Evening star., 1915-01-18
ON DEFENSIVE IN EAST, ~
FREEING LARGE FORCES
Teutonic Troops Reported Being
Moved From Poland to Franco
and Belgium. IL
NEEDED TO DEFEND HUNGARY
Army Intended for Another Invasion
Of Servia May Be Required to
Repel Russians in
Pennsylvania.

LONDON, January Is, 1872
p.m.-London is recalling that
this is the forty-fourth anniver-
sary of the proclamation of
Wilhelm l as German emperor,
and in the British capital it is
expected that the day may bring
news of widespread German ef-
fort to follow up with a still more
important movement the success
achieved last week in the neigh
borhood of Scissors.
In London it is believed that
the Germans have adopted what
is virtually a defensive role to the
west of Warsaw-some British
observers arguing that this has
been forced upon them by supe-
rior Russian numbers-and that
these defensive tactics synchro-
nize with the movement of manv
thousands of Teutonic troops
from Poland to the French and
Belgian battlefields.
Vigorous German Offensive.
The fighting at Scissors some British
commentators declare to be the prs.
cursor of the entry of these new troops
upon q vigorous offensive. perhaps an
attempt to cross the River Aisne.
At scissors the French failed to hold
their positions on the northern bank
Of the river, and for the Germans to
attempt to gain the southern bank is
regarded as a development to be sx-
pected. As to future engagements in
this region, 1t appears to be q fact that
the French artillery on the hills south
of the Aisne commands all the ap-
proaches to the river and that 1t will
have to be reckoned with.
Steady Pressure by Russians.
In the eastern arena of the war the
steady pressure which the arrival OF
one million of last-year levies has en-
abled the Russians to exert upon the
Germans, according to news dispatches
reaching London. has been slowly
pushing back the German lines to the
west of Warsaw.
News dispatches today report the
Russian reoccupation of Plock This
report has not been confirmed official
ly, but the Russians Saturday crossed
the Skrwa river q few miles below that
point, and may have been able to oc-
cupy the city. Russian forces already
had reached Sierpec and Gombin, lying
respectively, directly north and south
of this provincial capital.
The Russian defeat of the Turks, if
the claims of Petrograd are fully borne
out, was SO decisive that ii may mark
the close of the Ottoman attempt to
invade Russia in the Caucasian region.
The Russian victory probably will free
enough of the Caucasian army to op-
pose effectively the Turkish forces
which are approaching the frontier
farther eastward, through Persia.
Political Effect of Victory.
The capture of Kirlibaba pass. through
which roads lead into the heart of
is likely to have a DO
litical as well as military effect 1t
will possibly hasten the action of Rou-
ma mia and will compel the Germanic
allies to send troops for the defense of
Eastern Hungary.
With the retirement Of Count Won
the former Austro-H -HunEa.
rian minister of foreign affairs. who %
said to have favored another expedI-
ton against Servia. and because of the
greater influence Of the Hunga rians in
the councils OF the empire by reason Of
the appointment Of Baron Stephan Bu-
ran at the head of the foreign depart
ment, the troops which we're destined
for the Servian operations are likely to
be diverted to meet the new Russian
threat against Hungary.