Evening star., 1915-04-08
SMOLNIK is CAPTURED
BY RUSSIAN INVADERS
Controls Only Pass Through Beskid
Mountains for Distance of
Sixty Miles.
CLEAR ROAD INTO HUNGARY
Austrian Commander Now Believed
to Be Cut OF From Hope of
Receiving German Re
inforcements.

PETROGRAD, April 8, IL
noon, via London.-The advance
of the Russians in the Carpa-
thlans has cut the Austrian army
under Gen. Boerovitch in two
places. The eastern wing of this
army is in precarious position.
The Russians have captured
Smolnik, east of Lupkow pass.
Wedge Through Enemy.
The Russians have also thrown
back the Austrians in the district
of Bartfeld and in the district
of Lupkow. Having advanced
through the Rostock pass, they
have forced a wedge between the
Austrian armies. ..-.
Smolnik controls the only road
through the Beskid mountains
between Mezolaborcz and Uzsok,
a distance of sixty miles.
Safety for Western Wing.
The western wing of the Austrian
army has it's base at Gummenoe. and
its communications along the roads into
Hungary are quite safe. The eastern
wing. to the contrary, is Joined with the
forces operating around Uksok. twenty
miles from the Russian positions At
Smolnik, by which they are threatened
with attack ....
It is regarded as likely that the
their base at UZsok in the direction Of
Munkacs or else accept battle at Uzsok,
handicapped by the lack of roads.
Cut OFF From Succor.
In either case the Austrians will find
themselves cut off from the main army
under Gen. Boerovitch and his German
reinforcements.
The Russians have crossed the crest
of the Beskids at Gummenoe and ap-
parently have a clear road to the plains
of Hungary.
Battling for Four Passes.
LONDON, April S.-The fight for the
Carpathian passes is proceeding bit
terly. Both sides claim local successes.
The Russians are fighting their way
over four passes - Dukla. Lupkow
Uzsok and Rostock. the last named OF
which Is in their possession. Rostock
pass is not so important as the others.
but a branch road from IT leads to the
rear of Uzsok pass, which, from the
desperate nature of the struggle in that
vicinity, Is regarded as the key to the
Hungarian plains.
The -Austrians seem to have only
enough men to hold the Russians in
check and evidently are unable to make
an effective counter stroke from
Bukowina.
Hope Centers on Germans
Therefore their hope must again CEN
ter on the Germans. who may force
back the Russians as they did whom
the invaders had reached a point fur
ther within Hungary than they have
gained this time. On that occasion an
Austro German force attacked the Rus
sian flank in the country south Of
cracow, and threatened its lines OF
communication, quickly bringing about
a retreat
A similar movement might he at
tempted now. but its chances of success
nrobably would not be as great be
fore. for the Russian positions are now
heavily entrenched and presumably
could only be dislodged at the cost OF
heavy losses for the attackers.
Difficulties for Russia.
VENICE. via London, April s.-The
Russians. who now are fighting on un-
favorable ground in the Carpathians. ac-
cortiing to Budapest newspapers, are eN-
periencing the same difficulty i'll bringing
munitions and supplies from the rear that
beset the Austrians
Deep snow. impossible roads and inn
forests are said to prevent
military operations on large scale ami
hermit only intermittent fighting, in
which, the Budapest reports say. the Rus
slams are suffering enormous losses. while
the difficulty experienced in keeping open
tions to the rear increases with
every step advanced.