The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-22
POLAND IS AFLAME
SlayS Use Tactics With Which
They Harassed Napoleon.
Burn Bridges, Seize Food, Lay
Whole Country Waste.

London, July 22-WhiIe prayers for
victory were being said today through
out Russia, the Austrians and Germans
continued their drive at Warsaw from
the north, the west aud the south.
Meanwhile theySwere reaching fur
ther north towards Riga, aon the Bal
tic, from which their advance guard is
not more than twenty miles distant.
Country Aware of Crisis.
The tone of dispatches from Petro-
grad bespeaks plainly that the coun-
try is aware of the gravenesS of the
military situation, involving not only
the fate of the Polish capital, but the
land. the northern and southern sec
tions of which might be cut in twain
by a decisive defeat along the Lublin-
Chelm railway. 1t is along this sec
most desperately, for this railway is
the sole great artery of communica-
ton of Poland with southern Russia,
sweeping away from Lublin and Chelm
towards Odessa.
In RifIeshot of Railway.
Having several times been reported
within five miles of the railroad and
now, according to Austrian claims.
having pierced the Russian front, this
section of the TeutoniC allies should be
within rifle shot OF the railway, but
no claim has been made of having
seized in. Northwest of Lublin, how
ever. the Teutonic forces have pushed
forward to the bridge head positions
south of Ivangorod, and thence north
ward.
Around the circle which is tighten
ing on Warsaw hey have made steady
progress, though meeting with serious
opposition along the NareW river,
northwest of the capital.
Falling Back Elsewhere.
Elsewhere. generally speaking, the
Russians are falling back, employing
the tactics with which they harassed
Napoleon in 1912. That is, they are
stroying roads but are laying waste
the countryside with fire and dyna-
mite, removing such provisions as they
can, destroying such as they cannot
take away, driving cattle and other
live stock before them and leaving for
the invader a ruined and desolate
waste. All Courland has been laid
waste and Windau in flames sent up a
glow visible many miles away.
The British public is following with
keen anxiety the campaign in the east
ern part, hoping that Grand Duke
Nicholas may stem the Austro-Ger-
les and continue in further retreat the
cohesion he has been able to maintain
thus far.
Front of 500 Miles.
Eliminating the stroke against Riga,
the operations in Poland occupy a
front of roughly 500 miles. divisible
into three principal areas:
The first along the Narew, north
and west of Warsaw.
The second, the center on the Wis
tula between Warsaw and Ivangorod.
The third, in the vicinity of Lublin,
where the Austrians and Germans are
fighting for the railway
The situation, as the British press
sees it, is critical. and the papers edi-
torially remind Russia that as she
checked the Germans at the gates of
Warsaw last fall ard drove them back
when within eleven miles of Lublin,
so she should now hold them.
Coincident with dispatches from
Russia saying the spirit of the army
is unbroken and the belief in ulti-
mate victory is strong, comes the re-
port that the feeling is growing that
Russia is doing more than her share in
the war, bearing at present almost the
entire Lurden. These com plants, ac-
cording to special correspondents, are
not confined to the rank and file. Rus
sian newspa pers contrast the colossal
battle in which their nation is en-
gagged with the comparative inaction
a 10 front