Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-15
YOE HTNDENDURG /.
TAKES COMMAND
IDOL Of Germany Leading Attack on
Great Russian Fortress at
Kovno in Person.
PETRoeRAD ADMITS REvERsEs

PETROGRAD fvia London. Aug.
1.-THE Russian war office IN an
official communication tonight adj
mits the evacuation OF the towns Of
sokolow, sledlie and Lukow. to the
east Of Warsaw. but claims that the
Germans IN the region of Riga have
been driven back and that near
Kovno. under the pressure Of the
Russians, they have abandoned their
attack.
Hsndenburg Leads Army.
LONDON, Aug. Ia--Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg personally has taken COM
mand OF the German army attacking
Kovno. and. according TO the German
official report. has made further progress
IN the fighting against the Russians In
that region.
The selection OF Germany's national
hero for the duty OF capturing the fort
ress OF Kovno. which stands between the
Germans and wilma and the Warsaw
petrcgrad railway. Is taken as an indlca-
ton Of the importance which the German
general staff attaches to this operation.
ANNNL NflAN A0D NANlilNNH nhu NoinlutHNtl
10 evacuate Kovno, as well as Wilma, led
10 the belief In many quarters that the
Russians may have decided to give them
up. but in the latest official report from
Petrograd n "a claimed that the Russians
have repulsed the Germans attacks, ex-
cept ct one point where a desperate ar
uIlery engagement Is In progress.
vea BueIow Halted.
Farther north, between Poniewsch and
Dvinsk. where General won Buelow a
week ago was advancing rapidly toward
the railroad. the Germans apparently
have suffered setback, for the Rus
SLAMS now speak Of pressing them and
declare they have reoccupied the town
Of Toviny. which IL considerably west OF
the point 20 which the Germans had pene-
trated.
South Of Riga also the Germans are
said 20 be doing little more than holding
their own. 10 that the talked-of advance
toward Petrograd seems 70 be developing
very slowly.
On tho other hand. the Germans con-
tinue TO drive in the Russians to the
northeast and east OF Warsaw. and with
the capture Of siedlie are within short
distance OF the Bug river. one OF the
main supports OF tho Brest-Litovsk line.
II was believed the Russiane originally
intended to hold this line. Field Mar
shal Won Mackenzen. who commands the
Germans In the southeast between the
NiepFz and the Bug. again is reported
70 have been held up by Russian coun-
ter attack.
The military critics disagree as 10 the
probable line on which Grand Duke
Nicholas will select 70 make his stand.
hut a majority Of them consider Il hardly
likely that he will try to hold the Brest-
Idtovak front.
I.oss OF Crown Prince Heavy.
The German crown prince continues his
attempts TO pierre the French line In the
forest Of the ArEonne. he has had a
few local successes. but the losses he
has sustained IN the series OF attacks are
declared to have been very heavy. The
Germans also have attacked IN Artois
but without success. according 70 the
French account
Two zeppelins last night visited the east
coast OF England. dropping bombs. six
persons were killed and twenty-three In
,ured and fourteen houses were seriously
damaged. II. ..t
This is the sixteenth air raid on Eng
land since the commencement OF the war
and IN ali seventy-slx persons have been
killed and IFS injured.
The negotiations between the Balkan
states are proceeding. but thus far there
h no sign Of any settlement OF the ques-
tons at Issue.