Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-21
INVADERS TAKE BIELSK
AND PUSH FOE OVER BlALA
Cars Men Battling Desperately,
But in the Main, Vainly, to Check
0nrush Of Teutons.
sLAvs BRING DOWN ZEPPELIN
Field Marshal Won Mackensen's
Forces Have Penetrated Far Be-
yond the Bug-Fau Of Novo
Georgievsk Described.

LONDON, August 21.-The
Russian field armies are fighting
desperately, but generally vainly,
to check the onrush of the Ger
mans and Austrians. Ossowetz,
to the north of Poland, has re-
sisted the invaders thus far only
because of the marshy nature of
the surrounding country, which
prevents the Germans from en-
ploying their heavy guns effec-
lively.
The Germans have captured
the Russian town of Bielsk. twen-
ty-hve miles south of Bialystok,
and have driven the Russians
over the Biala river, according to
an official announcement given
out today by the German army
headquarters staff.
Russian gunners have brought
down a Zeppelin that was ap-
preaching Wilma, according to a
dispatch to the Reuter- Telegram
Company from Petrograd today.
The airship was hit four times.
1t contained the pilot and engi-
neer, together with eight soldiers,
a machine gun, bombs. incendiary
darts and Photographic apparatus.
South of Brest Litovsk, Field
Marshal Won Mackensen's forces
have penetrated far beyond the
Bug. Other German armies east
of that river render a serious Rus
sian defense along the Bialystok-
Brest Litovsk line virtually i'm
possible.
The Russian war office declares
that troops of the Grand Duke
Nicholas are making a successful
stand against the Germans north
west of the fortress of Brest
Litovsk.
Ossowetz Is Favored.
Reuter- dispatch from Petrograd
says:
"Ossowetz, where heavy German at
tacks have been repulsed. is greatly
favored by typographical conditions
which prevent the enemy from concen-
trating an Irresistible fire from any
direction. 1t is impossible to post
guns on the swampy banks of the
Robr. which. with its marshes, has
protected the fortress from being
stormed.
The so-called isthmus between the
Niemen and viliya, which was oceu-
pied by the Germans after the Russian
from Kovno. is three miles
across. Consequently the town OF
Viliya is threatened and the inhabit-
ants are leaving. The removal Of the
church bells, after they were sprinkled
with holy water by the priests, was
by bareheaded and silent
throngs
Kovno, a German shell fell among a
procession of refugees. causing many
Capture Of Novo Georgievsk.
BERLIN, via London. August GA
special dispatch to the Lokal An
zeiger, under date Of August 20. gives
the following details of the capture by
Af
Of Novo Georgievsk:
The chief attack was carried out
from the northeast. After a lombard.
ment of ninety minutes word was re-
ceived that the important fort No.
was still intact. and therefore the time
had not come for the advance. The
bonn bardment was continued until 1
o'clock, when a reconnoitering party
was attacked.
"At 5 o'clock Saxon reserves began
20 storm the Russians positions. The
Russians ceased shooting and surren-
Tered when the Saxons entered.
Huge Supplies In Forts.
simultaneously fort No. was at.
acked from the north. Artillery firing
vas continued until 2:45 o'clock, at
which time German cheers could be
heard. Abandoned cannon were every
where, and near Alexandrinskaya Gem.
'tery were numerous batteries There
we're huge supplies Of ammunition in
he forts.
'At o'clock German shouts Of VIC
ory were heard from fort No. to the
;outhward. and at o'clock from the
portion Of the citadal tre-
nendous fires broke out. consuming the
,ficers' quarters, haystackS and the
'upply depot, and causing EXPLOSIONS
& Ammunition. Thousands gstS then.
lelves up ~ prisoners.
mnw urn