Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-13
Kaiser May Be About to
Launch Movement to Capture
Riga and Dvinsk in East.
RUSSIANS OPTIMISTIC
AS TO PRESENT SITUATION
Tension Between Central Powers and
Rumania Greater-Vienna and
Berlin Fearful.
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.


What are to be the results Of the moves
now being made on Europe's great mill
tary checkerboard?
This is the question of the hour. 1t is
being asked In London, in Paris, in Petro-
grad and In Berlin
The Germans have taken the offensive
at several points in the western arena !:
they have directed a large force against
the Russians around Riga and Dvinsk:
they are speedily preparing offensive as
we'll as defensive plans for the operation
of stro-German, Turkish and Bulgarian
forces around Saloniki. Does all this
herald a concerted attack on three fronts.
or does Germany anticipate offensive
movements on the part of the allies in all
these regions?
While Teutonic activities in practically
every direction are of feversh character,
the plans Of the forces OF the entente
nations are taking well defined shape IN
Two months the armies operating IN the
Balkans, on the western line and In the
east will be in position TO carry an
offensive to the bitter end. AT the present
time their defensive powers are almost
limitless.
Events in all arenas Of war during the
week just closed would indicate that it is
the Germans who are to make the next
move. if. in fact, this move is not already
under way.
Chief interest centers in the western
arena, where one Of the greatest artil-
lery battles in
Chief Interest as the history of
the world has
to Battle in West. BEEN waeed
during the past twelve days and where
the Germans have launched several in
fantry attacks on the allies lines
These in the main have been success
full. according to Berlin accounts. and,
although the French report repulses
for the enemy at some points, the main
successes of the Teutons have not been
denied, either in official or semi official
communications.
The greatest battle has been fought
in the region of Vimy, where, after Sc
we're artillery preparation. the Ger
mans late last week launched ire
mendous infantry offensive. More
than 1900 yards Of enemy trenches
were taken. and this success has been
followed up during the week with the
capture of nearly a thousand yards OF
first-line French positions. The French
tacks to the south OF the river Somme.
Berlin reports at least ten of these re-
pulsed with great losses, although the
French at one point were enabled to
establish forces in one section Of a
trench. British forces in the region of
Loos essayed an offensive movement
early in the week. but, according to
German accounts, were repulsed. The
Germans still are hammering away at
the allied lines in the vicinity of Neu-
vile and Newport; in fact, the fighting
with all implements was showing no
signs of abatement in the past ten
dAya. The mine fighting in the Ar
ssonne, in the Fosges, around Butte Du
Nesnil, in the Woevre, in the Artois
and at other points has been of severe
character. French continue to report
the destruction of enemy biockhouses,
while. during the course OF the week,
several German batteries have been
silenced by the terrific IRE of the al
lies.