The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-08-19
GERMANS TAKE
FORTRESS kOVNO
MOST IMPORTANT VICTORY SINCE
CAPTURE OF WARSAW.
SIX FORTS BLOWN TO PIECES
Had Been Under Fire Scarcely Week,
Demonstrating the Superiority
Of Modern Artillery over
Forts. Move South.

Berlin (by way of SayvilIe, L. ID,
Aug. lS.-The great Russian fortress
of Kovno was captured by the Ger
mans last night. The official announce
ment says: ..., r..
The fortress of Koyno togeth-
er with all forts and war mater
ial not yet counted has been in
German hands since last night.
More than 400 cannon were TAX
en-. The fortress was stormed in
spite of the most tenacious Rus
sian resistance"
The capture of Koyno is the most
important German victory since the
taking of Warsaw. 1t forecasts the
surrender by the Russians of the
fortified Kovno-Brest Litovsk line Of
which Kovno was the northern strong
hold. g..
The Austro- German armies are al
ready within striking distance of the
outer forts of Brest Litovsk, the
southern end of the Russian line.
Koyno fell under the eyes of Gen
eral Won Hindenberg. The capture OF
the fortress is the first personal tri-
umph of the old general since the
great Austro- Germans campaign in
the east started.
The six great forts defending the
city from the west and southwest
were blown to pieces by the incessant
pounding of the Germans great AZ
centimeter guns and a host of small
er pieces. The forts of Kovno have
been under direct attack for scarcely
week, demonstrating again the SUI
periority of modern artillery over
forts. ...
The German siege howitzers moved
in closer each day and on Monday
battered a gap in the Russian forts
southwest of the city through which
the German infantry rushed.
The big guns were pushed up to
this new position and opened a yiol-
ent fire upon the principal forts de-
Tending KoVno from the west, includ.
ing the three located at the confiu-
enCe of the Niemenn and Vilya rivers.
Infantry assaults continued through.
out the day and although reports
reached Berlin yesterday that all
forts had been taken not until last
night did the Russian finally surrend-
er the city. The Russian garrison is
over the railroad to Wilma.
The fortress of Novo Georgievsk Is
about to fall. German troops have
stormed and captured two more forts
on the northeastern side of NOvO
Georgievsk. Six hundred prisoners
and 20 cannon were taken in the cap
ture At the southern end of the
Russian line of defense Brest Litovcs
is now under attack by the Austro-
Germans who drove the enemy across
the Bug and into the outer positions
of the fortress. The Austro-German
troops have crossed the Bug south
west of Brest Litovck, pressed on
across the railroad and are now at
tempting to surround the fortress.
More Submarine Victims.
London, Aug. 1S.-The Norwegian
steamers Mineral and Romulus have
been sunk by German submarines.
The crews were rescued. Dispatches
this afternoon added the three thous-
and ton British steamer, Bonny, and
the Spanish steamer, Isadore, to the
list of submarine victims.
Will Vote War Credit.
Berlin (by way of The Hague) Aug.
1S-Despite the activity OF Few rad
ical socialists, the majority of the So
cialists in the Reichstag are prepared
to vote a war credit of two billion
dollars when the Reichstag convenes
tomorrow.
Zeppe,Ins Raid East Coast.
London, Aug. 18.-Zeppelin air
ships again raided the English east
coast last night, killing ten ard
wounding SO persons. The admiral
ty statement said the Zeppelins es-
capped. This is the third air raid by
Zeppelins on the east coast within
eight days and the 18th air invasion
since the war began. A total of IS
persons have been killed by bombs
dropped from airships and 267 in
jured.