Evening star., 1915-07-09
Russians Fall Onto Flank of
Ferdinand's Army, Causing
Loss Of 5000 Men.
CzAR's ARMIES IN POSITION
TO CHECK INVASION NOW
Vienna Admits Retreat to Krasnik
Hills Before the Superior
Muscovite Forces.

LONDON, July 9, Ais ANA Pet
rograd dispatch to the Daily Mail says:
The Austrian army under Arch
duke Joseph Ferdinand, hurriedly
pushing forward Monday on the high
road from Krasnik to Lublin under the
impression that the Russians were in
full retreat lost touch with Field Mar
shall Won Mackensen's army on the
right. The Russians, who were nearer
than the archduke supposed, took ad-
vantage of his blunder in allowing the
flank of his force to be uncovered.
thereby suffering decisive defeat, and
causing a hurried retreat.
THE aim of this Austrian force was
to break through the Russian front
and success seemed almost within lts
grasp. 1t did not know that a wood
beside the road along which 1t was
advancing was full of Russians. The
archduke was vigorously attacked with
disconcerting unexpectedness and iost
no fewer than $4,000 men.
This setback delayed the advance
of the entire Austro-German forces for
three days and it soon will be seen
whether they will be able to pull
themselves together. 1t looks, how
tion Of the armies of the archduke and
Field Marshal Won Mackensen at
Lublin have gone awry.
Suits the Russians.
The German positions on the eastern
front now exactly suit the Russian
strategists. according to the Post
Petrograd correspondent.
"Grand Duke Nicholas has got the en-
emy into the same positions strategi-
cally as he Occupied last August" says
the correspondent, but with this diff
ference-then the enemy had all the
villages and great estates throughout
his line of march, while today the en-
emy is in a desert ravaged by eleven
months of warfare with the roads cut
up beyond all semblance Of highways,
while towns and villages are mere piles
of ashes.
"The task of feeding and munitioning
5000, 900 men 200 miles from their base
must appal even the German organiza-
tion. yet the enemy must continue to
spells ruin Altogether matters look
most promising for the Russians"
Austrians In Retreat.
The Russians. strongly reinforced
with both men and guns. and with their
railways and fortresses of Ivangorod
and Brest-Litovsk to draw upon, have
held up the Austro-German attempt to
ouptflank Warsaw from the southW est.
The Austrians admit, in an omcial
statement, that before superior Russian
forces they have Withdrawn to the hills
to the north of Krasnik.
Further heavy fighting must take
place In this region. but the Russia n
military writer's express confidence that
now any effort by the Germanic allies
to deliver a lightning blow has been
discounted, and that the grand dukes
army will be able to hold Its positions
and perhaps drive the invaders back.
Germans Lose Heavily.
Heavy losses were inflicted upon tho
Germans in an assault near JednoroJetz,
in the Przasnysz district, the Russians
report, but near Bolimow, almost direct
" west of Warsaw, an attack In which
gases were employed resulted in the
storming of first line trenches.
In some Of these the Germans retained
a foothoid. The fighting there was re-
ported as continuing.
Petrograd declares that tho blow dealt
the Austrians south Of Lublin is being
followed up, the Teutonic forces there
being in retreat with the Russians in
pursuit
Berlin Advices.
BERLIN. July ., by wireless to Say
VILE, n. Y.-According to private re-
ports from the Russian Poland front to
the Overseas News Agency, the Rus
SLAMS have brought up fresh reserve
troops Of excellent raw material. but
without drill practice, in the region of
Krasnik and in Bessarabia and are max
Ing a last stand, evidently covering a
general retrograde movement The Rus
sian attacks invariably have been re-
pulsed.
Russian officers, the advices say, ar
directing machine gun firA unon fheil