Evening star., 1915-09-13
RUSSIANS ARE ABLE
To HOLD TEUTONS
ON But ONE font
Everywhere Except in GaIicia
Austro-Germans Continue
to Make Progress.
THINKS PETR0GRAD SAFE
FROM CAPTURE BY ENEMY
Hen. Ruzsky Bases Optimism on Diff
ficulties of Country and
Coming Of Winter.
PEOPLE OF GR0DN0 FLEEING
Entire Russian Province Being De-
serted by Inhabitants, Who
Are Suffering Great
Hardships.
THINKS PETROGRAD SAFE
FROM CAPTURE BY ENEMY
PEOPLE OF GRoDNo FLEEING

Are Suner1ng Ureat
Hardships.
LONDON, September 13, II "A
a.m.-The Austro-German armies
on the eastern front, still striving
for definite results, are making
progress everywhere except along
the Galician frontier, where the
Russians report a further success.
In the north. where the Rus
sian line has been Strengthened
by withdrawal of forces, Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg is di-
recting a violent drive toward
Dvinsk and a crossing of the
Dvina.
Selwianka Is Crossed.
In the center Crown Prince
Leopold has forced his way over
the Selwianka. and is attacking in
the vicinity of Skidel.
In the south Field Marshal Won
Mackensen, on both sides of the
Pinsk railroad, is pressing east
ward toward the town. These
movements have resulted in the
capture of several thousand Rus
SLAMS. a-.z. =----- -=s---
Russians Admit Retirement.
The Russian official communication is
sued by the war Office in Petrosrad last
night said that because OF the salient
Of the armies on the Niemen it had been
decided to retire a short distance, still
holding back the Austro-Germans' Of
1ensive.
The final objective Of the central DOW
ers in this campaign is still a matter of
conjecture, but Gen. Ruzsky, commander
of the northern Russian army. declares
positively that there is no danger that
Petrograd will fall this year before the
guns OF the invaders.
Winter an Ally Of Gear.
Gen. Ruzsky. in an interview with the
Times correspondent attached to his
headquarters, declared he considered the
capture Of Petrograd impossible because
the military situation Of Russia with re-
lation to ammunition, rifles and fresh
troops is slowly but surely improving.
In addition to this, he pointed out that
between the present front and Petro-
grad the ground offers endless difficul-
ties to a German advance. quite apart
from the fact that the approaching
winter will hinder the digging of
trenches.
Russia, in fact. has gained an oppor-
tun.ty TO take breath he said, and. hav-
ing continued the campaign through
the winter. will begin the war afresh
in the spring with new armies and new
objects of operations.
Deserving Grodno Province.
A wholesale exodus of the people in
virtually all Of the townships and viii
lagos of the Russian province of Grod-
no is reported by the correspondent at
Minsk of Reuters Telegram Company
.The people are fleeing afoot toward
Baranovichi. the junction point of the
railway leading to Wilma, Rovno, Brest-
1itovsk and Minsk.
The refugees, numbering thousands
gre sleeping IN the "OOdS at night,
6renched by the cold rains. The au-
thorities are doing their utmost to re-
Eeve distress.
Petrograd Reiterates Claim.
PErRoGRAD. September 12, via Lon
DON. September 13.-Ru.sian torpedo
boat destroyers and seaplanes have
been sent in pursuit Of German sub
marines operating near the Crimean
coast in the Black sea, according to an
ohicfal statement issued at the war
once. The statement, which reiterates
the report made September of a
great success near TarnopoI and Trem
bowla. says:
Enemy submarines have been re-
ported In the Black sea near the coast
or Cr1mea. Destroyers and subma arines
have been sent TO pursue them
To sum UP the situation, the Aus
trans and Germans have been dash
ing from one side to the other in an
enort to strike a decisive blow The
German official statement of Septem
ber contradicts the statement made
In our communication of September s
that we TOOK numerous prisoners and
captured thirty guns and machine guns
The great general staff considers II
its duty to explain that it always has
endeavored. within the limits of human
1orce and the rules of military art, to
present each event in its reality. avoid
ang any trace of partially.
Waited for verifcation.
Mistakes always are possible in the
conditions OF excitement and occasion
ally of uncertainty which accompany
military action. Therefore, desiring Ia
establish with certainty our great suc.
cess near Tarnopol and Trembowla
which already Is proved by the action
or our troops, the great general stan
postpones its definite reply regar riding
the trophies taken until it has received
precise reports from the corps engaged
The reports of ono of the armies en-.
kaged on the 8th say that OF the guns
captured from the enemy we already
have succeeded In taking within ouI
lines six ten.centimeter guns and siz