transferring whole
army corps from the southern to the
northern front and are preparing for a
drive on Pctrograd. after seizing the
railway at wilma. In some quarters 1t
is believed here that the movement
through Kovno in Wilma is more than an
effort to reach the Wursaw-Petrograd
Railway and turn the Russian flank The
Germans. some London critics believe.
plan to drive a wedge I'm the Russian line
east of wilma and send armies marching
IA an attack on Petrograd while holding
off the Russians to tn south.
To meet the offensii1 movement 1t was
pointed out here today the Grand Duke
must evuCunte BrCst I4itovsk and retreat
northward with his armies or leave
garrison in Brcs Li;o"sk to impede the
movements of the Germans In the south
east
1t is believed in military circles here
at the Germans will continue their pur-
suit of the Russian armies In an at
tempt to envelope them and compel
huge surrender Some military men, how
ever are inclined to believe that the
Germans will push their advance up
north, against Riga, and after occupying
that port will launch move on Petro-
grad. The Grand Duke, 1t Is believed,
will wheel his armies northward, to de-
fend the Russian capital.
with the fall of Kovno into German
hands, the eastern battle front Is more
nearly straight than it has been since
early last spring. From near Riga, south
along the Petrograd-Vina-B -Bielostok Rail
way, the line runs along the arc OF =
very large circle, clear to kovel, whicn
is on the edge of the vast swamps OF
VOlhynia, covering the Russian southern
flank
The Russians position, however, is very
luf from COmlOIlHDler DeCauhe llOnb -
their few railway connections run par
alel to the front instead of directly away
from IL, and If these lines are cut their
communications will be seriously em
baTrassed.
The enormous difficulties. on the other
hand, In the way of a German advance on
Petrograd are cited From the Learest
point to the Russian capital yet reaehea
by the Germans the distance " more thah
$50 miles, and nearly all tfs way ths
land is IA vast marsh, interspersed win
small and large lakes and rivers, ana
there is only one easily destroyed railroad
The objective of the Germans In tae
future, as in the past, is likely 10 be the
Russian field army, which still refuses 70
be cornered and still retreats into 'hs
interior.
Military men here today expressed the
belief that Brest-Litoysk will be eFaou-
ated by the Russians possibly wiIhih
fortnight.
An official statement from Petrogfau
early today admitted the capture ~ zen,
eral Won Hindenburg, Of The pfinell
defenses of Eoyno. A pastlon OF tns
works on the right bank OF the nNst
still held by the Russians, wnn are usils
the same tactics they enpl01ea uP1-
eyacuatIng Warsaw From theT PCS
tons on the right bank me Huss.s
artillery is covering the retreat oL
kuYno garrison in the direction or fhL1'
the railway centre, toward Thleh w
German rusn is directed,
Petrugrad also admitted heavy GeEa-ah
attacks upon the forts OF NoFo us--s
eysk. but declared there had been ~
change in the situation arUund Hfss''
LIloYsk.