Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-14
TRAP Of RUSSIANS
MENACES TEUTONS
IN EAST, IS REPORT
Kaiser's Army, Near ViIkomir,
FranticaI|y Retreating,
Says Correspondent.
SLAVS CUT FOES LINE,
BRINGING ON SITUATION
Right Flank of Invading Forces
Near Poniewesch Exposed to At
tack, It Is Claimed.
GERMANS PLANNING DRIVE
Progress of Prince Leopold Taken to
Indicate Smashing Blow Will
Be Delivered at Cars
Center.
SLAVS CUT FOES LINE,
BRINGING ON SITUATION
GERMANS PLANNING DRIVE

LONDON, August 14-Sev-
eral German army groups in the
Russian war theater have fallen
into the trap of Grand Duke
Nicholas and are in the gravest
danger, according to the Daily
Telegraph's Petrograd CORE
spondent.
AT the moment says the cor
respondent, lone of the most in
teresting points on the Russian
front is between the Dvina and
Niemen rivers, where the Rus
slams by the capture of the village
of Toviny have cut through the
German line, thus separating the
German armies operating around
Poniewesch and Vilkomir. The
latter army is in dangerous state
and executing a frantic retreat in
an effort to extricate itself and
either reconnect with the Ponie-
wesch group or join hands with
the troops operating around
Kovno.
"The German army operating
in the vicinity of Poniewesch also
Is in a dangerous position, with
its right flank exposed to a Rus
sian attack, which could only have
the most serious results"
Progress for the forces of Prince
Leopold Of Bavaria eastward
from Warsaw is taken in London
to indicate that the Germans are
now massing their main move
ments on a drive through the Rus
sian center and the continuance
of the enveloping effort in the
north, along the Dvina. Both
Petrograd and Berlin agree that
the Germans have occupied the
towns of Sokolow, Siedlce and
Lukow, forming a German front
about sixty miles east of Warsaw
and fifty miles wide.
The forces of Field Marshal Won
Mackensen pursuing the retreat
ing Russians from the south have
reached the line of the high road
of RadzynDavidy- -Vladova, it
was officially announced by Ger
man army headquarters today.
Half Way to Brest-Litovsk.
This is more than half way to Brest-
Iitovsk, which Grand Duke Nicholas,
the Russian commander inc chief. hoped
to make the new center of his de-
tense. 1t is now regarded as probable
that this point will be abandoned, ow-
ing to the speed Of the German ad-
vance since the fall of Warsaw and
the continued pressure of the armies
of Gems. Gallwitz, Scholz. Eichhorn and
Flack, forming a semi-circle closing in
toward the north.
Petrograd claims that the Germans
have been checked between Ponie-
wesch and Dvinsk. Berlin, however,
does not concede this. but in any
event it does not affect the advance
of the flanks further north, where in
vading forces several days ago were
along the Dvina, the historic dividing
line leading to the province of Pskoy,
which lies on the line to Petrograd.
Outcome Soon to Be Known.
The outcome of these movements
probably will be indicated within a few
days-whether Grand Duke Nicholas
will be able to resume the offensive
along the new front or will concentrate
his energies in rearguard fighting dur
ing a slow retirement.
German correspondents accompany
ing the invading armies say the Rus
slams are following the -actics of the
Napoleonic campaign, laying waste the
country which they abandon SO that
the advancing Germans find in the
smoking ruins of towns and villages
the same lack of shelter as when Ma
poleon marched to Moscow.
Watch Kovno Operations.
According to Petrograd reports, al
most exclusive attention of military
observers has recently been directed
to the operations at Kovno, which is
the first strong Russian fortress at
tackled by the method employed at
Antwerp system devised by the
Bavarian Gen. 'Sauer. This consists of
a cyclonic attack with heavy artillery
on one point without an attempt at
Investment.
The check and partial repulse Of the
Germans in the Baltic region has stop
ped theoretical discussion of the pos