Evening star., 1915-09-18
TURKEY EXPECTS AID
OF BIG TEUTON ARMY
Kaiser May Be Preparing to Smash
His Way Through the
Balkans.
WILMA VIRTUALLY INVESTED
Enemy Troops Now on Three Sides
Of City-Russians Continue
Success on Southern Bat
tie Line. -

LONDON, September 1S.-
Reports that the Austrians and
Germans have decided to initiate
a new offensive campaign are
multiplying, but there is little
concrete evidence concerning the
direction which it may be ex-
pected to take. Cabling from
Rotterdam, several correspond
ents assert they have reasons to
believe the central powers have
not only decided to strike a heavy
blow, but have already put under
way the preliminary military
movements. The objective of the
new campaign is generally be-
lieved to be either Italy or Serbia
A message from Constant
nople, Is given out In Berlin to
day by the Overseas News
Agency. quotes Enver Pasha,
Turkish minister Of war, as say
ing that a great German army
was to go to Turkey.
There is a possibility that the
Germans and Austrians are plan
ming to smash their wav throueh
the Balkans.
The city of Wilma Is now VII
tually invested on three sideA
The troops Of Field Marshal Won
Mackensen have reached a point
near Vileika, thirty-seven miles
southeast of the city. The fall of
Wilma would place in possession
of the Germans a considerable
section of the railroad to Petro-
grad, portion of which, between
Dvinsk and wilma, they already
hold.
On the southern end of the bat
tie line the Russians continue to
gain successes, their latest
achievement being the capture OF
400 men along the Stripa. Lit
tie activity is reported from the
center of the line, where read
iustment is expected following
Field Marshal Won Mackensens
capture of Pinsk.
Fate Of Wilma in Balance.
A Reuter- dispatch from Petrograd
says:
1.-The fate of wilma hangs in the bal
ance The latest letters received from
there state that cannonading is heard
without interruption day and night.
Bomb-dropping aeroplanes are constant
visitors. Three of them have been
brought down recently.
1.-The evacuation of government insti-
tutions has been completed and fac
of workmen have already left. The
supply of sugar has been exhausted
and the price of various commodities
has doubled. Newspapers have sus-
pended publication" =
Russian war office advices state that
Wilma can be held as long as may be re-
quired by the strategic situation on
that front. 1t is not the purpose OF
the Russian staff. however, to defend
Wilma at all costs, but only as long as
the presence Of an army there does not
inspire alarm.
The Russian forces at that point do
not appear to be in immediate danger.
notwithstanding the fact that the Ger
man operations fianking wilma have
been carried forward further and that
German cavalry is driving for the rail-
way between Moiodechno and Poiotsk.
This railroad parallels the Wilma
Dvinsk line, about Seventy-hve miles
eastward. The two railways running
south and southeast from Wilma are
still held by the russians, afording
means Of withdrawing the forces 1t
Wilma should it become necessary.
Germans Have Long Front.
The situation in that region is de-
scribed by the Russians as favorable.
German cavalry holds a front lis
to 12O miles long. IN the form of a
great bow bending east. The German
cavalry is pushing along the railway
from Svientsyeny to Glubokoi. which
extends to within few miles of the
Molodechno-Polotsk line.
The invaders are spreading out on
both sides OF this road and are at
tempting to cut the Molodechno-Po-
lotsk line at several places. This. how
ever, does not threaten the Russian re-
treat. as the railroad running SOUTH
east from wilma to Minsk is strongly
covered by Russian forces. Moreover,
there remains the road extending
south from wilma, through Ida to Ba-
ranovitshi.
It is pointed out at the war ofice that
the favorable aspect at Wilma of the
Russians Is shown further by the fact
that they continue to maintain their
positions to the westward, In the direc-
tion Of Orani
A Constantinople telegram states that
at a review Of troops held in honor
Of Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklen-
burg-Schwerin, n-chtef OF
the Turkish forces at the Dardanelles,
Enver Pasha said the presence Of the
duke was the forerunnsr to the arrival
Of 4 great Germap army.