The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1915-07-29
THE wARlAsT WEEK


he Zlota Lipa, and the Upper Bug,
and all efforts to dislodge them had |
proved unavailing.
Early In the week, however, Won
preparations were evi-
IDENTIFY completed. With u remarkable /
coordination of movement attacks |
were launched on every sector OF the |
battle line. In the extreme /
north from Windau to the Lower |
Niemen the Germans have made de-
cided progress but their function in |
that region seems to be principally
the protection of the German left |
flank. and is therefore more of a de- |
fensive force than a part of the at
tacking line.
The principal section of attack
may be divided into three sectors:
(a) The Narew sector, northwest
of Warsaw, between the Wkra and
the Narew through Ciechanow and
OstrOlenka.
(b) The Vistula sector, west of
Warsaw, along the Grojec-Bl Nnie-
Ciechanow line, and
(c) The Lublin sector, southeast
OF Warsaw, along the line of the rail-
road from IvangorOd to Cholm.
1t Is along these sectors that the
brunt Of the German attack Is being
delivered, and success in any sector
will probably mean the retirement of
the Russians from Warsaw to the line
of the Bug.
The objective Of the army attack
ing in the first sector Is, as it has
been since the early days of the war,
the Warsaw-Petrograd railway, one
of the three great railroad systems
centering in and supplying the city
The nf To-, a.,
sector has not been particularly
marked, and in itself, therefore, con-
stftutes no great element of danger.
Przasnysz, which was evacuated by
the Russians last week, is the centre
OF this sector, but it's fall does not
seem to have opened to any extent
the German way through.
Octrclenka, strongly fortified
town on the right, has been reported
captured, but the latest Russian re-
ports state that it is still under a
heavy bombardment, so that it's fate
may be regarded still as a matter of
doubt, At no other points do the
Germans seem to have made much
headway.
Along the second sector, however,
the sector of the Vistula, Won linden
berg has made notable progress, and
1t is his operations more than those
OF the armies supporting his flanks
that constitute the greatest present
menace to the Polish capital. His
forces have reached Novo Georgiev-
ski, at the confluence of the Vistula
and the Bug, and are, at the latest
report, battling for the bridgehead
which is guarded by the fortress of
Novy Dvor in the eastern angle of
the Vistula and the Bug, and by the
Russian forces south of the Vistula.
The attack Is, i'm its every element,
direct frontal attack against strong
ly intrenched lines, but it neverthe-
less is breaking down all resistance
| and moving slowly forward. Tie Wis
tula is the most difficult military OBJ
stacle and, ipso facto, the most effec-
tive defensive screen in Eastern Eu-
rope. 1t Is broad, rapid, carries a
great volume Of water, and with it's
steep banks makes a readily defens-
| ible obstacle. But the German army
is astride 1t, and not until Warsaw is
taken will this feature be of value to
the Russians and then only to pre-
| vent further German advance.
In the third sector, that of Lublin,
entire military interest must centre
in the railroad from Ivangorod to
ChOlm. Along this line the pressure
Is as great as along the Vistula sec
ton, and while undoubted gains are
recorded, and gains of Importance,
too, the railroad itself, as far as the
| official reports show, has not yet been
| reached or cut. If 1t is reached it is
extremely doubtful If Warsaw can
hold out.
Although the particular section of
this road between Lublin and Cholm
| is the most difficult for both Aus
trians and Germans to attack, due to
the character of the country across
which their artillery must be trans
ported and the absence Of
roads which would facilitate this
transportation, the reasons why the
attack Is being made along this sec
tor are simple.
In the first place, the object of the
combined German drive from the
three directions Is not only to cap
ture Warsaw, but to cut Off and COM
pei the surrender of the Russian
troops occupying the huge salient
which has Warsaw as n centre. Were
the Teuton attack to be made against
kovel, further to the east, where the
attacking troops would have behind
them the excellent system of Cali
clan railways radiating from Lem
berg, he would be too far from War
saw to close in upon it in time to
reap the benefits of his success.
Moreover, to attack at Koyel would
mean.that the supply columns would
have to skirt around the Bug on an
arc, as the banks of that river are
lined with marsh belts which make
It's crossing matter of grave diff
Guilty. The Germans are, therefore,
taking the shortest and most direct
route, and the route which, IL they
succeed, will be most prolific OF re-
suits.
Military critics of Europe are al
most unanimously OF the opinion that
Warsaw must fall, and that within a
very short time. III IL does fall and
the Russian army makes good its re-
treat before IL is overwhelmed by the
victorious TeutOns, what possibilities
will the new situation present?
Before a suggestion can be at
tempted, 1t must be realized that the