Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-07

London, Aug. G, 1910 P. M.-With the
great Russian fortresses OF warsaw
and Ivangorod captured and the fall
Of Riga, the capital Of the Baltic prov
inces, imminent, the Austro-German
onslaught has reached its high tide IN
the East and the next step Will be
the German Emperor's triumphant en-
try into the Polish capital. That event
is likely soon to be followed by the
announcement Of united and semi
autonomous Poland, embracing not on
ly the territory wrested from the Rus
slams but Austrian crown land Of Ga
licia.
Russian Retreat
Meantime the Russian armies are
fighting their way backward toward
Russia proper, infiicting blows on the
invaders wherever possible. trying to
fend them off the railways running
north and south, in order that the ends
Of the German nippers may not meet,
and, in closing, bring disaster to Rus
sian arms.
The position of the army Of Grand
Duke Nicholas now is matter of
solicitude, as the occupation Of War
saw Is believed to be a prelude to the
greater purpose Of enveloping the re-
treating forces. Petrograd reports
show the Grand Duke has retired to
the right bank Of the Vistula both at
Warsaw and Ivangorod. destroying the
bridges at both points, and contesting
the German advance across the river.
Dangerous Situation
Back Of the retiring Russians Is the
vast morass Of central Poland, with
few railways and primitive roads, max
ing virtually impossible a quick move
ment of guns and supplies, - while
back OF Warsaw, the only fortress
available as a rallying point for the
Russians is Brest-Litovsk. Thus the
Russians are menaced by General Won
Buelow's columns bending southwark
and by Field Marshal Won Mackensen's
southern army bending north.
Tho fall Of Ivangorod proper. forecast
in the Russian retirement from the west
Of the city. Is officially reported today
in bulletins, both from Berlin and Wen
ma.
Governor Of Warsaw
Tho occupation of Warsaw now is GEN.
ter1ng attention on a series Of important
events that are being arranged. First
Will be the selection OF German gov
ernor. Reports indicate the appointees
VIII be German prince, possibly a son
OF the German Emperor, or an Austrian
archduke. who will be vested with au-
thortty akin to that which Napoleon
gave to his brothers and to his marshals
as kings Of occupied territory.
Autonomy for Poland
Berlin reports that a council on Sun
day Will formulate proclamation declar-
ing Poland to be semi-autonomous
state under joint Polish and Austro- Hun
garian rule. This conforms with a re-
cent decision of a Polish congress held
at Piotrkow, Russian Poland, which pro-
posed Joint Polish and Austro- Hunsa-
Ran rule with a separate Polish army
and the fullest Polish autonomy consis-
tent with the strategic interests of Ans
tria-Hungary.
The German offer Of autonomy ia re-
earded as bid for the support of the
population of Poland A. against a SINH
lar declaration Of Emperor Nicholas
promising eventual Polish autonomy un-
der Russian suzerainty. The outcome of
these events in Warsaw probably will
determine the political status of Poland
during the war.
Next Teuton Move
What the Germans will do next in a
military way. after attempting to COM
plete their enveloping movement Is a
matter of much speculation. If the cam
paign against the Russians is not ener-
getically pushed. there is the possibility
OF the present victories being undone.
while If an offensive in the east is con-
tinued. the Germans face the rigors and
dangers of a winter campaign in Russia.
Conservative students here think it will
result in compromise, in which the
Germans will withdraw part of their
eastern army. leaving enough men to
maintain and secure the defensive posi-
tons when they have dug themselves in.