Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-09
OFFER RECEIVES
FLAT REJECTION
FROM PETROGRAD
Told That Question of Peace
Negotiations Cannot
Be Raised Now.
KING OF DENMARK ACTS
AS INTERMEDIARY
Russia More Than Ever Deter
mined to Fight 1t Out
to Finish.
POLICY OF 1912 is ADOPTED
Enemy Is Being Drawn Further and
Further Into Devastated
Country.
POLICY OF 1912 is ADOPTED
Enemy Is Being Drawn Further and
Further Into Devastated
Country.

Especial Cable to The Times-Dispatch.1
PETROGRAD, August s.-From alb
solutely trustworthy sources the Bourse
Gazette learns that last week Emperor
William. through the King of Dem
mark. offered the Russians terms OF
peace. The reply of the Gear to the
Danish monarch's letter was the cate
gorical declaration that at the present
time there could be no question of
peace negotiations.
These statements are by no means
improbable.
Having failed to carry out her orig
inal program OF crushing France in the
first few months of the war, GERMANY
has now altered her general plan, and
Is straining every nerve to eliminate
Russia from the number of her an
tagonists. in order to be able to con-
centrate all her energies against the
allies in the west, when they at last
are In position to cause her serious
inconvenience.
GERMANY HAD HOPED
TO ANNIHILATE ARMIES
Germany had hoped, by the mo-
mentum Of her assault on both flanks
OF the Polish salient, to cut off and
ultimately destroy the Russian armies
occupying it. and thus reduce Russia
to impotence.
No doubt. her calculations were
largely based on the idea that the Rus
slams would cling desperately to the
warsaw and Vistula fortresses, and
thus allow themselves to be caught in
n trap.
Last week it must have become clear
to the Germans that their plot was
frustrated. Thanks to the timely deci-
sion OF the Russian chief of command.
warsaw was evacuated promptly and
with thoroughness. The Germans will
find that the Polish capital is an en-
barrassing luxury.
1t is quite natural that, under such
circumstances, the Kaiser should
dangle temptations before the eyes of
Russia. No doubt, the terms he offered
seemed to himself generous and mag
unanimous. However, the emphatic re-
lection Of his offer is clinching proof
or the steadfastness and constancy of
gallant Russia.
EMPIRE IS DETERMINED
TO FIGHT TO FINISH
Further confirmation OF the iron de.
termination Of this empire to fight to
finish is found in n remarkable article
contributed to the Bourse Gazette by
General Mikhnevitch, head of the gem
cral STAFF. who places II beyond ALI
doubt that Russia deliberately adopted
the policy of 1912 of retreatinC eyerv-
where. at ease and in good order. leav-
ing behind desert stripped OF every
thing that could be of advantage to the
foe. He says:
IF they want to. the Germans can
come on further and further, until such
her needs. They Will have to fight for
every step of gain. but the Cars
armies Will not allow themselves to be
pinned down to a decisive battle until
their equipment is complete
Meanwhile. the Germans will leave
the railways further and further be-
hind them and Will be compelled to
carry every ounce of food they need
across devastated tract, where the
roads. at the best times, are few and
worse than anywhere else in Europe
The only question about which there
could be any doubt is whether the Rus
SLAMS have the hardness OF temper to
make the necessary sacrifices
All doubts on this score arc now
set at rest. Time is on Russia's side.
In all tho fundS economic fac
tors. such as the area OF agricultural
ProuuctiVeness ana the size OF popula-
ton. her advantage over her enemies
is enormous.
While German industry has been
paralyzed by the suspension OF foreign
trade, Russa's peasantry. 81 per cent
of her people, are actually in a better
position than they were before the
war This is partly the result of on
forced sobrioty and partly because OF
the great demands OF the army com.
missariat.
ECONOMIC HEART OF
COUNTRY UNTOUCHED
The economic heart OF Russia is
situated 500 miles from the frontier,
and is inaccessible TO the enemy's
sword.
Tho enemy is making frantic efforts
TO secure, at any rate, part OF tho
booty he expected to fall into hts
clutches with Warsaw and the Y.s-
tula line.
Vigorous attacks have been made on
tho fortresscs of Kovno and Ossowetz
and towards Ostorov. TO the south of
the Narrow, and in the neighborhood Of
Sorock. where he Is trying TO cut the