The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-21
RUSSIAN WARSH|PS
 ENGAGED BY FLEET . .0F GERMAN VESSELS
Battle Continuing Without Decisive Result, Reports PetrOgrad-NOvOgerO-
 gevsk Falls

Petrograd, August 2O.-(yia London. August 21. q. mD-A German fleet has penetrated the Gulf of Riga and Is engaged with Russian warships de- | .ial statement issued tonight at the Russian war office.
 The communication follows;
 Strong forces of the German fleet have penetrated the Gulf of Riga and fighting with our ships continues.
 ''On land on the whole front from the west of Riga to the lower Biliya there has been no essential change. After the occupation of the Kovno fortifica- tions by the Germans the remainder of the garrison rejoined our forces occupying positions west of the rail- way from Janow to Kochedary. South of Kovno our troops still are on the left bank of the Niemen. From Osso- wetz southward and still further along the whole front of the upper Narew and the Bug in the course of the 18th and lath the Germans made strong attacks. On the right bank of the Narew in the region of Strenkova and Goura in the
  1a 20 versts G3 miles) northwest of Brest-Litovsk In the sectors attacked our troops continue to withstand the enemy. Our cavalry assisted in repuls- ing German offensive near Lpnitza, attacking the German infantry in strong force.
 London. August 20.-00 D. m.)-The gar rison of Novogeorgvsk left behind by the retreating Russians to delay the Teu- tonic advance, has surrendered after per forming that task for just a fortnight. Berlin today announced the capture of the fortress with it's TOO guns and a large quantity of war material. The spells have not yet been estimated, but they probably are large, for the Russians had hoped the earthworks around the fortified camp would enable it to hold out much longer than 1t has done. It now. is expected by military observers here that the other Russian fortresses-Br Brest- Litovsk, Grodno and Ossowetz-soon will fall. -.s
 After the fall of Kovo, Won Hinden- burg commenced again an offensive from the Gulf of Riga to kovno, with the ob- ject of taking Riga and the whole War saw-Petrograds railway from Wilma north ward He is meeting with. stubborn re- ,sistance' and may be denied even the pos session of Riga, unless the German fleet succeeds in entering the Gulf of Riga.
 South of Kovno as far as Grodno the Russians fell back after the fall of Kov- no. iowa I'd the Niemen, and here, accord ing to Berlin they are offering fresh re- sistance in, the hope of preventing or delaying envelopment of the northern hanh of the Brest- Litovsk line.
 Converge on Center
 There seemingly is danger of. this line being forced by direct attack. Six Aus tro-German armies, strengthened by the corps which have been investing Noyo- georgievsk, are sconyerging on the Russian center. which is behind the Bug and along the railway from Brest- Litovsk to Bia- lystok. Other armies have cleared the whole of the left bank of the Bug river before Brest- Litovsk. while Won Mack enzen. having crossed the Bug. is advane- ing on that fortress from the south. This means that the obstacle of the marshes has been circumvented. and that Brest- Litovsk, the chief military depot and con- centratiop center of Russia, virtually Is enveloped.
 Although military observers believe the Russians probably again will be able to withdraw in safety. the loss of these lines is considered a graver military mis- fortune than the loss of Warsaw
 The German success has been cue ai- most entirely to their great superiority in artillery. and military critics predict that as long as they ma intain this and continue to press forward, the Russians
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