The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-09-11
EARLY OFFENSIVE
in WEST EXPECTED
Allied Armies in France and
Belgium are About Ready
to Advance.
ANOTHER RUSSIAN FORT FALLS
Capture OF LUtsk by TeutoRs May
Compel Siavs to Abandon Balance
OF GaIicia.

London. Sept 2.-For a week me
French have been pouring an ava
lanche OF shells into the German lines
In the West Il is not believed that
this ammunition would be used sim
ply for the purpose or damaging the
German trenches. and therefore an
early general offensive is looked for
The minor fortress OF Lutsk, which,
with those of Dubno and Rovno, forms
q fortified triangle on Russian terri
tory Just north of the Galician from
tier, was captured by the Austrians
today, according TO the official report
from Vienna 1t is in this direction
that the Austro-German offensive has
been made the most aggressive the
last few days, the object being to sep
arate the Russian army which has
been retTeating through the PriPet
marshes from that operating in Ga
hcia, and which yesterday inflicted,
the Russians claim, a rather severe
defeat on the invaders
Forces SIaVs from GaIicia?
The capture OF Lutsk. however, is
likely to compel the Russians, despite
their victory. TO evacuate that part of
Galicia still held by them, otherwise
their flank there would be threatened
Along the rest OF the front, except
in the center, where the Austro-Ger-
mans continue 10 make a slow ad-
vance. the Russians appear to be hold
ing their own They have thus far
prevented the Germans from crossing
the Dvina at Friedriehstadt, where a
battle has been in progress for sew
eral days; they have arrested the
German offensive between that place
and the Gulf Of Riga and still are
holding their ground between Kovno
and Wilma and before Grodno, al
though the Germans have approached
the outer position Of Grodno fortress
sIavs Will Win It
In the opinion of military writer's
here the Russians now stand a good
chance of winning the race for time
Within few weeks the autumn rains
will begin, and, IT is pointed out, IN
less they can succeed in gaining a de-
cisive result before that time. the
Austro-Germans hardly can hope to
smash the Russian armies before, IN
der cover OF the long winter, they are
reformed and re-equipped- At pres
ent the Austro-Germans are straining
every nerve to win this decision, but
they have been greatly delayed BY
the intensity of the Russian counter
attacks and the stubboTnness with
which the Russian troops hold the po-
sition protecting their retreating COM
rades-
Russian Wings Hold.
Petrograd, Sept. 1.-Successful Rus
sian counteT-attacks on a wide front
in the Stripa River district, Eastern
Galicia, are reported in a Russian Of
fetal statement given out here tonight
The Russians claim to have captured
three thousand prisoners, thirty can
non and thirty-four machine guns
London, Sept 1.-The Russians thus
far have prevented the Germans and
Austrians from carrying into effect
their efforts to force back the two ex-
IRENE wings OF the armies of Grand
Duke Nicholas At the northern ex-
tremity of the front, that part Of Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg's army COM
manded by General Won BueloW is
still fighting for the bridgehead south
OF Friedrichstadt while the AustrO-
German forces under General Both
mer, who broke through the Russian
lines on either side OF Brzezany, Cali
cia, have been checked at some places
on the Stripa River.
Along the rest of the front the Ger
mans claim to be making Roadway, al
though some who got through the for
est region east Of Bialystok have suf-
fered a reverse at the hands Of the
Russian rear guard. The parts Of most
interest, however, are at the two
wings. The Germans near Friedrich
stadt are well east of Riga, and mill
tary experts here say that unless the
Russians can dispose Of q considere-
bic force so as TO threaten the leu
tonic flank it appears improbable that
Friedrichstadt can be held much long
er without grave danger. The threat
against the other wing is not so seri-
Gus as it is more distant and the diff
culties of the country are too great
for rapid advance
The Italians are more active, and
tonight report the capture Of another
strong Austrian position southeast Of
Trent and of some Austrian trenches
on the Carso on the road TO TrieSt-