The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1915-08-14


Million Men to Western Front
Western Allies Preparing for On
slaught- -Overtures to Balkan States
by Allies = Present War Most
Stupendous in History
That the Grand Duke Nicholas has sue
ceeded in extricating his armies from their
perilous position east of Warsaw, with
the loss of only an inconsiderable number
of prisoners, seems very apparent at the
present time.
However, the end is not yet, and what
may develop at any time cannot be pre-
dicted.
The great campaign is still being pro-
secuted by the Teutonic forces with un-
abated energy, while Russian resistance is
as stubborn and desperate as ever. A
fact which has excited the comment of
military observers, is that Through all
this terrific and disheartening struggle
there has been no whine from the Slav
government, no suggestion of weakening
in its purpose to see the thing through"
With the fall Of Warsaw, the powerful
Notifications of Ivangorod were abondon-
ed, and during the past week the offensive
operations of the Gemran armies have ex-
tended over vast expanse of territory
covering hundreds of miles.
One of the most important developments
of the week is that Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg has taken command of the
German campaign in the north, and this
is taken as an indication that vigorous
movement will be prosecuted in that direc-
ton.
During the week, the Germans have
taken Lomza, which was considered of
equal strength to Ivangorod. The Rus
slams, at this writing, are hard pressed
around Kovno, which the Teutons are at
tacking with guns of all caliber, includ-
ing the famous 16-inch cannon, against
which no fortress has ever yet been able
to stand
The thing which evokes the wonder of
London is the astonishing rapidity with
another; not an hour seems to be lost
After Kovno, the next point Of attack
will doubtless be Wilma, which lies along
the great railway running between War
saw and Petrograd. Should this fall, it
will mean much more than the capture of
a city: it will mean the severing of one of
the two lines Of transportation connecting
the Russian army with headquarters The
other is a very round about route.
On August 9, large German feet at
tackled the entrance to the Gulf of Riga,
but was repulsed. This city, next to
Petrograd, is Russia most important sea-
port on the Baltic, and large land force
is being directed against it.
It is a serious question if German plans
do not include a drive against Petrograd,
the Russian capital. The scope of Teuton
ambition seems unlimited.
What Germany's plans are is question
which puzzles military observers at the
present time. Will she content herself by
capturing a line of Russian Notifications
along her eastern front, fortifying them,
and leaving force just strong enough to
hold the line, while the bulk of her soldiers
are transferred to the west? This is
question.
So long as a vast Russian army is at
large, with the Grand Duke Nicholas at its
head, her frontier will be seriously
menaced The Russian policy, it seems, is
to slowly retreat avoiding a decisive bat
tie, but to strike back with fearful recoil
as soon as German vigilance relaxes at
any point.
That the elimination of Russia would be
tremendous factor in Germans favor
at the present time, is apparent to all. Re
ports have been persistent during the past
week of an offer of peace from the kaiser,
through Denmark, to Russia, by which
Russia would receive Galicia, while Ger
many would retain the western district of
Poland. Tt is also reported that the terms
of peace were refused. London official
circles neither affirmed nor denied the re-
port.
Allies Preparing for Attack
1t was predicted upon the fall OF War
saw that it's capture would release l,OOO,-
900 AuStro- Germans for operations else
where Some days ago, it was reported
that over 100000 German soldiers had
passed through Luxemberg from the east