New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-05

London, Aug. 4.-Ihe hrst signs
on the fighting line that Russia is
ready to carry out her announced
intention of evacuating Warsaw
came to-day with reports from both
Petrograd and Berlin Of contrac-
tion of the lines at the point of the
Polish salient.
Berlin claims tonight that the
Russians have been driven back to
the advanced defences of Lomza,
that the Narew has been crossed near
Ostrolenka, that, driven out OF their
Blonie positions, the Russians have
fallen back into the outer lines OF
Warsaw. which the Bavarians are
attacking, and that the Austrlans
have captured the western part OF
the fortress of Ivangorod.
This series of movements is ex-
pected to eliminate in the German
occupation of the Polish capital, and
if the German advance is pressed,
may develop into great battle, put
il is considered likely by many eX-
perts that the Russians, having held
their lines for three weeks, are at
last ready to withdraw, and will do
so without an extensive engagement.
On the whole, the Russians, so far
as can be gathered from the official
reports, are making an extremely
orderly retirement. They are losing
comparatively few prisoners, and,
except for the thirty-two guns aban-
doned to the west of lvangorod, the
Germans make no claims to the
capture of heavy pieces of artillery.
In the meantime Field Marshal Won
Mackensen is slowly advancing from
the southeast, between the Nistula and
the Bug, in an effort to cut of the Rus
sian armies, which apparently are max
ing a leisurely exit from Warsaw, and
the western lines, while General Won
Buelow, in his wider encircling move
ment through Courland, has reached
Kupischki, some fifty miles west OF
Dvinsk. on the Vilna-Petrograd Rail-
way.
Although the operations OF Won
Mackensen and Won Buelow appear 70
offer the most dangerous threats TO
the retiring Russian armies the Rus
sian General staff is paying more at
tention to Field Marshal Won Hinden-
burg. who has been trying, with moro
or less success, TO force the line OF the
Narew. Here the Russians are Offering
the most stubborn resistance, and, ac-
cording TO an official dispatch from
Petrogrsd. in two battles Of three days
each. succeeded in checking the Ger
mans and inficting heavy losses on
them. The Russians also admit severe
casualties.
When the dispatch was sent a third
battle was in progress. Berlin claims
that in this battle the Germans have
been successful and have forced u
crossing Of the Narew, near Ostrolenka.
A Russian official tement from
Petroerad claims continued and sue
cessful resistance 70 the efforts of tbs
Germans to cut off Warsaw. but admits
that the losses on both sides have been
very heavy. The Germans in Poland
have been reinforced with troops
brought from France.
This report refers 10 the enormous
efforts" Of the Germans 10 dislodge the
Russians from their positions on the
Narew River, north of warsaw. On
the PISA an, Skwa rivers, further TO
the northeast. the Russians have been
attacked by the "entIre German army"
reinforced with men brought from
France. The Germans, however, met
defeat in this sector. The battle for
the crossing of the Narew, near Novo-
gorod, has not yet even begun.
Russians Admit Heavy Losses.
This official statement then relates a
Russian success near the m nth of the
Skwa. The Germans brought up further
reinforcements, but all their efforts to
make progress in this section resulted
in failure. They are at present endeav-
oring to break through northeast Of 0s-
trolenka.
The German losses are described as
severe" in one case, and very heavy"
in another, while the losses Of the Rus
SLAMS also are set down as very
heavy"
The official statement as given out in
Petrograd follows:
Fighting occurred yesterday on the
River Yissa.
East Of Poniewesch we assumed a
counter offensive. and lighting occurred
with varying success.
I'm the 0strolenka district our troops
retreated 70 new front.
Our troops yesterday, in conformity
si,h their ordera Adams pdoped tie Blsa-