Evening star., 1915-09-19
TEUTONS CUT RAILWAY
RUNNING OUT OF WILMA
But One Outlet Is Left for Slavs,
But Petrograd Is Not
Alarmed.
AUSTRIANS FORCED BACK
Vienna Admits That Armies Are
Withdrawing Front in Volhynian
Triangle of Forts Lutsk, Dubno
and Rovno.

LONDON, September lS.-
Russian advanced positions have
been taken in an attack on the
Dvinsk bridgehead and the Rus
sian front has been broken
through to the south at several
points between Wilma and the
Niemen river. it was officially an
nounced by German army head
quarters today.
The Germans have cut the rail-
way line between Wilma and
Molodetcl1no, and the only outlet
by rail from Wilma still remaining
in Russian hands is the line rum
ming southwark to Ida. The
Petrograd war office maintains,
however, that there are sufficient
wagon roads for use in emer-
gency. 1t is stated that decision
concerning the retention longer
of Wilma soon will be reached.
The Ida railway line has been
under sharp attack to the west
ward of Ida. In an effort to
check the German cavalry, the
Russians are developing strong
cavalry forces in the Wilma dis
trict.
The Austrians are withdraw
ing their front in the sector of
the Nolhynian triangle of fort
ressses-Lutsk, Dubno and Row
no-to prepared positions further
west, according to an Austrian
official statement.
Claims Repulse of Attacks.
In the Volchynian sector the Austri-
ans are fighting against superior Rus
sian forces, it is stated in Vienna. but
Wilma is nearly surrounded and won
der is expressed that the Germans have
not already taken the city. which, like
the other towns evacuated by the Rus
slams, has been reduced to an empty
shell. Dvinsk, too, apparently will go
when wilma falls, although the Of
fensive developed by the Russians along
the shores of the Gulf of Riga immedi-
ately east of the town Of Riga may
compel the Germans to turn their at
tention in that direction.
In the southeast the Germans claim
to have brought the Russian offensive
to the end, but it is not likely that
any movement of great Importance can
be taken in that district, which the
quagmire. through which it is next to
impossible to move transport wagons
let alone heavy guns.
What seemingly has happened is that
the Russians, finding that their advance
into Galicia was bringing their lire
out of alignment with the rest of the
front, have withdrawn to the Sereth
river, which was at their back when
they began their attacks that drove
the Austro-Germans to the Stripa river.
lust north of the GaIician frontier.
General Battle Expected.
A semi official Russian statement,
Military experts consider that a
strategical period of quite exceptional
importance has begun on our north
and west fronts. Everything leads to
the belief that the desperate fighting
between great forces going on there
will shortly assume the character of
a general Dattia, such as has not been
fought since the battle of Warsaw
"On the southwest front the Ger
mans, in advance of Rovno, have suf-
fered Il defeat, while our troops. TWEEN
ty-tive miles northwest OF Derazno, are
successfully developing an action in
southwest Volhynia and advancing in
adjacent regions in Galicia.
IN the wilma district the enemy is
making great efforts to press back the
Russian troops. Between the sectors
of the wilma -Novo Svientsyany and the
Molodechno-Eileika railways the enc
my troops have reached the Vileika-
Novo Molodechno railway. where at
different points, particularly thirty one
niles southeast of Novo Svientsyany,
great cavalry actions are proceeding
The German cavalry, having devel-
oped its front before the line of
NoIodechno -Polotsk. was compelled to
delivered at it's right wing on the line
of Novo Svientsyany-Molod
Enemy Is Repulsed.
"Rut although the Germany cavalry
u.s reuulsed, it succeeded in reaching
certain points on the line of Vileka-
Mo,odechno Northeast of Orany and
sou,heast of Ida our troops vigorously
repulsed the enemy's attacks.
I'm the -Orany district about fif-
,aen enemy army corps 100000 men) are
attempting to interfere with the retreat
of the Russians southeastward by pressure
on the rear Of our armies on the Wilma
0rany line and southwestward on the
0rany-Lida line. But the enemy on our
threatened wings is. in his turn. in a pre-
carious position, particularly the enemy
group at Novo-Svientsyany, which is
threatened with strategical development.
.Hence, the experts conclude that a
great battle is probable on the circular
line, which includes Orany, Wilma, Novo
Svientsyany. Vileika. Molodechno and
Ida"