Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-19
FALL OF WILMA EXPECTED
ALMOST At ANY MOMENT
Wonder Expressed That Germans
Have Not Already Occupied
Town.
REDUCED TO AN EMPTY SHE'LL
Dvinsk, Too, Seems Certain Of Being
Occupied by Teutontc Forces.
Armies in West and Mt Dardanelles
Remain at StandstiII.

LONDON, September 1S.-With the
armies in the west and at the Darda-
nelles remaining at n standstill, and
participating chiefly in artillery en-
gagements and bombing operations.
the battles on the eastern front con-
tfnue to create the greatest interest.
Even there things are not moving so
rapidly rs earlier in the summer, al
though Field Marshal Won Hinden-
burg's offensive in Courland seems to
be making considerable headway, and
there. as in the case OF Field Marshal
Won Mackensen's army further south.
more Russian prisoners. with machine
guns. but no big weapons. are falling
into the German net.
Wilma is nearly surrounded. and won
der is expressed that the Germans have
not already taken the city. which. like
the other towns evacuated by the Rus
slams. has been reduced to an empty
she'll. Dvinsk, too, apparently will go
when Wilma falls.
In the southeast the Germans claim
to have ended the Russian offensive,
but IT is not likely that any important
movement can be taken In that dis
trict. which the German correspondents
describe as qnagmire. What SEEM
ingly has happened is that the Rus
slams, finding their advance into Galicia
bringing their line out Of alignment
with the rest of the front. have with
drawn to the Sereth River.
On the other hand. the Russians, re-
enforced, have become more aggressive
In the fortress triangle OF Rovno.
Dubno and Lutzk, and have compelled
the Austrians to retire westward.
INCREASED LIvELINESS
ON SERBIAN BORDER
There is increased ,ivcliness along
the Serbian border. an Indication that
the longthreatened Austro- German at
tacks. with a view to rushing help to
the Turks. are about to commence.
The Serbians express the greatest con-
fidence In their ability 10 defend the
mountain fastnesses through which an
invading army would have to pass.
On the southern end of the battle
line the Russians continue to gain sue
cesses. their latest achievement being
the capture of 1900 men along the
Stripa. Little activity Is reported
from the center. where a readjustment
is expected, following Field Marshal
Won Mackensens capture of Pinsk.
Reports that the Austrians and Cor
mans have decided to initiate new Of
fensive campaign are multiplying. but
there is little concrete evidence con-
cerning its direction. Cabling from
Rotterdam, several correspondents as
sert they have reasons to believe the
hnI
heavy blow. and have already put
under way the preliminary military
movements.
OBJECTIVE OF NEW CAMPAIGN
EITHER ITALY OR SERBIA
The objective OF the new campaign
is generally believed to be either Italy
or Serbia. Apparently there has not
been any great concentration Of troops
along the Danube and Save Rivers
Considerable activity has been dis
played along this front recently. Aus
trian attempts to cross the rivers havc
been checked, and, according to official
reports from Nish, Serbian artillery has
destroyed fortified works on the banks
OF tho rivers.
1t is felt here that the Balkan prob
lem has reached a critical stage. The
Turco- Bulgarian agreement, coupled
with the announcement of Premier
Radoslavoff, Of Bulgaria, that public
opinion was opposed to any attack on
Turkey, seems to have settled the at
titude OF the BuiEarians. at least as
long as the Dardanelles remain closed
to the entente powers.
There probably will be no further
development on conscription until Par
Lament meets again next week.