Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-31
SITUATION PERILOUS
FOR THE CZAR'S FORCES
German Entrance Of Lublin Cuts on
One Avenue of Retreat
From Poland.
PETR0GRAD ADMITS LOSSES
Front Pierced by Foe at Radomka on
Vistula and Passage Of the
Vieprz Also Is
Forced.

LONDON, July 31.-Germah
avlators returning to their lines
after fight over Warsaw, re-
ported that they clearly saw the
Russian troops evacuating the
Polish capital, marching toward
the east, says dispatch received
today by the Geneva, Switzerland,
Tribune, from Innsbruck.
Austro-German cavalry have
entered Lublin. Official an
nouncement to this effect from
Vienna, supplementing German
claims of last night that the Rus
sian grip along this southern
front had been broken. indicates
that the important Lublin-Chelm
railway now is strongly held by
the invaders, cutting off one line
of retreat for the Russian forces
in Southern Poland.
Meantime Gen. Won Buelow
continues his drive toward Wilma.
seeking to cut the northern rail-
way from Warsaw to Petrograd,
and the predicament of the Rus
sian armies seeking to withdraw
intact from Warsaw, unless the
main forces already are out of the
district, becomes more perilous.
Warsaw's 100000 inhabitants,
laden with such household articles
and supplies of food as they can
carry, are fleeing the city toward
the east, and every dispatch from
Russia makes guarded reference,
though quite color1ess, to some
phase of the evacuation of the
city. Official announcement of its
abandonment, which even now
may be fact, has not been forth
coming, however.
Russian Lines Pierced.
While Austro-German assaults have
been repulsed at several places along the
battle line. admission is made in the
Russian official statement issued last
night at the headquarters of the gen
eral staff that the Russian front has
of NJ G,,a
is at Radomka, on the vistula. where
pontoons were used In crossing. A
passage of the vieprz also was forced
at Travniki. German outposts adj
vancing from the southwest are near
ing the fortress of Kovno in the
province of Kovno.
Problem Becomes Acute.
The problem for the Russians to hold
their wings north and south of War
saw while the center retires becomes
more acute.
1t was argued that the conduct of
this retreat without great loss would
entail the necessity of the Lublin-
CheIm front holding firm Now that
it Is broken quick action on the part
of the Russians become imperative, as
also does the stemming OF the increas-
ing German forces driving from Kovno
of which would cause the northern line
to retreat.
Difficult Retirement.
The military correspondent of the
Times, discussing the possibilities OF
disaster to the Russian armies in re-
tirement, says that 'Tt will be diff
ficult retirement"
The security of the whole line" con-
tinues the Times report, depends upon
whether Gen. Won Buelow can be pre-
vented from forcing passage of the
Sventa river (Kovno province). on it's
forty mile front and marching on Wilma
and whether, at the same time his cav
airy masses can be prevented from cut
ting up the communications farther
afieid. The natural course would be
for Grand Duke Nicholas to reinforce
his fifth army from reserves at Brest-
Litovsk and end the northern menace.
II he does not Gen. Won Buelow will
throw a ring around Kovno. clear the
east bank of the Nimen, pass the 10th
German Army Corps across and estab-
Russians communications.
Fair Chance Of Success.
There is q fair chance that the re-
tirement may be successfully carried
out, but the moment 1t begins all Ger
man armies will throw themselves
upon the Russian rear guards like
packs Of wolves.
From Warsaw to Brest-Litovsk 10
i2O miles, or tweleve days march, and
the arduous duty of the Russian stan
will be to SO order the retreat that
no detachments may be cut or"
Germans May Be Content.
The Chronicle believes Germany will
be content to allow the Russians to re-
tire to 3 new line, meanwhile occupy
ing themselves with fortifying their
newly captured positions.
TT 10 possible" says the Chronicle.