Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-09
GERMANS CLAIM VICTORY
TO NORTH OF SZUPAIKA
Emperor Nicholas Bids Grand Duke
Farewell as Latter Leaves
for the Caucasus.
ENGLAND VOICES CONCERN
Changes in Highest Russ Commands
Cause Speculation-Said <Emperor
Has Foes at Home and
at Front

= LONDON, September 9.-For
the first time in MANY weeks the
Russians, according to their own
statements, have inflicted severe
defeat on their opponents. The
battle OF Tuesday near Tarnopol.
seventy miles east Of Lemberg.
and near the Galician frontier, al
though not conclusive, is regarded
in England as indicating that the
Russians are reaching the stage
where they purpose striking back
after their long retreat.
The Teutonic forces engaged in
this battle included not only Aus
trian but German forces, they be-
ing the &C German Division and
4Sth Reserve Division and an
austrian brigade. The Russians
maintain that 5000 prisoners, ex-
elusive of the dead or wounded,
measure the extent OF their VIC
tory, and that it would have been
more pronounced but for their in
feriority in artillery.
The German center is forging
forward slowly by virture of sus-
tanned pressure, but in the north
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg
still is unable to force passage
OF the Dvina.
The German version OF the lat
est Austrian war office statement,
received here by wireless from
Berlin, asserts that twenty Rus
sian officers, 4,4oo men and seven
machine guns were captured
when Austro-Hungarian troops
captured Russian positions north
OF Szupaika, near the mouth OF
the Sereth river.
In the fighting near Podkamien,
on the Russo-Galician frontier.
and Radziwilow, in Russia, the
Russians have been forced to re-
treat on a front OF about fifty-six
miles, according to the official
communication issued by the
Austrian war Office.
Grand Duke Leaves.
Reuter- dispatch from Petrograd
saws that Grand Duke Nicholas and his
headouarters' staff started for the Cau-
casus last evening. Emperor Nicholas
went to the railroad station to say
farewell to the new viceroy.
Great concern is expressed by the
morning papers over changes in the
Russian higher commands. 1t is con-
sidered natural. however. that at a
time of such national gravity the czar
should assume supreme command, as
Ia. is both the spiritual and secular
head of the empire in way not easily
understood in western Europe.
Battling Against Two Foes.
As the Times editorial says if the
emperor takes the field in person it is
TO overcome at the same time foes of
Russia at home and embattled foes.
who are striking at his sovereignty.
None can know better what vast
issues are involved than the monarch.
who in the early years of his reign.
favored clemency for Poland and
sought to promote human welfare
through The Hague conference, and
who. since the war began, by a heroic
stroke, freed his people from the evils
of alcohol and who rejoices in the
title of Little Father of his people.
Such a monarch may well instill new
confidence into his troops and steel
their hearts afresh for victory.
Dissipates Peace Talk.
Itsis universally agreed that the em-
peror's action dissipates any idea that
Russia will listen to proposals for a
separate peace, but what puzzles the
British press is how to explain the re-
moyal of Grand Duke Nicholas to an
other sphere The Chronicle, like all
the other papers, has only the highest
praise for the manner in which the
grand duke conducted the great re-
tjrement forced upon him by short.
age Of munitions.
The Times military expert also ap.
plauds the grand dukes strategy in
having reunited his northern and CEN
trail armies and successfully passed the
moment of greatest danger The corre-
snondent SAYS he cannot believe the
removal of the grand duke implies any s
change in the conduct of the campaign.
Can Carry on Orderly Retreat.
Commenting upon the changes in the
Russian high commands. the military
expert of che Times says that. short
of some serious mistake which the
grand duke has hitherto shown no sign
of making, the Russians can now car
ry on an orderly and quiet retreat.
lighting where they please and for as
long as it pIeases them. until the wet