Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-21
GERMANS MENACED LINE
BY DARING CAVALRY RAID
But Force Is Too Weak. It Is Be.
lieved, to Retatd Seriously the
Russ Retreat.
BLAME CHANGE OF STRATEGY
Critics Think Gen. Ruzsky, Ignoring
Grand Duke Nicholas Policy,
Tarried at wilma
Too Long.

LONDON, September 81. IL 10
p.m.-Latest reports from the
wilma fighting zone indicate that
the Russian army there has es-
capped the coils which Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg threw
about it.
By cavalry raids as brilliant as
the famous coups of Stuart and
Sheridan in the American civil
war, a screen of German horse
men swarmed about both fianks
of the retreating Russians and
stood astride their main lines of
communication. 1t now appears
to be probable, however, that
these encireling forces are too
weak to impede Gen. Ruzsky's
veterans.
Germans Fail to Advance.
The simultaneous movements by
Prince Leopold and Field Marshal Won
Mackensen have not resulted in the ex-
pected advance. especially by the lat-
ter. who has not been able to link his
scattered troops after their march
through the Pripet marshes.
| II it be. the truth that the defenders
of wilma have escaped Russia has cause
. hro ~ foF Fnv . L.
apparent that the cautious strategy Of
Grand Duke Nicholas was abandoned
for the moment. and that Gen. Rug
sky's troops remained in wilma SO long
that Field Marshal Won Hindenburg's
plans for junction of his wings
seemed for time certain of success.
North of Ida the railway is in Ger
man hands. but the main forces of the
Russians are south of that point.
Task of Prince Leopold.
Dealing with the Russian retreat
from Wilma the Petrograd correspond
ent of the Times says the most, dramatic
development of the entire German plan
is the task given Prince Leopold OF
Bavaria, who has been called upon to
pierce the Russian center at Sionim.
where Russian rear guards are making
a stand and where the nercest pressure
is being eXerted.
Fortunately for the Russians" says
the correspondent, they have been able
to check the enemyS advance beyond
the shore of the river. but in spite Of
all the gallantry they are displaying
their line of retreat is daily narrowing.
The interval between the enemy's col
umns and the Polesie marshes grad
ually is growing smaller and we must
not blind ourselves to the fact that
this greatly complicates the task OF
the general staff in connection with the
retreat. 1t probably explains the slow
ness of the Russian movements.
Difficult Supply Problem.
"On the other hand, it is equally evi.
dent that the Germans are unable to
push forward their advantage in the
most profitable manner, which doubt
less is due to the immense difficulties
they are encountering in provisioning
their respective armies. According to
the latest news from Dvinsk, the
enemy apparently has captured some
of our positions. but has achieved no
decisive result.
Gen. Ivanoff apparently has adopted
the prudent course in suspending the
advance on the Sereth, in view of the
enemys enormous numerical superior
ity produced by reinforcements from
other sections of Field Marshal Won
Mackensen's widely scattered army
incidentally, the Russian success at
ko1ki is important, as ndicating the
defeat Of the enemy's attempt to gain
possession OF Sarny and the railway,
which should have enabled Won Mac
kenSen to link up his various armies"
Russians Held on Too Long.
Commenting on Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg's latest coup. the military
correspondent of the Times suggests
that since the recent changes in the
Russian higher command the wise
strategy of Grand Duke Nicholas seems
to have lost favor, and instead of con-
tinuing their orderly retreat, the Rus
slams held on too long. This gave the
German commander an opportunity of
which he availed himself fully, and the
great cavalry raids of the American
civil war have been reproduced in the
wilma region.
"It was a great COUP" the correspond.
ent said, for the German cavalry to
reach Vileika and the railway junction
at Molodechno. which must have been
the main artery for supplies not only
for the wilma army. but for all the Rus
sian troops fighting on the Wilma
Sloonim front. 1t was bad business for
the Russians to lose this point even
if Gen. Beulow's army is
following the cavalry through Svien.
tsyapy.
This irruption will have the important
effect of severing the Russian central
and northern armies from each other,
for the latter cannot do much to pre-
vent this separation since 1t is being
itself attacked by superior forces, at
all events around Dvinsk.
Russians Take Many Prisoners. !.
Seventy thousand prisoners of war