Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-22
Official Reports Indicate
That Teutons Are Very
Near Polish Capital
MAY CUT RUSSIANS
OFF FROM PETROGRAD
Advance in Baltic States
Is Being Made Without
Much Resistance

London, July 21.-Rumors Of the fall
of Warsaw are in circulation today but
the latest communications from both
sides indicate the Austro- German rush
towards the Polish capital has slowed
down. The Russians continue to lose
ground, but apparently the campaign
has not yet been brought to decisive
issue.
The most important successes now
reported by the Germans have been
won by General Won Woyrich, south of
lyongorod. This seems to have been
q surprise attack. The Russians, who
had heavy reserves in the neighbor-
hood, later delivered vigorous counter
attacks but failed to recover the lost
ground. Windau, in Courland, on the
Baltic, is definitely in the hands of the
Germans, who are now within thirty
five miles of the important Russian
seaport of Riga.
Possession of Riga by the Germans
would force the Russian armies near
Shawl and Mitau to retreat, as the
Baltic port is their chief point Of sup
plies. The ambitious advance of the
Germans in the Baltic provinces indi-
Gates they hope not only to capture
Warsaw but to cut off the retreat of
the Russians by placing forces be-
tween the retiring armies and Petro-
grad.
All these late advances place Grand
Duke Nicholas, the Russian command
er in chief, In an embarrassing posi-
ton. To risk obstinate resistance
might imperil his retreat. but it is
pointed out here that such an extended
Austro- German line may contain weak
points against which counter move
might be made in the hope of saving
the Polish capital. Military writer's
assert that the presence not only of
landwehr but of landstrum troops in
the German lines indicates the central
powers are exerting every resource to
crush the Russians.
Mine warfare along the British front
and isolated actions on the remainder
of the western battle line are of suf-
dcient Importance to distract public
attention from the eastern campaign.
The Italians are reported to have
Waged fierce battle yesterday all
along the Isonzo front, with some sue
cess on Corso plateau.
Russ Attacks Fall.
Berlin, July 21.-A dispatch to the
Lokal Anzeiger from Czernowitz, cap
ltal of Bukowina, reports heavy fight
ing along the Dniester river near the
Bukowina- Galicia border. The Rus
slams brought up large reinforcements
and made determined attempts to re-
take positions on the left bank of the
river which had been captured by the
Austrians. They were supported by
heavy artillery but the dispatch says,
their attacks gained them nothing.
Along the Bessarabian front also,
the Russians are on the offensive, hav-
Ing made desperate attacks during the
last four nights. They succeeded in
breaking into the Austrian positions
In one place but the attacking forces
subsequently were captured and here,
as elsewhere, the Russians were un-
able to make gains. The battle of
Monday night lasted six hours, during
which the Russians made eight as
saults at many points.
According to dispatches reaching !
Berlin, all the official archives In Riga, |
the Russian Baltic port, now threaten
ed by the Germans, together with the
moneys Of state banks and court rec
ords, were taken to Petrograd Monday.
The government officials have been ad-
vised to be ready to depart. 1t is said
more than 10000 inhabitants of the