Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-12
TEUTONS VIRTUALLY
ATTAIN DVlNA'S BANKS
Cars Second Line Of Defense Ap.
pears to Have Been Rendered
Untenable. =.
KOVN0 BATTLE Is FIERCE
Invaders Make Terrific Sacrifice Of
Men-Russian Rear Guards
Fight Desperately-Tulsow
and Zambrowo FALL

LONDON, August 1.-The
Baltic flank of the German armies,
under Field Marshal Won Hinden-
burg, has virtually attained the
banks of the River Dvina, be-
tween Riga and Dvinsk, with
Petrograd less than 900 miles
away in direct line.
Thence southwark the line
sweeps west of the Russian fort
ress of Kovno, still holding out,
but next week may see a great
battle on the road toward the
Russian capital.
The second line of defense upon
which the Russians proposed to
fall back after abandoning War
saw has all the appearances of
having been rendered untenable,
and the British and Russian press
is beginning to see in the Austro-
German plan an ambitious plunge
deeper into Russia, with Petro-
grad as the goal. 8
Austro-German forces, pursu-
ing the Russians who are retreat
ing from the Warsaw salient,
have occupied Lukow, according
to. official announcement by the
German army headquarters staff
today. Zambrowo also has been
captured, the statement adds.
In the meantime the Russian
rear guards are fighting desper-
ately, especially in the critical
Dvina region and at Kovno, to
capture which the Germans are
making terrific sacrifice of men.
It seems plain now the Germans
purpose no great demonstration
in the west, but intend rather to
press to the utmost their so far
brilliantly successful Russian
campaign on the theory that con-
ditions in France and Belgium are
such that neither the French nor
the British Immediately will at
tempt a general offensive
- Develop Fresh Offensive.
The Germans now are developing
fresh offensive in the direction Of the
interior Of Russia. apparently with the
support Of huge new levies, according
to the Petrograd correspondent of the
Times.
Without waiting to accomplish the
development Of the Russians. who are
falling back from the vistula, the Ger
mans are endeavoring to storm Kovno.
at the same time on an ex.
tended front between the Niemen and
the Dvina on a dash northward toward
Riga, eastward toward Dvinsk and
southwark toward Wilma, the corre-
spondent says In the Riga district tho
Russians are taking the initiative. Ger
man efforts to enter the Gulf Of Riga
have been suspended, but are likely to
be renewed at any time.
Russ Retreat on Niemen.
A dispatch to the Geneva Tribune
from Innsbruck, Austria, says:
THE Russian army on the Niemen is
along the whole line. aban-
doning its positions. The Germans are
continuing their march in the direction
of wilma.
xh> -
sian Poland theater there have been
Vieprz and the Okrzejka, the Russians
counter attacking to cover their re-
treat.
THE Russian positions on the Os-
trow line are menaced. Since August
the Russians have evacuated forty
miles of territory in this sector The
Germans have reached the Nurec,
where the Russians are resisting sue
cessfully. infiicting heavy losses"
Civilians Quit Dvinsk.
A dispatch to Reuters Telegram Com
pany from Petrograd says:
The civilians are evacuatinE Dvinsk.
the important railroad junction south-
west Of Riga on the Petrograd- Warsaw
line. The government institutions also
are preparing to leave.
Gen. Ruzsky has gone on a visit of
Inspection to Dvinsk with the general
the military district"
Different From 1912. :.
PETROGRAD, August 1.-THE Novoe
vremya. discussing the theory that
Petrograd 10 the real objective of the
German offensive. says:
There 10 an enormous difference be-
The Germans are hurling
against Russia forces equivalent to