Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-01
GERMANS PRESS
THRUST At SLAVS
Claim to Have Penetrated 100
Miles From PrusSian
Border.
PETROGRAD IN DOUBT
AS TO FOES OBJECTIVE
Berlin Reports Defeat of Russians
Near Szawle and Firing Of
City by Enemy.

LONDON, May 1.-Fighting continues
all along the extended Russian front.
German forces continue their thrust at
the extreme right wing of the czar's
armies. and declare they have pene-
trated more than 100 miles from the
Prussian frontier.
1t Is generally accredited that this
latest offensive movement of the kali
ser's troops is aimed at the Baltic
provinces. although special dispatches
from Petrograd disagree as to the pur-
pose of the Germans. One theory con-
meets III with probable movements of
the German fleet in the Baltic. looking
to the Invasion of the Baltic provinces.
Another idea is that this advance may
be aimed at Libau and Riga. the for
mer strong Russian naval base and
the latter one of the most important
ports on the Baltic Or the Germans
may intend to strike at the railroad
running from Petrograd to Warsaw by
way ofIDuenaburg and Wilma. Farther
south the Germans have failed In their
repeated attempts to get this line.
Szawle Is Fired.
Russians are fleeing after an engege-
ment near Szawle in Russian Poland,
ment issued today in Berlin. One thou
sand Russian prisoners were taken
after the cars forces had fred the
town of Szawle, and much army equip
ment was seized Russian attacks east OF
Plock and at kalwarya have failed
While reporting many engagements
from all points of the eastern battle
line. the Petrograd official statement
outlining the wars progress declares
successful, that much ground has been
gained and that several hundred pris-
oners have been taken.
Carpathian Situation.
On the Carpathian front nothing has
happened in the last two days to alter
the curiously balanced situation.
namely, the Russians directing an Of
| fensive against Uzsok and the Aus
TRANS attempting a movement in the
direction of Stry. The Austrian forces
temporarily are abandoning their at
tacks at other points and are being
concentrated in an effort to bend back
the Russian left wing with Lwow
nemberg) as the ultimate Austrian
objective.
The increasing Russian menace on
Jzzok pass, however, Russian military
observers say, has brought this move
ment to a standstill. since with Uzsok
Austrian right wing. deprived of most
| important support, would automatical-
ly collapse.
Advance Gratifes Berlin.
BERLIN. May l, by wireless to Say
vile, N. Y.-The German advance in
the northeast is being hailed generally
with expressions of satisfaction and
surprise. Nothing was known of such
a movement. although Judging by the
fact that the troops already are over
fifty miles from Nemel the march
must have begun some days ago.
Local military experts point out that
Szawle, whore the fighting is proceed
ing, IS to the east of the line of kovlo
and Wilma, two points which are indiS-
pensable to the protection of the Wis.,
tula and Warsaw.
Russians in Danger.
The fact that the troops had ad-
vanced SO far without being discovered
is commented upon as an indication
that the scouting service of the Rus
slams is no better today than it was
during the Russo-Japanese war. 1t is
declared here that the Russian COM
mander faces the possibility of the
cutting of his line of communications
unless he abandons his forces and the
line of the river or throws the in
vaders back.
There is a town called Shawl in the
center of the Russian province of Kovno
1t is the railroad between libau and
Duenaburg. which the German report yes
terday said had been reached by the in
vading forces. Shawl is about sixty miles
from the frontier of East Prussia, and
about eighty miles from Memel The
spelling Szawle probably is the German
rendering of Shawl