New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-05
RUSSIANS BRACE
LINES, CHECKING
FLANK MOVES
Slow, Stubborn Retreat
Insures Escape of the
Cars Army.

London, Sept 4.-Although they
continue their retirement in some sec
tors and are being driven back in
others, the Russians have stiffened
their opposition 20 the Austro- German
advance, and the Germanic Allies now
have TO fght hard for every yard Of
ground.
Away to the north. just below the
Gulf of Riga, big battle is In prog
ress for possession of the River Dvina.
The Germans now occupy the western
bank between Lennewada. where they
captured a bridgehead yesterday, and
Friedrichstadt, where another bridge
head was taken by storm to-day. The
fall Of this defence, with 1926 men,
places the Germans forty miles from
Riga.
These successes, il they can be car
ried to a conclusion by forcing a cross
ing of the Dvina. must result in the
evacuation of Riga, which already is
threatened from the west and south by
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg's army.
Fall of wilma Near.
From Friedrichstadt south to the
Pripet marshes the Russians and Ger
mans are engaged in a series Of bat
ties, and while the Russians by coun-
ter-offensives along the Wilma River
and other points are inficting heavy
losses on their pursUers, they are be-
ing pressed back. The town of Wilma.
which has already been evacuated BY
the civilians, will probably soon be left
behind the Russian army.
All the Grodno fortihcations are now
IN German hands. with the Russian
forces which occupied the fortress in
retreat. To the south of the fortress
Russian positions on the Niemen have
been evacuated.
Teutonic pursuit of the Russians is
continuing in the BIelvovieZh Forest
region and in the marshes east Of
Brest-Litovsk Field Marshal Won
Mackensen's forces have worked TO
within less than forty miles Of Pinsk,
where The Russians were repulsed- in
an engagement, the Berlin report de-
clares.
Russians Stand Stubbornly.
To the south Of the Pripet marshes
another series Of battles Is being
fought. The Russians along the Styr
and Sereth rivers are making a stub
born stand, and the Austro- Hungari-
ans, in whose ranks there is a strong
leavening Of Germans, are finding their
way eastward barred OF most OF the
front. They have, however, forced
crossing Of the Sereth River at its
junction with the Dniester, so that now
a very narrow strip of Galicia remains
in Russian hands.
Finding il impossible TO make heat
way in their frontal attacks on the
positions covering the fortresses Of
Dubno and Rovno. which were bases of
the Russian armies for their advance
through Gallcia. the Austrians are
making an attempt 10 turn those posi-
tions from the south. and claim that
General Won Boehm- -Ermolli has brok
en- throuhg the Russian lines. Lutsk,
the third Of this triangle Of fortresses,
has already fallen.
Cars Forces Seem Safe.
There is no indication where the
new Russian lines are, but, from their
str6ng defence, it is evident that they
intend, if possible. TO bring the Aus
tro-German offensive to q standstill
not far east of where they are now
Offering a most stubborn resistance.
So far as the Russian armies are con-
cerned, 1t is apparent that they are
fairly safe from any encircling move
ment. unless the Germans can quick
ly throw a strong force across the
Dyina, southeast Of Riga.
At present the Russian have behind
them many roads leading east and
Cantinu,d ON mage g. column