Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-22
BLACK DAYS FOR ALLIES,
AND BLACK ONES TO COME
Russian Defeats on East
ern Front.
ONLY ONE FAVORABLE FACToT.
Grand Duke as Yet Has Kept His
Armies Intact for Next Years Cam
paign--Gernany's Program Seems
About to BE Realized.
by. ]. l.. GARNIN
80 "hNN Nv,
Editor Of Phil Mall Go,ctt

LONDON. August 2l.-The last few
days have not only been amonc the
very blacklist for the allies since the
! oPeh'ne OF the war. but have been al
Versity.
IL would be useless and bad to deny
or even to pailiate tho nature OF the
Nussians emery ency or the grave prob
aoiiities of the next fortnight in the
eastern operations.
Ihere Is for tho moment only one ia
Norabie FACTOR. Russia by prodiEious
EFFORTS. has kept her main armies Intact.
ana preserved her power OF recovery
Tor next years mid-campaiEn. That is
the utmost to be said, and that is 4
negative result
mas fallen on her. even indomitable
Russia quivers. But does not break or
Weld. as great ship under the shock
OF collision.
Tho arowed dream of German ag-
erosion for years has been first TO
Selze warsaw and the limo of the Wis
una, ana next capture RreSt Litovsk
Win the line OF the Bug. and thus split
the Cars hosts into sections widely di-
vidcd by the welterinc marshes OF
Pripa. This is the aim which the Ger
mans are determined 10 attain at any
cost.
II they cannot envelop the grand
duke In manner enabling them 10
force him TO stand for 4 decisive bat
tie ana inflict n historic debaclc. then
the Germans mean TO drive back tho
cars armies as far as possible and
ana river lines on the attacked side OF
the Cars empire. and afterward march
10 PetroCrad or Moscow
kieT VIII he on the colossal program
and the attempt to reach the Black Sea
Will he not whit moro astounding
I. ~
large German fleet has at last forced
Its way Into the Gulf of Riga.
Tho Germans are still driving the
grand duke. If they cannot break
him II they cannot hope 70 carry out
their vast super Ma poleonic turning
fibre in eNultant and tenacious pur-
suit TO hamper and harry his re-
tireinent and make II difficult for him
10 reach line upon which ne can
make Il solid. final stand until the time
comes for him to advance again.
The danger of any sudden dehacle
~ The grand dukes armies north of
tho Pripn marshes is far less nenac-
ing than it was, but the direct German
attacks upon that section of the Rus
sian front along the whole long line
from Riga to Brest Litovsk create n
situation full of peril For weeks yet
there can be no relief from anxiety.
Russia has made Incredible sacrifices.
She looks 10 her allies with increas-
ing tension and expectancy. She must
not look in vain, and II frontal at
;acks in the west arc not tho hest
means OF helping her, then other
means must hc found.
What follows from the whole sur
vcy Is that we are again on the eve
of tremendous developments in the
eastern thcater. Some critics believe
the grand duke will join the battle on
a vast scale upon the lines curving
round from near Riga by wilma to
Brest Litovsk.
other thinkers believe the grand
duke will face unninchinsly, as the
choice OF two evils. further retreat
with all the consequences further re-
treat would mean.