Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-08-07
KAISER PREPARES
TO ENTER POLISH
CAPITAL IN STATE
Event Expected to Be Followed by
Proclamation Of a Semi-Au-
tonomous Government
for Poland.
RUSSIANS CONTINUE RETREAT
Grand Duke Making Strenuous Ef-
forts to Save His Army from
Enveloping Movement.
FALL OF RIGA IS IMMINENT

LONDON, Aug. 6.-With the great
Russian fortresses of warsaw and
Ivangorod captured and the fall of
Riga, the capital of the Baltic prov
inces, imminent, the Austro-German
onslaught has reached its height in
the east and the next step will be the
Germa nemperor's triumphant entry
into the Polish capital. That event
is likely soon to be followed by the
pronouncement Of a united and semi
autonomous Poland. embracing not
only the territory wrested from the
Russians, but the Austrian crown
land OF Galicia.
Meantime the Russian armies are
fighting their way backward toward
Russia proper, inflicting blows on
the invaders wherever possible, try
ing to fend them off the railways
running north and south in order
that the ends Of the German nippers
may not meet and in closing bring
disaster to Russian arms. The posi-
ton of the army Of Grand Duke
Nicholas now is a matter of solicit
tude, as the occupation of Warsaw is
believed to be a prelude to q greater
purpose, that of enveloplng the re-
treating forces.
Bridges over vfatuIa DESTROYED.
| The Petrograd reports show the grand
duke has retired to tho right bank OF
the Vistula. both at Warsaw and Ivan
gorod. destroying the bridges at both
points and contesting the German ad-
vance across the river.
Back OF the retiring Russians 10 the
vast morass OF central Poland. with few
railways and primitive roads, making
virtually impossible a quick movement
of guns and supplies: while hack of
Warsaw the only fortress available as a
rnllying point for the Russians is Brest-
Ldtovsk. Thus the Russians are men
aced by General Won Bueiows columns
blending southwark ana By -rIefd 1fafshaI
Won sAiackensens southern army bending
northward.
The fail Of Ivangorod proper. forecast
In the Russian retirement from the west
of the city, is officially reported today
In BULLETINS both from Berlin and Vienna.
Selection OF Governor.
The occupation OF Warsaw now is CEN
Itering attention on a series OF important
events that are being arranged First
will be the selection of a German COVER
nor Reports indicate the appointee will
be German prince. possibly a son OF the
German einpsror, OF an Austrian arch
duke, who will be vested with authority
akin 10 that which Napoleon gave to his
brothers and to his marshals as kings Of
occupied territory.
Autonomy for Poland.
Berlin reports a council to be held
Sunday. viii formulate proclamation
declaring Poland 10 be a semi-autono-
nous state. under Joint Polish and Aus
tro-Hungarian rule. This conforms with
a recent decision OF q Polish Congress
held at Piotrkow, Russian Poland. which
proposed q point Polish and Austro-Hun-
, garian rule. with q separate Polish army
and the fullest Polish autonomy CON
sistent with the strategic interests OF
Auetro- Hungary.
The German offer of autonomy is re-
garded as bid for the support OF the
population OF Poland as against
a similar declaration of Emperor
Nicholas, promising eventual Polish
. / -, = =