Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-26

Warsaw, from the vistula at Novo
Geergiewsk to the Same river at the
in trenches held back the Germans
with ease. East Of Cholm the marshes
and the fortresses of Dubno, Lutsk
and Rowno held the line. But between
Lublin and Cholm there was an unfor-
titled gap: If Mackensen could force
this he would be in the rear Of the
Warsaw army. and IL he could cut the
three railroads leading from Warsaw
east to Petrograd and Moscow before
the Russians could escape, he could
bag the whole lot in a Sedan greater
than anything history records.
Mackensen Begins Drive.
He began his drive in the last days Of
June. He was at Krasnik in the first
days Of July. but the Austrian force
on his flank, commanded by an arch
duke, was heavily beaten a little later
and the whole advance was checked.
For several weeks there seemed to be
a real chance that the German drive
had at last been halted. Meantime Hin
pushing down upon the fortresses from
Grodno to Novo Georgiewsk, but max
ing little real progress.
Far more minatory was the German
ing east from Libau and windau. was
now aiming at. Riga and at the Petro-
observation-disclosures railroad, north
east OF kovno, which was already be-
ginning to be heavily attacked. This
threatened to cut Off the Russian armies
in Warsaw from the capital. While this
threat was in part met. 1t continued
to mount. Meanwhile. Mackensen was
"a he was across the Warsaw-Kief line,
near Lublin.
A few days later the world knew that
Russia was planning to evacuate War
his armies from between the closing
jaws? The question was to remain in
doubt for many days. Slowly. steadily,
the Russian armies drew back; there
was no sign of haste. no evidence of
saw fell. but the Germans captured
only shell; the city had been stripped.
Meantime, Novo Georgtewsk to the
west and north was defended. This de-
prived the Germans of the use of the
Vistula for transport, as the defense
of Maubeuge a year before had de-
prived the Germans of the main trunk
line from Aix-la-Chapelle to Paris.
Russians Lose Big Guns.
Novo Georgiewsk resisted until Au-
gust 10. It's fall gave the Germans the
| only considerable capture since the
Dunajec. They estimated their prison
ers at $4,000: the Russians fixed their
own losses at $4,000. But they lost an
enormous number Of heavy guns-a
real blow. but one foreseen. for they
were fortress guns and could not be
removed.
But before the fortress fell the Rus
SLAMS were well clear of the jaws Of the
gigantic nutcracker. Their main army
had reached Brest-Litovsk. a hundred
Bohr-Narew line had been evacuated
with due elaboration and without loss
of men or artillery. The Russian line
now ran from Riga, behind the Dwina
river. to Dwina, and then west of the
Nieman at Kovno. and straight south
Here they were expected to make a
long stand. Brest-Litovsk was their
great military center. the base of all
their operations in the west. Their
SO. The world expected long pause
here. and perhaps the end Of the
Austro-German advance.
But the fate of Brest-Litovsk was set
tied by the fall of Kovno to the north
on August II. This opened the road
ind to the whole line Of communica-
tons behind the new Russian front.
At the same time the Russians to the
south were across the railroads to the
south of Brest, and Lutsk and Dubno
were doomed. Accordingly the Rus
rs and fell back upon Pinsk.
Gear Relieves Grand Duke.
The battle for Kovno was one of the
1ercest. in the whole campaign, but
once the Russians were out of the
fortress they retired with their familiar
elaboration and left few prisoners be-
hind them. But they did lose many
hoo he h q
loss in the campaign. 1t was now per-
fectly clear that the grand duke had
determined to run no risk of pitched
battle, but to follow the strategy that
had proved SO disastrous to Napoleon
a century before. The country was laid
in waste as the army retreated. The
fields were stripped. the population sent
out before the troops. The Germans
found only desert
At the precise moment when the es-
sured, the car suddenly relieved the
grand duke. and, sending him to the
Caucasus, took personal command. This
was the most momentous incident of
the whole campaign. and to the allied
capitals it came as a disaster after all
danger of disaster seemed to have
passed. 1t was recognized as meaning
that the court intrigues had removed
great general, who had been the vic
tim of the lack of preparation of his
uatlOH, Out ndd IN dQVefSlCy O1Splayed
a military skill unrivaled in the whole
war on the allied side.
The first fear that the change might
mean the retirement of Russia from the
war was promptly proved groundless.
The car issued solemn assurances to
his allies, and they realized that with
his throne at stake the car would not
take command merely to surrender.
But would the elimination of the grand
duke bring military, if not political,
disaster? Would the Incompetent poll
ticians replace the great soldier? The
question still remains unanswered.
Russian Victory Cheers Gear.
In the first hours Of his control the
car was cheered by Russian victory.
Far to the south in Austrian GaIicia his
troops took the offensive and once more
vanquished the Austrians, taking up
ward of 10000 prisoners.
But rejoicing in allied quarters was
soon turned to panic. For the Berlin
bulletins promptly announced the fall
of Wilma and a new peril to the central
Russian army. Moving first north and
then south, east of Wilma, the German
troops, mainly cavalry. had penetrated
far to the rear OF the Russian army and
were now threatening to envelop it,
They had closed its retreat east and
north, they were threatening it's single
avenue of escape toward the south
HindenburB was now plainly making
his last bid for a decision The soutf1r
ern armies had reached Pinsk The
the Dwina, the Austrian armies were
held I'M n Cq1icin A1roodv no ,,ya, t1,o -,