Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-25
ADVANCE THROUGH
LAND LAID WASTE
Germans Continue Attacks Against
Russ Armies Defending Warsaw
with Undiminished Energy.
GREAT GUNS TRAVEL SLOWLY

LONDON, July 24-The Austrians
and Germans are pushing their great
attacks against the Russian armies
defending Warsaw with undimin-
ished energy, and at some points re-
port that progress has been made.
They are operating, however,
through country which the retiring
troops have laid waste and the roads
are little suited for the movement of
heavy artillery which is necessary
for the bombardment of the great
fortresses along their way.
Force Russ to Retreat.
It is not expected. therefore, that de-
cisive actions on any of the fronts will
be fought for a few days. although the
battle between the Vistula and the Bug
rivers, where Field Marshal Won Mac
kenzen's army is advancing toward the
Lublln-Chelm railroad, has reached a
climax. Here, according to the German
official communication, issued this after
noon. the Germans have succeeded I'm
breaking the obstinate resistance Of the
Russians at several points and forced
them to retreat
The Russians, however, have had lots
of time to prepare a series of positions
and It Is believed that they will make
every effort to hold them until it be-
comes necessary or their army is able to
retire from Warsaw.
To the south of Warsaw IN front Of
the fortress of Ivangorod. the Russians
have returned to the Vistula river
which with Its forts and a lack OF
bridges, It is believed. must form bar
rier which the Austrlans and Germans
will find it difficult to overcome
Hindenburg Makes Progress.
The northern German army. under
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg also is
reported to have made progress; but It
is stated that 1t has not yet been able
10 cross the Narew river, another natural
defense of the Russian triangle behind
the Polish capital. In fact, all along this
front the Russians have resumed their
counter-attacks from the fortress of No
vogeorgivslSi. but these, according to the
German accounts, failed in their pur-
poses. Before Rozan, another of the
river fortresses, the Germans declare
they have stormed and taken two forti-
fled villages and captured a number Of
prisoners.
Opinion here is stin divided whether
Grand Duke Nicholas, the Russian COM
mander-in-chief will accept decisive
battle, or is simply trying to inflict as
heavy losses on the enemy as is possible
before withdrawing from Warsaw and
the whole Polish salient to Brest Litoysk
and the Bug river line.
severe Fighting in West.
Severe fighting is still going on in the
Argonne and in the Vosges on the western
battlefield. but without bringing any
very material changes in the positions
of the opposing armies.
1t is reported unot ficially that the Ger
mans are massing troops at st. Mibiel
for a more extended offensive. but the
official communications do not indicate
that anything in the nature OF serious
engagement has occurred there as yet.
That the Germans will attempt an Of
fenslve here Is considered by the military
observers as quite likely as they assert
that the recent activity OF the German
crown princes army shows that they
are hoping to weaken the French hold
on Verdun.
Mackensen Continues Blows.
PETROGRAD (Via London), July "a
between the Bug and the Vistula, con-
tinues his wild sledgehammer blows
against the Chelm-Lublin line of the Rus
slams directing them now particularly
against the city of Lublin. His immedi-
ate detectives are Belzyce, Travniki.
Vosslavitze and Grubechow. Belzyce is
twelve miles southwest OF Lublin.
or only slightly less Importance in this
rpQiop the hattlaa on tha Rug he
tween Krylow and Dobrotovra. West of
Warsaw the Russians have moved back
to their second line OF defenses at Blonie
and Nadarzyn and their positions in
front OF Ivangorod. The latter positions
are regarded the strongest in the Russian
line as is indicated by the fact that the |
Germans assaulted them furiously in |
their former campaigns against Warsaw
and were unable to breach them.
To the northward battles are raging at
Novogeorgievski and along the entire |
Narew line. which embraces the strong |
points of Pultusk and Rozan, command |
ing the crossing in the bend OF the River |
Ostrolenka and Lomza.
Action on Niemen Front.
On the Niemen front the fighting is
concentrated at Koslovaruda, southwest !
of Kovto, on the railroad which runs to |
Gumbinnen.
In the Baltic region the Germans are
seeking contact with the Russian main |
forces between Mitau and Shawl.
The Germans appear TO be closely Co
ordinating these separate movements.
The resulting general battle on three !
fronts protecting Warsaw is regarded by |
the Russian military critics as the most
important Of any struggle heretofore in |
the eastern theaters. They compare the |
entire circumscribed region to great
fortress.
The central idea OF the German cam
paign Is assumed to be to secure control
OF the Vistula line. With this strong
natural barrier adequately fortified, the
military critics. say Germany might hope
to keep Russia in check with compare
lively small forces and then throw its
entire weight against France.