Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-09-20
Hindenburg and Leopold
Co-Operaing in En-
circling Movement
CAPTURE OF vILElKA
Cars Army, Said to be in Vise' Are
Battling to Avoid Crushing Blow
From Teutons

London, Sept. 20 The Germans
have occupied wilma and, by WIDE
sweeping movement to the north OF
that city, have succeeded in almost
if not entirely surrounding portion
Of the Russian army which is fighting
In the railway triangle between Vilna'
Lida and Vileika.
At any rate, the Russian forces IN
this district either must tight ther
way out eastward or retire in south
easterly direction, for the only rail
way left entirely in their hands IS
that which runs from Wilma to Llda,
and thence to Baranovitchi.
The army of Field Marshal Won. Hin
denburg, which took Wilma and has
reached Vileika, to the east OF Vina'
is working in close cooperation with
that of Archduke Leopold of Bavaria
in an effort to catch part OF the
Russian army, an operation which has
been SO often tried without success
since the Austro- German commenced
their drive in Western Galicia in early
May.
The Russians express confidence IN
the outcome of the battle, which must
be decided before complete success
falls to one side OF the other, but with
their northern armies closely held
along the Dvina and the German flank
well protected by their cavalry,
which recently occupied Widsy, across
: the Wilma -Pelrograd railway, it serrns
impossible that any aid can come to
them from that direction.
The battle seemingly must be
fought out between the troops now
in the district between Wilma, Ida
and Slonim, with the assistance OF
any reinGorcemcnts that can he spar
ed to hold the German force which
has reached Vileika.
At the southern end OF the line
General Ivanoff is still keeping Field
Marshall Won Mackensen at arms
length .frum the fortress Of Rovno,
the kew to the route to Kiev, and in
counter-attacks has letaken a number
of villages both in Wolhynla and Cali
cia.
It seems apparent from the inabll-
ity of the Austro-Germans to hold
their positions in the southern area
that they have sent reinforcements
from that front to Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg's northern army, which,
as heretofore, is expected to score the
biggest success.
Berlin, Sept. 19-The Russian city
Of Wilma, at which the armies of Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg hadI been
driving, and which was stubbornly de-
Tended until nearly surrounded by
hostile forces, has been occupied by
the Germans, it:was officially an
nounced by German army headquar-
tiers today. The statement says:
"The extensive attack by General
Won Eichhorn against Wilma has been
crowned with complete success. Our
left wing has reached Molodechno
Smorgon and Worjany. Attempts by
the enemy to break through our lines
in the direction of MischalischE with
strong forces hurriedly collected fail
ed completely.
Because of the uninterrupted pro-
gress of our encircling movement and
simultaneous strong attacks by the
troops of General Won Scholz and Won
Gallwitz upon the, enemy's front, the
forces opposing US have been forced
since yesterday to retreat as quickly
rs possible along the entire front.
The strongly fortified town of Wilma
fell into our hands: The enemy is be-
ing pursued along the entire line.
"The army group of Prince Leopold
of Bavaria is also occupied in pursu-
ing the retreating enemy and has
reached the line running through
Nierdowioze, Erewnoje and Dobromy
al. Enemy rear guards were DEBATED