New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-28
OLITA CAPTURED,
GERMANS ATTACK
PETROGRAD LINE
Resume Drive in COurIand
Press Thrust at
Wilma.
HINDENBURG STRIVES
TO CUT OFF RETREAT
Russians Fall Back from Brest-
Litovsk Along Railway
Toward Minsk.

London. Aug. 27.-The Germans. with
the Brest-Litovsk line reduced. have
resumed the offensive in the Baltic
provinces and are pressing the Rus
slams both in the districts southeast Of
Mitau and east of Kovno in an effort
to reach the main line of railway which
passes through Wilma and Dvinsk to
Petrograd. This may in time prove
the most important of the German op-
erations. although at present the in
vaders arc using more troops in the
pursuit of the Russians, who are re-
tiring from Brest-Litovsk and the line
on either side OF the fortress.
jlita, south of Kovno. fell to-day
1t is expected now that the armies OF
Field Marshal Won Hndenburg will be
reinforced and will make another at
tempt to cut off the retreat OF the Rus
slams. 1t is believed here, however.
that it is now too late to accomplish
this purpose.
Russians Leave Nothing Behind.
The Russians apparently had evacu-
ated both Brest-Litovsk and Olita be-
fore the Germans arrived, as the lat
ter laid no claim to the capture OF guns
or booty. The Austrian official report
states that Archduke Joseph Ferdinand
found the town Of Kamieniez-Litoysk
in flames when he arrived. There are
indications therefore that the Russians
still are carrying to the rear ever!>
thing movable that might prove OF use
to the invaders and burning what they
are unable to take.
The intimation that the Russians
have fortified another front pending an
opportunity for a renewed offensive
has received some confirmation. The
new line, it is stated, is being strength
ened by all the latest methods known to
military engineers. The Russian
armies still are intact, with virtually
all their guns and prospects of more
plentiful supply Of ammunition. For
this reason military writers here be-
l;eve that Grand Duke Nicholas now
should be able to make stand, as the
Austro- German losses must have been
very heavy, especially during the three
weeks which interviewed between the
fall of Warsaw and the occupation of
Brest-Litovsk.
Fall Back from Brest Line.
The Russians who were defeated at
Brest-Litovsk are retreating on 0otn
sides of the railway to MinSk, accord
ing 70 the Austrian War Office.
With the fall of Olita, in all the wide
sweep of Russian territory south OF
the Baltic provinces which has been
covered during the great Austro-Ger-
man offensive movement, the fortress
of Grodno is now the only strongly de-
Tended position remaining in the hands
of the Russians.
Olita was on the principal Russian
line of defence, midway between Kovno,
already in the hands of the Germans,
and Grodno. 1t is about nifty miles
southwest of the important railroad
centre of Wilma. which is on the direct
trunk line to Petrograd. Ollta is the
ninth important Russian fortress to
fall before the invaders in the last
three weeks.
Ready to Evacuate GrodnO.
The Russians apparently have decided
TO evacuate Grodno, the one important
stronghold on their principal line OF
defence which they still retain. keu-
ter dispatch from Petrograd quotes the
An T., tat frrO0n0
vii. be given up when the retreat OF the
defenders has been covered.
This message indicates that the fall
of Brest-Litovsk, announced IN Berlin
Yesterday, was not known publicly IN
Petrograd at p. m. to-day, the time or
the filing of the message. The "RussKy
Invalid" said that preparations were un-
der way for Il e evacuation of Brest-
Litovsk, adding that five armies were
striving to Surround it and cut it off
from the Kovel district.
GERMAN OFFICIAL.
The German official statement says:
Army orp of | ield Marsha Won
Hindenburg: Battles at Bausk and
at Schoenberg. southeast of Mitau,
and in the region east of Kovno, con-
tinue. We took 2.450 Russians pri-
oner. and four cannon and three ma
chine guns were captured.
Southeast of Kovno the enemy was
defeated. The fortress of llita has
been evacuated by the Russians and
was occupied BY us.
Advance Toward the Niemen.
Further south the German troops
are advancing toward the Niemen.
The crossing over the Berecowka
tributary east of Ossowetz has been
won. The pursuit is being carried on
along the entire front between the
Bobr and Suchawola on the Bere-
cowka and in the Bieloviezh For
o. L. OEth and OHth tho rrr